We understand. Shower are hard to clean, and soap scum is icky. There are so many cleaning products, tips, and poor advice out there. Where do you start?
Identify the surface type in your shower
Not all showers are cleaned the same! If you use the wrong pH on a surface, you can quickly damage it. this guide it designed for porcelain and acrylic showers and tubs. The tile in your shower could be granite, quartz, ceramic, or porcelain. If you are unsure of what it is, reach out to the contractor or to Eckler Cleaning Services.
Prepare your cleaning supplies
Mix white vinegar with water at a 1:1 ration in a spray bottle. This is half water, half vinegar. Add some dawn and shake the bottle to mix. You do not need an excessive amount of dawn. We use 32 ounce spray bottles with about a teaspoon of dawn.
Vinegar has a strong smell. At Eckler Cleaning Services, we like to add essential oils to our vinegar mixture. Our favorites are lemongrass and orange. Tea tree is also a good option.
You will also need at least one magic eraser. Depending on the amount of scum, you may need more than one.
If you have months (or years) or build up, you may need a plastic razor blade.
Understanding the science
The vinegar is an acid cleaner and will soften the soap scum. Dilution is important; you do not need straight vinegar. It will not work better if it isn’t diluted. The dawn will help the vinegar stick to the shower walls so the vinegar can do its job.
Dawn dish soap also has surfactants in it. Scientifically, these are compounds that lower the surface tension between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. This means, the dawn will make it easier to remove the soap scum.
Let time help you clean
The secret to easy cleaning is time. Generously spray the shower with the vinegar mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes. You want the vinegar to do its job so yours is easier. You do not want to wait so long that it dries.
Respray the surface and use the magic eraser to wipe the scum. It should come off fairly easily. If it doesn’t, use a wet plastic razor blade to scrap the scum. Rewet as you go and rinse the magic eraser as needed.
Once you have cleaned the full shower, rinse well. Leaving the vinegar to sit on the surface can damage your shower. Also, leaving dawn on your shower without rinsing can create a dangerous slip hazard. If you do not have a shower head with a hose, you can use a large cup or bucket.
After rinsing, dry the surfaces. Leaving water to sit in your shower created hard water spots and can cause mold to grow quickly. The best thing you can do to extend the life of your shower is dry it after every use.
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