DIY Shower Spray (for bathtubs, too!)

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This DIY Shower Spray (for bathtubs, too) is truly a game changer. If you're battling soap scum, icky shower tiles, water spots, and rust rings, look no further. With two ingredients that you probably have on hand, you'll be ready to clean alllll the bathrooms. 

I've just been convinced to come on over to the DIY side of cleaners. Usually, I don't want the hassle of creating my own thing, but seriously, this stuff is life- changing. Which probably makes my life seem a little dull. But when soap scum that's been scrubbed for years (probably from the previous owners, gag) melts away in a matter of moments, I'm sold.

DIY Shower Spray

Apparently this isn't a new concoction, my son's preschool teacher told me she's used it for years (where in the world have I been, y'all?), but nonetheless, it's something you need to give a whirl. Plus, it's wonderful on the budget...always a win-win.

You'll need one part white vinegar and one part blue original Dawn dish soap for this mixture. If I were you, I'd do at least a cup of each because you'll want to use it all over the place once you start. I also included details for storing leftover cleaning solution below.

Shower and Tub Spray Recipe

Ingredients

• Original Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (yes, it needs to be Dawn on this one)
• white vinegar
• spray bottle (I reused an empty one from a different cleaner, but you can grab empty spray bottles here on Amazon)

Directions

• You'll be using one part white vinegar to one part Dawn. Make as much as you'll use in one cleaning.
• Here's the trick...heat your vinegar in the microwave for two minutes.
• Then pour it into a cleaned out spray bottle (I cleaned this one really well, since it had a bleach cleaner in it before.

• While your vinegar is nice & hot and sittin' pretty in the spray bottle, add your dawn and shake it gently to incorporate. The heat really helps with this.

• When cleaning, spray the surface and allow the cleaner to sit for a couple of minutes.
• Then wipe off and rinse completely.
• For more stubborn stains, incorporate a good scrub brush.
• The soap scum and other yuckies will disappear.
• And the scent of the liquid dish soap is more prevalent than the vinegar's smell. It's a very fresh scent, overall.

Before and After:

Above, you can see the dreaded rust ring from a shaving cream can. I often use clear nail polish on the bottom of these cans to prevent this, but this one slipped by me. If your stains seem a little stubborn, use a scrub brush to work this spray in really well.

And above is that same bench (cleaner still dripping down the side). It took care of that rust ring fast.

It works great on shower doors, too. It makes for an overall clean shower! And don't forget to try it in your tub. Let me know what you think.

UPDATE (2022): 10+ years later and this is still a wonderful cleaner. We've moved into a new home and still use this one...it's fabulous on clear glass shower doors with a squeegee.

Storing Leftover Cleaner

While I try to only make enough of this cleaner to clean both of our bathrooms in one cleaning session, there are leftovers at times. Store in the bottle and shake before reusing. My friend pours hers back into a glass container to reheat, but I haven't done that. I will say, it doesn't seem quite as effective as its first use, but it still gets the job done.

More Homemade Cleaners

• My DIY Stovetop Cleaner is another one that involves dishwashing liquid and works like a charm. You probably have all the ingredients on hand.
• And this Homemade Patio Cleaner works wonders on cement porches and patios. It doesn't even require a power sprayer.
• If you have sticker issues, be sure to try out my Homemade Residue Remover. It works better than any of the heavy-chemical ones.
• And this 3-Ingredient Homemade Wood Floor Polish Recipe from Jessica over at Mom 4 Real is a good one. I love her trick with her old Swiffer, too.
• This Homemade Citrus Enzyme Cleaner from One Good Thing by Jillee has so many interesting uses!
• And these Homemade Cleaner Recipes from Melissa K. Norris are all-natural and use lots of household ingredients.