Raise your hand if cleaning the shower is one of your least favorite chores EVER. I'm totally raising my hand! I hate cleaning the shower so much that I let it go until I start seeing bits of green and blue! It's gross, I know, so I'm loving this homemade shower spray solution - just give the shower a quick spritz after each use to keep soap buildup and mildew at bay between the deep cleanings.
There's way too much scrubbing involved in shower cleaning. I hate seeing the the mildew develop in all the nooks and crannies but, ugh, all that scrubbing. And most of the time it doesn't even make a dent in the mildew.
If you hate scrubbing as much as I do (and I really hate it), a daily shower spray is a must. It keeps buildup at bay so deep cleanings will become easier and less frequent.
And are you ready for how simple it is? I swear, white vinegar is good for everything! And it's the main component here too.
DIY Daily Shower Spray Recipe
All you do is mix up some white vinegar with a little dish soap and tea tree oil. Vinegar is a natural germ-killer and de-greaser. It's also highly acidic so it cuts through soap scum like a dream and melts away build up. Dish soap is another de-greasing agent I swear by for cleaning tough surfaces.
Combined with vinegar it gives your shower stall a squeaky clean shine without the harsh chemicals. Last but not least, tea tree oil is antimicrobial and antibacterial so it helps prevent germs from taking hold and growing on shower tile in the first place.
Simply mix everything together and transfer it to a an old spray bottle. Before using, make sure to give it a good shake in order to mix everything together. Then give your shower a spritz just before you're about to hop out in the morning.
The tea tree and vinegar work together to help keep mildew at bay, and the soap works with the vinegar to conquer the soap scum. Note that if you're sensitive to strong scents, you'll want to have the fan running or a window open.
The vinegary-tea tree smell can be a little overwhelming for the first few minutes or so. And by all means, don't go too overboard here. A little spritz per day is all it needs.
When you do eventually start to see mildew, simply spritz a little on shower walls and wipe off with a clean sponge.
DIY Daily Shower Spray Cleaner
Equipment
- 16 ounce spray bottle
Materials
- 2 cups distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons liquid dish soap not castile-based
- 20 drops tea tree oil
Instructions
- Combine vinegar, dish soap, and tea tree oil in a spray bottle.
- Keep in the shower or near the shower and give it a spritz once a day after using the shower.
Photos by Ana Stanciu
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David Luff says
Whats dish soap? Washing up liquid? I have some Fairy original and it foams like crazy, is this ok in small quantities?
Lc says
What size bottle?l
Briana says
Two cups of water = 16 ounces, so at least that size.
Briana says
Just realized the recipe calls for 2 cups vinegar, not water.
My personal preference would be to cut the vinegar to 1 cup and add 1 cup of water.
Erica says
Great post! Why non-Castile-based soap, please?
Briana says
Castile soap leaves a film.
Ginny says
Thanx for these great cleaning recipes. I'm assuming that after cleaning the shower with this cleaner, it has to be rinsed well.
Melissa says
Love the recipes for green cleaning (and other recipes, too!). Where do you get your nifty looking spray bottles? Are they glass or plastic?
Lizzie says
Great idea! But if you're a pet-parent, take care not to expose Fido or Fluffy to the tea tree oil because it's toxic to both humans and our four-legged buddies. Obviously it's safe in the concentration you outlined, but just be aware when you're mixing the stuff. Our cats are hugely inquisitive about … well, just about anything.