Vinegar shower cleaner: How to Make the Best Shower Door Cleaner Ever with Dawn & Vinegar

How to Make the Best Shower Door Cleaner Ever with Dawn & Vinegar

Here’s how to make the best shower door cleaner EVER using Dawn & vinegar~a powerhouse combo to leave glass shower doors sparkling clean.

Update: I recently discovered that the Dawn-Vinegar solution also works to clean the greasy gunk from oven doors. I’ll share this great discovery at the end of this post!

Why shouldn’t I use a traditional shower cleaner?

Using a store-bought shower cleaner often exposes you to harsh chemicals. The traditional cleaners will effectively clean your shower, but if you are wanting to avoid harsh chemicals and intense smells, then this homemade shower cleaner is a great option for you! It is much easier on your nose than many store-bought alternatives.

Can I save money by making my own shower cleaner?

Absolutely! These two basic items are almost certainly already inside your house. By using these, you can save yourself from having to buy a new cleaner and just use these instead. SUPER easy and perfect for when you need to clean your shower in a rush.

What are shower doors made of?

Most shower doors are made of tempered glass, a special type of glass that is safer if broken than regular glass. In this post, I have only tested this solution on glass shower doors. I am not recommending it for any other shower door or for any tile, stone, or marble.

What causes white stains on shower doors?

Most white stains on shower doors are hard water stains, sometimes called soap scum. It is what remains on shower doors when hard water mixes with dirt, soap residue, and body oils. If allowed to build up over time, the deposits harden and can be very difficult to clean. The most common place for soap scum to cling is to the shower doors that are used regularly. The steam, water, soaps, shampoos, and other bathing products eventually end up causing a cloudy film on the shower doors that is very unattractive.

What dish soap works best to clean shower doors?

Dawn is the only dish soap that I ever use for dishes and for cleaning shower doors. Why? In a word~grease. Dawn is the only dish soap (to my knowledge) containing a special grease-fighting agent that almost melts grease into oblivion.

What is the best vinegar to clean shower doors?

The vinegar that works in this dynamic Dawn & vinegar duo is plain white distilled vinegar. It is the least expensive vinegar you can buy, and it is also the best one to tackle this and other household cleaning tasks. Distilled white vinegar is the “workhorse” or all vinegar!

What tools do I need to clean my shower doors?

The tools that I use to clean my shower doors with the Dawn & vinegar solution are a microfiber cloth or clean washcloth to wipe down the shower doors after they have been sprayed with the solution, a good spray shower to rinse the solution, and a squeegee (if I can find it) to wipe the shower doors dry.

Dawn & vinegar works better than store-bought cleaners.

I’ve tried myriad cleaners specifically for bathrooms~from Rain-X to scrubbing bubbles and beyond. I’ve never had any store-bought cleaner work better than this easy, inexpensive, DIY Dawn vinegar solution.

What is so special about Dawn and vinegar?

Dawn breaks down grease and grime. Of all the dishwashing soaps you can buy, Dawn is the best at removing oils. In oil spills, it is the best solution for cleaning the birds’ feathers without harming their skin. The reason? Dawn contains petroleum. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
Vinegar removes residue and imparts shine. It is a nature’s wonder that can be used for so many purposes. My dermatologist Dr. Jo Herzog shares what it does in this post on Listerine vinegar foot soak.

How effective is vinegar as a cleaner?

Vinegar is extremely effective as a cleaner, besides just removing residue, vinegar is also pretty effective in killing mold. Bleach does this as well, but vinegar is a much safer alternative while being just as effective. Vinegar is a great solution for a mildewy shower.

Which Dawn should I use for shower door cleaner?

If you want the breakdown of the different Dawn dish detergent options, I list them below. In my opinion, any Dawn will do a beautiful job, along with vinegar, of cleaning shower doors.

The New and Improved Dawn Ultra Blue contains “3X More Grease Cleaning Power.” It is 3 times stronger than non-ultra Dawn (regular Dawn).
3X Dawn is 50% stronger than the 2X varieties.
Note that some other varieties of Dawn Ultra still say “2X Grease Cleaning Power.”

The recipe for Dawn & vinegar shower door cleaner.

Use equal parts Dawn + vinegar. You can also cut the Dawn if your mixture is too thick.
Heat the solution in the microwave for 2 minutes (do not boil). Stir well, and pour into the bottle when not too hot. This is key for the effective mixing/blending of the mixture.
Put the solution into a good spray bottle. These clear spray bottles come in a set of 3 and are less than $20.
Use a funnel for mess-free pouring. Collapsable funnels like these are ideal as they don’t take up drawer space.

