The Best Homemade Shower Cleaner Recipes To Say ‘So Long, Soap Scum!’

So in the spirit of au naturale, we’ve rounded up our favorite shower cleaner recipes that we’ve been using for years. They’re made with simple, natural ingredients, each designed to tackle different shower-cleaning needs—from daily maintenance to scrubbing away stubborn soap scum and mold.

One quick note: even with natural cleaners like ours, it’s always a good idea to keep the space well-ventilated while cleaning, especially in smaller areas like the shower.

This is our go-to DIY shower cleaner for general use. Not just because it’s the cheapest option to make in this list. But also because it’s the best soap scum remover that we’ve tried—which means it’s especially useful if you have a glass shower door like we personally do since soap scum tends to build up quickly here for us.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white vinegar: A natural powerhouse for dissolving soap scum, killing bacteria, and cutting through grime.
• 1 cup dish soap: Specifically choose a non-toxic dish soap that is gentle yet effective at breaking down oils and residues.
• 10 drops essential oil (optional): Adds a pleasant scent and additional antibacterial properties (e.g., tea tree oil for mold).

Instructions:

1. Heat the vinegar in a microwave or stovetop until warm (not boiling).
2. Pour the vinegar and dish soap into a spray bottle (remember to label it)
3. Add essential oil if desired and shake to combine.
4. Spray generously onto shower surfaces, including glass doors, tiles, and grout. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes.
5. Scrub. For grout, a stiff-bristled brush works best, while a soft sponge is ideal for glass and tiles. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and use a squeegee to wipe down glass doors after rinsing to prevent water spots.

If you’re looking for the best homemade shower cleaner for mold, mildew, and tough stains, this recipe has extra scrubbing power but is more designed for spot use. It’s not a fully liquid formula so you won’t be able to spray or wash your shower at large, but it’s perfect for more isolated use, like in the tub bottom, grout lines or the corners of your shower.

Note this recipe is not one you can make in bulk and store. It is best made fresh for the cleaning session, which is also why it’s a little more expensive than the other solutions on this list.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup baking soda: A gentle abrasive that lifts stains and deodorizes.
• 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide: A safer alternative to bleach, effectively eliminating mold and brightening surfaces, like grout.
• 1 teaspoon dish soap: Helps lift grime from surfaces.

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl to form a Baking Soda and DIY Hydrogen Peroxide Shower Cleaner paste.
2. Apply the paste to problem areas like grout lines or stubborn stains.
3. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.
4. Scrub with a brush or sponge, then rinse thoroughly.

To keep the chore of cleaning your shower from being quite so backbreaking (literally), a daily shower spray that you use after each shower can help keep soap scum and hard water buildup to a minimum—meaning you’ll need to do a deep clean far less often. Who doesn’t love that?!

To make this homemade after-shower maintenance spray, you’ll need the following.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white vinegar: Prevents soap scum buildup.
• 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol: Helps the spray evaporate quickly, leaving no streaks.
• 1 teaspoon dish soap: Adds cleaning power.
• 10 drops essential oil (e.g., eucalyptus or lemon): Provides a refreshing scent and antibacterial properties.
• 1 cup water: Dilutes the solution for daily use.

Recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.
2. Shake well before each use. The dish soap in particular will settle at the bottom if this is not done.
3. Spray on shower walls, glass doors, and fixtures after each use. No rinsing is necessary!

Health and environmental benefits aside, let’s talk about something most of us are acutely aware of: cost savings. Because in today’s economy a lot of us are doing it tough, these alterantive solutions can go a long way to stretching those hard earned dollars. So, here’s a comparison of the costs of the ingredients in these recipes versus the price of conventional shower cleaners.

