Homemade Daily Shower Spray Cleaner
A few quick sprays of this homemade daily shower cleaning spray keep mold, mildew, and soap scum away.
Homemade Daily Shower Cleaning Spray
Are you tired of squeegeeing your glass shower walls to prevent spots? Sick of scrubbing orange grime in the corner of your shower or tub? Then you’ll want to keep a bottle of this Daily Shower Cleaning Spray recipe on hand.
It takes only seconds to make and less than a minute to use. It’s also the easiest way to stop soap scum. Use it daily to keep your shower fresh. You don’t even have to rinse or wipe it away.
Works on a Variety of Shower Surfaces
I’ve used this daily shower spray recipe for years because I hate having to scrub buildup from my shower doors. My son hates the smell of vinegar, though. So, he uses the vinegar-free version in his bathroom. Both do a marvelous job of keeping the shower fresh throughout the week.
Prevents Mold and Mildew
With this daily shower cleaning spray, you won’t have to deal with mold or orange mildew growing in your shower anymore. Use it on vinyl shower curtains to keep them mold-free and clean, too.
Prevents Soap Scum
This spray cuts through the surface tension that allows soap scum to form. So, with regular use, you’ll never have to scrub that stuff again. If you already have soap scum, though, you’ll want to get rid of it before switching to this spray. (Related: No-Scrub Homemade Soap Scum Remover.)
Check out the Vinegar-Free Version, Too!
Below you’ll find two versions of this daily shower cleaning spray. One contains vinegar and one does not. The vinegar-based version is best for fiberglass, glass, acrylic, and most tile surfaces. But if you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, or if your shower has marble or granite walls, try the vinegar-free daily shower cleaner instead. They’re both effective but designed to leave the different shower surfaces shiny, too.
Daily Shower Spray Cleaner
Equipment
- Spray bottle
Materials
Daily Shower Spray (for fiberglass, tile, and glass surfaces)
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 5 drops essential oils (optional) - (peppermint, tea tree, or lavender provide additional mild disinfection)
Vinegar-Free Daily Shower Spray (for marble and natural stone surfaces)
- 1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol - (surgical spirits for UK readers)
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 5 drops essential oils (optional) - (peppermint, tea tree, or lavender provide additional mild disinfection)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a spray bottle and shake.
- Spray the walls, doors, and floor of your shower and tub. Use it on shower curtains, too.
- Let surfaces air dry. There's no need to rinse, wipe, or squeegee.
- Shake before each use.
Notes
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Comment: I love your website! I am attempting to reform my poor housekeeping skills, and your advice, especially the natural cleaners recipes, are very helpful. Thank you for your hard work, and your leadership and inspiration!
Question: I have been using the vinegar based daily shower spray for a few days, and I like the cleaning results, but the hubs is not pleased with the constant vinegar smell in our bathroom (the smell is actually pretty strong in our adjacent bedroom, which I think is the bigger complaint, for me, too, honestly.) I noticed that some of your recipes have essential oils added. Would adding essential oils freshen up the lingering smell from the daily shower spraying? I wanted to get your advice before running out to buy the oils…
Thank you so much, again, for all your great advice!
Diana
Hi Diana! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my website. Like your husband, mine doesn’t like the vinegar smell, either. Essential oils definitely can improve the vinegar smell — just be sure they’re not oil blends. (Some brands add essential oils to grapeseed or other neutral oils, and those are best for use on the body/bath, not for cleaning.) I bought this set when I first started using oils and have been really pleased with the company’s quality. (That’s an Amazon link; I don’t work for their company. LOL)
Another thing that helps is running the bathroom fan for 15 minutes or so after you’ve sprayed. That also prevents mildew, so it’s a win-win solution!
hi Katie! I would like to know, do we need to rince it after? When do you do it? After each shower, after the last shower of the day?
No need to rinse, Danielle. After the last shower of the day is fine!
Thanks for this great website, it’s so helpful! I just wanted to clarify the daily routine, spray with homemade spray then “wipe”, but what do you recommend to wipe with – a squeegee, cloth (microfibre, cotton, or…?), or a paper towel?
Hey, you’re making extra work for yourself, Terry! There’s nothing in the recipe or the daily routine about wiping the shower after using the daily spray… that’s what makes it convenient!
Does this work well on glass shower doors too?
This works to prevent mildew, mold and soap scum on tile, glass, and fiberglass. It’s very important that you first get rid of any soap scum, then this spray will prevent more from accumulating. Fortunately, getting rid of the soap scum isn’t difficult. Try my homemade soap scum remover — you spray it on, wait a while, then wipe the nasty stuff away.
Wow that’s amazing thanks so much Katie! Sorry I misread the weekly spray and wipe for the daily.
If you spray daily yourself, after the last person has finished, must you stand in the shower to get the inside of the glass door? My door folds and you cannot reach all of it without closing it.
I’d just fold it a little and reach around to spray the inside of the door, Mary. If that’s not possible then, yes, you’d need to stand in the shower to spray the door.