How to clean shower doors with Dawn + Vinegar.

Spray the Dawn + Vinegar solution liberally on dry shower doors. Wet shower doors dilute the mixture. Also, the solution clings to dry shower doors better than wet ones.
Leave it on for at least 2-3 minutes. I shower while the solution is on my shower doors which takes about 5 minutes.
Wipe shower doors with a wet washcloth. I toss an extra washcloth into the shower with me when I plan to wash the shower doors. I let it get wet while I am showering, and it is ready to use when it is time to wipe the Dawn + Vinegar solution off the shower doors.
Rinse shower doors with warm water. My shower head is handheld, so I start from the top and rinse all the doors until they are crystal clear.
Wipe the doors down with a squeegee. This white Oxo squeegee is something I love and keep it in the shower just for this purpose. If you don’t wipe the doors with a squeegee, the doors will still be clean, but they won’t dry as crystal clear.

Baking soda also works to clean shower doors.

Baking soda acts as an abrasive, and combined with vinegar, can be very effective at dissolving many hard water spots and soap scum. If you want to try this method, simply saturate a sponge or cloth with vinegar, then coat it with baking soda. Use a little elbow grease to scrub until the soap scum disappears. Rinse with warm water to remove any remaining residue.

Watch me use this to clean my shower doors.

In the short video below, I mix up a solution of Dawn & vinegar and show how quick and easy it is to clean shower doors. It really takes no scrubbing~just a tiny bit of elbow grease and a good shower head sprayer.

Note: If you do the process while showering, be prepared for a strong vinegar smell. This doesn’t really bother me at all since vinegar is natural and non-toxic.

Dawn Vinegar for Oven Door Gunk

Watch me use Dawn & vinegar as an oven door cleaner.

I recently discovered that Dawn & vinegar shower door solution is hugely effective at cleaning oven doors. If you have an oven, you know how the doors get covered in “gunk” made of grease. See below how effective this solution is at removing oven door gunk.

Materials

Original (blue) Dawn
white vinegar
spray bottle

Tools

funnel
8 cup glass measuring bowl

Instructions

Pour 2 cups Dawn and 2 cups vinegar into a glass bowl.
Stir; heat 4 minutes in the microwave; remove and stir again.
Using a funnel, carefully pour the solution into the spray bottle. *
Shake well to mix the solution. Use as needed on shower doors.

Notes

* Be careful not to burn yourself if the solution is hot.

** If Dawn is a thicker, commercial type version, use 2 parts vinegar to one part Dawn so that it won’t be too thick.

What to do if your Dawn-Vinegar gets thick.

If your your Dawn vinegar solution gets thick or is difficult to spray from the bottle, there is an easy solution. First, empty your bottle that is too thick, and rinse the sprayer well with water to flush out the sprayer. Second, mix a new solution following different proportions that I share in the short video below.

So there you have it~my favorite cleaning hack for the bathroom~Dawn + Vinegar Shower Door Cleaner. I hope you try this; if so, please comment so the rest of us can hear your thoughts!!!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by. Be blessed, and stay (shower door) savvy!!!

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How to Clean Your Shower with Vinegar ⋆ Love Our Real Life

Vinegar is a staple in most people’s homes, but it’s typically not found in the bathroom. Instead, vinegar is mainly used in the kitchen in recipes ranging from curries to pancakes to salad dressings. But did you know that vinegar can also be a powerhouse when it comes to cleaning your shower?

If you’re looking for a new and all natural way to take care of dirt, grime, and more in your shower, vinegar may be a great solution. Vinegar contains acetic acid that can tackle through all sorts of messes while killing bacteria. It’s a win-win (and budget-friendly solution).

Get more cleaning tips for the home here.

Jump to:

How to Clean Your Entire Shower Using White Vinegar
How to Mask the Vinegar Smell
Final Words

How to Clean Your Entire Shower Using White Vinegar

Whether you have a regular bathtub-style shower or one with glass shower doors, you can clean it using distilled white vinegar.

Vinegar will cut through all of those unsightly hard water stains and mineral deposits found throughout the shower.

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It can even be used to take care of a dirty shower curtain.

How to Clean the Showerhead Specifically

The showerhead is a place where plenty of hard water stains and mineral deposits build up. It isn’t easy to clean.

Well, not when it comes to white vinegar.

All you need to do is pour white vinegar into a plastic bag, wrap it around the showerhead, and secure it using a rubber band or elastic tie.

Leave the plastic bag concoction overnight and remove in the morning, revealing your brand new-looking showerhead.