1. Vinegar Shower Cleaner Recipe (Ingredients and Costs):

• White Vinegar: $2.50 for 128 oz
  • 1 cup (8 oz): $(8/128) * $2.50 = $0.16
• Dish Soap (non-toxic): $4.50 for 16 oz
  • 1 cup (8 oz): $(8/16) * $4.50 = $2.25
• Essential Oil (optional): $10.00 for 0.5 oz
  • 10 drops (approx. 0.016 oz): $(0.016/0.5) * $10.00 = $0.32

Total Cost per Batch: $0.16 (vinegar) + $2.25 (dish soap) + $0.32 (essential oil) = $2.73

Assuming each batch cleans approximately 4 showers, the cost per use is: $2.73 / 4 = $0.68 per use

Comparison with Conventional Cleaners:

• Conventional Shower Cleaner (e.g., Scrubbing Bubbles): $5.00 for 32 oz
  • Cost per use (8 oz per use): $(8/32) * $5.00 = $1.25 per use

Savings:
$1.25 (store-bought) – $0.68 (homemade) = $0.57 saved per use

2. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide DIY Shower Scrub (Ingredients and Costs):

• Baking Soda: $0.80 for 16 oz
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz): $(4/16) * $0.80 = $0.20
• Hydrogen Peroxide: $1.00 for 16 oz
  • 1/4 cup (2 oz): $(2/16) * $1.00 = $0.13
• Dish Soap: $4.50 for 16 oz
  • 1 teaspoon (approx. 0.17 oz): $(0.17/16) * $4.50 = $0.05

Total Cost per Batch: $0.20 (baking soda) + $0.13 (hydrogen peroxide) + $0.05 (dish soap) = $0.38

Comparison with Conventional Spot Cleaners:

• Conventional Spot Cleaner (e.g., Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover): $4.50 for 32 oz
  • Cost per use (4 oz per use): $(4/32) * $4.50 = $0.56 per use

Savings:
$0.56 (store-bought) – $0.38 (homemade) = $0.18 saved per use

3. Homemade Daily Shower Cleaner Spray Recipe (Ingredients and Costs):

• Water: Free
• White Vinegar: $2.50 for 128 oz
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz): $(4/128) * $2.50 = $0.08
• Rubbing Alcohol: $2.00 for 16 oz
  • 1/2 cup (4 oz): $(4/16) * $2.00 = $0.50
• Dish Soap: $4.50 for 16 oz
  • 1 teaspoon (approx. 0.17 oz): $(0.17/16) * $4.50 = $0.05
• Essential Oil (optional): $10.00 for 0.5 oz
  • 10 drops (approx. 0.016 oz): $(0.016/0.5) * $10.00 = $0.32

Total Cost per Batch: $0.08 (vinegar) + $0.50 (rubbing alcohol) + $0.05 (dish soap) + $0.32 (essential oil) = $0.95

Assuming each batch lasts for 5 uses, the cost per use is: $0.95 / 5 = $0.19 per use

Comparison with Conventional Daily Shower Sprays:

• Conventional Daily Shower Spray (e.g., Method Daily Shower Spray): $4.00 for 28 oz
  • Cost per use (5 oz per use): $(5/28) * $4.00 = $0.71 per use

Savings:
$0.71 (store-bought) – $0.19 (homemade) = $0.52 saved per use

As you can see in all cases switching to homemade shower cleaners can lead to significant cost savings compared to conventional store-bought products. The vinegar shower cleaner recipe saves approximately $0.57 per use, the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide scrub saves about $0.18 per use, and the daily shower spray saves $0.52 per use. These DIY options are budget friendly, non-toxic and easy to make. What’s not to love?!

Green cleaning means not only keeping our homes clean, but doing it in a way that doesn’t bring some downright dirty chemicals into our home to accomplish the task or adding to the ocean of chemicals our planet is already swimming in.

Store-bought shower cleaners often contain harsh chemicals, which are especially concerning considering cleaning the shower means we’re in very close quarters while working with them. Common ones to avoid include:

• Ammonia: Can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs.
• Sodium Hydroxide: Found in many bathroom cleaners, this caustic substance can cause burns on contact.
• Synthetic Fragrances: Frequently include phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors linked to hormone imbalances and reproductive issues. In general, many people also experience adverse reactions to synthetic fragrances.

While we can’t promise you won’t still get lightheaded after a sweaty scrub session in your shower stall, you at least won’t be that way because you’ve been breathing in all those harmful chemicals while doing so.