Which is safe to use on natural stone? I heard vinegar is not safe to use on stone showers?
thank you.
The vinegar-free alternative is provided for those who have natural stone.
Hi there, loving the advice!
I am curious if I am not loving the smell of vinegar for my regular fiberglass shower could I just use the one for stone and marble?
Thanks for all your help.
You sure could, though it won’t get your fiberglass as shiny as the other recipe.
I have an acrylic shower stall. Is there a daily cleaner that safely cleans it? Thank you
The vinegar-based daily shower spray is safe for acrylic showers.
The standards available over the counter in US stores are 3% Hydrogen Peroxide and 70% rubbing alcohol, so that’s what I used. 🙂
Many thanks for your reply. I’m off to get some 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, and then let the spraying begin!
Next: kitchen sink daily spray. Onwards and upwards!
I’m a renter and our mold/mildew issues are on the painted drywall ceiling. Despite deep cleaning and after shower spray, we still can see the mold stains in the paint and using store bought or homemade cleaners result in the paint coming off on sponge or scrubber. Any ideas? Thank you!
Well, there’s a difference between living mold spores and the stain left behind after you’ve killed the mold. If you’ve treated it properly, and you can’t clean it away, you need to apply Kilz (or another primer) then repaint.
Question, will left over spray from this soap scum recipe as well as the daily shower spray keep? Does it last if you make too much?
It does last if you make too much, you’ll just need to shake it up. It isn’t a good substitute for the daily shower spray, though, because it doesn’t disinfect and leaves the surfaces slippery until rinsed.
The bottom of my tub is not smooth, and I can’t seem to get clean Even though I’ve used bleach and I’m afraid to use sos pad.. please help. I look dirty.
No, don’t use an SOS pad! Try this homemade soft scrub cleanser. Get the tub lightly damp, sprinkle the scrubbing powder on, then rub with a sponge or cloth and rinse repeatedly. After that, use the daily shower spray daily to keep the grime away.
Hi! Love this. If I am using the vinegar + water, can I add a few drops of an essential oil (like tea-tree, peppermint or lavender) to it to counter the smell?
Absolutely!
What’s the expiration date after preparation?
There isn’t one since vinegar acts as a preservative and mold-retardant.
I have a new shower with matte finish ceramic tile and shiny chrome finish fixtures including 3 grab bars. Is this safe for the chrome finish and if so, should the fixtures be wiped dry?
Also-I have a floating corner seat. Is it enough to just spray under the seat too or should it be wiped off after spraying as it typically takes longer to dry under the seat?
Hi Michelle,
It should be fine on the matte ceramic, chrome fixtures, and corner seat as long as you measure properly. Sometimes, with homemade cleaners, we get so used to making them that after several rounds we just eyeball things rather than measuring. The ratio of water and vinegar is important, though, because too much vinegar damages surfaces.
As far as the drying the seat, it’s hard to say without actually seeing the seat since there are so many different styles. It also depends on the material. If it were my shower, and I noticed the underside of the seat never quite dried, I’d spray it daily and make a point to leave the shower door or curtain open. That way, air can circulate and help it dry. If that didn’t do it, I might give it a quick wipe with the washcloth I’d bathed with. But that’s just me. 🙂
Do the ratios stay the same if you are using a 32 oz bottle? Same question for your other cleaning recipes too.
Hi Sarah,
The ratios don’t change. Multiply or divide them as you would with any recipe to adjust the amount needed. Enjoy!
Hi, does it matter what % acidity the vinegar is? i live in NZ, and most of the everyday vinegars here are only 4%, which i know is slightly weaker than is common in other countries. thanks from Julia
You should be okay with that 1% difference, though I’d probably reduce the water to 10 ounces in that situation.
Hello Katie,
I have a routine where after every shower I squeegee the wall tiles and also the bathtub area then I also dry any remaining water on sides and corners of the bathtub with a towel. Now my question, as a third (preventative) step after I have dried up all the moisture then I should spray the mixture of water & vinegar to prevent any mild-dew establishing in future?
Thanks,
Sai
If you squeegee, you could spray this afterwards.
Hello Katie, Recently I noticed this orange grime starting to accumulate on the sides of shower area. I was watching some youtube videos and this person used Toilet bowl cleaner and a brush to get rid of it. Any other recommendations? I dont want to damage the surface of my tiles by using harsh chemicals so what else can i try? Would paste of baking soda and vinegar work? Also why does this happen?
Well, toilet cleaner and a brush would get rid of it because that kind of cleaner relies on bleach. But it could also damage your tiles and grout, along with your shower pan, since it’s not meant for use on such surfaces. It’s mildew, so vinegar could kill it, too. (You won’t be able to make a paste out of baking soda and vinegar — it’ll foam.)
Try a regular bathroom cleaner or my homemade bathroom disinfectant to get rid of it. Then make sure to leave your shower door or curtain halfway open after every shower to allow air circulation, run your bathroom exhaust fan during and for 10 minutes after your shower, and spray the shower walls with this daily shower spray recipe. The combination will keep that mildew from returning.