Get tips to clean the entire bathroom step by step here.

How to Clean a Bathtub-Style Shower

Cleaning the base of your tub shower is a bit trickier and may require a little elbow grease.

Still, it’s surprisingly simple.

The material of your bathtub will make all the difference when it comes to cleaning.

In general, though, all you need is white vinegar, water (warm water or hot water, not cold water), and a soft cloth.

To Clean a Fiberglass Tub

Boil white vinegar
Use paper towels to dip into the warm vinegar, and then apply it to the walls (you can also place the vinegar in an empty spray bottle)
Continue to dampen the shower every five minutes for 30 minutes total
Dip a microfiber cloth into the vinegar solution, then add a sprinkle of baking soda
Rub the shower to remove hard water stains, mineral deposits, and other unsightly grime

Still dealing with some stuck-on stains or pesky water spots?

Consider making a paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and placing it on top of the problem areas. Then, place a paper towel or soft cloth soaked in vinegar on top.

Let the vinegar solution sit for up to an hour. Then, use a cloth, sponge, or old toothbrush to rub the mess off of the fiberglass tub.

Rinse and enjoy!

To Clean an Acrylic Tub

Acrylic tubs are a bit more dainty and can’t handle abrasive cleaning products, which is why this homemade shower cleaner using baking soda and white vinegar is a must. To clean an acrylic tub, do the following:

Fill a tub with two cups of white vinegar and hot water
Let the vinegar solution sit in the tub for 15 to 20 minutes
Drain and sprinkle baking soda on the tub, placing extra in areas with mineral deposits and hard water stains
Use a microfiber cloth to scrub off gunk
Rinse and enjoy

How to Clean Glass Shower Doors

If you have a bathtub-style shower, then you can stick with cleaning the base of your shower using the warm vinegar and baking soda combination.

But if you have a shower with glass shower doors, you will need to take your cleaning a step further.

To clean glass shower doors, you won’t want to rely on straight vinegar. Instead, it would be best if you used a combo of clean water and white vinegar in an empty spray bottle.

Add equal parts clean water and white vinegar and shake to combine.

Then, spray the half water, half vinegar solution onto the glass shower doors. Use a paper towel to dry off.

However, for a perfect streak-free shine, consider using a squeegee rather than a paper towel or microfiber cloth.

Learn more about getting a streak-free mirror or glass here.

How to Clean a Shower Curtain

When you’re cleaning your shower, don’t forget the shower curtain. Shower curtains notoriously pick up grime and soap scum buildup that can make the shower curtain look and feel slimy and gross.

Well, white vinegar can be used to clean your shower curtain, too.

Place your shower curtain (plastic and/or fabric) in the washing machine
Add your normal laundry detergent with a pinch of baking soda
During the rinse cycle, add a half cup of white vinegar
For fabric, let it run through the spin cycle. For plastic, remove and hang dry

Dealing with Grout

Now you know how to successfully clean shower doors, shower walls, and even the shower curtain.

But what if your shower has ceramic tiles? If your bathroom cleaning involves dealing with tough stains on grout, consider using vinegar as a natural cleaner.

To clean bathroom tiles and more importantly grout, spray white vinegar onto the dirty grout and let it sit four about 15 to 20 minutes.

Then, use an abraise object – such as an old toothbrush or scubbie – to scrub away built-up grime and mess. Keep scrubbing until you can see clean grout once more.

Unclogging a Shower Drain

For some people, unclogging a shower drain is part of the process of cleaning their bathroom. Sound like you? If so, it’s white vinegar to the rescue – again.

To create your very own shower drain unclogger, all you need to do is:

Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain
Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain
Mix two cups of white vinegar with two cups of hot water and pour down the drain
Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the clog to clear
Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain one more time

How to Mask the Vinegar Smell

Whether it’s apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or red wine vinegar, most people don’t like the smell.

Therefore, they might not consider white vinegar as a viable shower cleaning solution. The good news is, there are a few great ways to mask the smell.

Add a few drops of essential oil. It’s up to your discretion here. Some people like lavender, while others like lemon. Still, some might consider a few drops of tea tree oil as it’s a strong scent that will mask vinegar with ease.
Adding citrus or herbs. Not a fan of any essential oil? Instead, use natural smells like citrus or herbs (mint, coriander).
Using dish soap. You can also use dish soap, such as dawn dish soap, with your vinegar solution. Dish soap has cleaning power and is great for grease stains, which can really up your cleaning game.

Final Words

Vinegar is a great choice for cleaning your home. It is an excellent option to clean shower glass doors, showerheads, tub-style showers, tiles, and so much more. With such great success, you might consider adding a vinegar solution in your kitchen to clean the kitchen sink or in your laundry room for tackling stains!

White vinegar is also great for cleaning your coffee maker. The cleaning uses of vinegar are endless!

More Uses of Vinegar:

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the main secrets of cleanliness in the bathroom

Mineral deposits quickly damage household appliances in the bathroom. Look at your shower: if the nozzle is already covered with a white coating, and water does not flow from all the holes, this is a reason to clean it up. We tell you how to properly clean the shower head with the help of improvised means.

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Regular cleaning of the shower head will avoid limescale and increase pressure – the water will flow freely and not splash in different directions.

In addition, timely cleaning will prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that can get on your body during washing. A recent study by the Cooperative Institute for Environmental Science Research found that mucus in shower head holes contains strains of microbacteria that cause lung disease. In order not to put yourself in danger, use simple life hacks.

Check before cleaning

Before you start cleaning the showerhead, check how heavily clogged the holes are. If the pollution is not so critical, you do not have to remove the nozzle – a superficial effect will be enough. Otherwise, you will have to “take apart” the shower yourself to get to the dirt, or call the master.

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How to clean the shower without removing the nozzle

Try cleaning the watering can with a plastic bag, vinegar and a hair tie. For this life hack, you don’t even have to remove the nozzle from the shower. First, fill the bag with distilled white vinegar: do not fill too much liquid, air should remain on top. Then attach the bag to the shower so that the nozzle is in the solution. Secure with a rubber band. Wait an hour, then remove the bag and wash off the remaining product with running water. Wipe the watering can with a soft dry cloth.

Heavy Dirt Cleaner

If the vinegar does not remove the dirt that has penetrated inside, remove the nozzle by unscrewing the nut on the shower hose and clean the inside.

For this life hack you will need:

an old toothbrush;
vinegar;
toothpick;
baking soda,
electrical tape.

Rinse the nozzle under high pressure to remove mucus. Scrub dried mineral deposits with an old toothbrush dipped in vinegar. Remove debris from each hole with a toothpick. Next, soak the entire nozzle in a container of vinegar and soda: 30 minutes, and the limescale will dissolve. Rinse the watering can, dry it and screw it back onto the hose. Pre-wrap the surface above the thread with electrical tape – this will create the desired seal.

What can not be done?

Do not use bleach to remove yellow from shower heads. Recent studies have shown that chlorine-based powders only contribute to the spread of germs.
Do not use hard abrasives such as hard bristled brushes for cleaning. This method will damage the metal coating.
Do not close the bathroom door while cleaning, but rather open the windows. Clean the nozzle only in a well-ventilated area. Put on gloves, a protective mask and try not to inhale cleaning agent fumes.

How to remove plaque on the soul with vinegar and other folk remedies

Hard tap water leads to the formation of rust and limescale on plumbing, and it can be difficult to deal with them even with the help of special household chemicals. Earlier we talked about how to clean the toilet from limescale and remove yellow spots on an acrylic bath. If, due to a raid, your shower head has become worse, find out how to solve this problem with folk remedies.

The most popular way to clean the shower head from limescale is detergents with chlorine and other active elements. Pour warm water into a basin or bucket, add a little detergent and dip the watering can into the solution for 30-60 minutes. After soaking, brush it with a brush to get rid of stubborn plaque fragments.

Household chemicals are a productive method, but if it is not at hand, there are several alternative alternatives.

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Cleansing with vinegar

Dilute vinegar with warm water in a ratio of 1: 2 and place the shower head in the solution for 30-60 minutes, depending on the pollution. The acetic acid will dissolve the plaque, and the water will easily pass through the holes in the watering can.

Vinegar and soda

To clean the shower head from plaque, you can also use a mixture of 1 liter of warm water, ½ cup of vinegar and 3 tbsp. l. soda. The solution is prepared in a glass or enamel bowl. Dip the nozzle into it for 30-40 minutes, and after soaking, thoroughly clean with a brush and rinse with water.

Soda solution

Dissolve 5 tbsp. l. soda in 0.5 liters of water and lower the shower head into this solution. After 40-50 minutes, limescale will be easily removed with a washcloth or brush. Please note that if you keep the watering can in soda for more than an hour, an aggressive substance can damage its coating.

Citric acid

Citric acid perfectly removes scale and plaque on a variety of surfaces. Pour 25 g of the product into a saucepan and pour 500 ml of hot water (70-80 degrees). Place your shower head in this solution and let it soak. In just 30 minutes, remove plaque with a brush.