How to Clean a Shower with Vinegar
Vinegar is not just a condiment; it’s a versatile, non-toxic cleaning solution for showers, tubs, and sinks. It’s a powerful cleaner that deters mold and mildew buildup, making it an essential tool for your cleaning arsenal. We’ve gathered the best advice for using this multipurpose solution to clean your shower.
Using Vinegar to Clean:
- Tubs and Showers
- Shower Heads
- Glass Shower Doors
- Drains
- Do Not Use Vinegar on These Surfaces
- References
One necessary precaution to keep in mind when using vinegar for cleaning is to always check with the manufacturer to ensure it won’t damage the metal or surface. This simple step can prevent potential damage and provide a safe and effective cleaning process.
Tubs and Showers
Linda Cobb, author of Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean, uses white vinegar to remove soap scum and mineral deposits from sinks, tubs, and showers. She recommends warming vinegar and pouring it into a spray bottle. Spray it on and let it sit for five to ten minutes, then use a nylon scrubbing sponge to remove the scum. [1]
Author Expertise: Linda Cobb first shared her cleaning tips with readers in a weekly column in Michigan, where she owned a cleaning and disaster-restoration business dealing with the aftermath of fires and floods.
Talking Dirty with the Queen of Clean
To deter mold and mildew, Benjamin Mott, author of 201 Everyday Uses for Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda, suggests spraying walls every few days with a mixture of one cup of white vinegar with 1/4 cup of salt heated over medium heat until the salt dissolves. [2]
Author Expertise: Benjamin Mott is a professional cook, recipe tester, and editor with three decades’ experience in nonfiction and cookbook publishing.
201 Everyday Uses for Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda
Shower Heads
If you have a fixed shower head that is permanently attached and cannot be removed to clean, white vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution, according to Melodie Moore, author of Complete Idiot’s Guide to Household Solutions. Moore suggests taping a small plastic bag half full of vinegar around the shower head, ensuring it is completely immersed. Allow it to soak for up to an hour, depending on the buildup. Finish by wiping it clean. [3]
Author Expertise: Melodie Moore and her husband, Ron, publish “Tightwad Living,” a newsletter about saving money. Her columns appear in The Seattle Times, The Jacksonville Journal and First for Women magazine. She lives in Palm Harbor, FL.
If you have a removable shower head, it’s best to remove it for the deepest clean. Charles MacPherson, author of The Pocket Butler’s Guide to Good Housekeeping, advises removing the head and scrubbing the nozzles with a toothbrush to clear any buildup. He suggests soaking the shower head in vinegar for a few hours for stubborn buildups. [4]
Author’s Expertise: A world authority in household management and butlering, Charles MacPherson is the founder of Charles MacPherson Associates Inc., North America’s only registered school for butlers and household managers.
The Pocket Butler’s Guide to Good Housekeeping
Glass Shower Doors
Melodie Moore also suggests wiping your glass shower door once a week with a sponge dipped in full-strength white vinegar to keep them clean. [5]
Drains
For slow-moving drains, pour an equal amount of vinegar and baking soda down the drain and allow it to sit for five to ten minutes. Flush with hot water. [6]
Do Not Use Vinegar on These Surfaces
Vinegar may be non-toxic, but that doesn’t mean it is safe for all surfaces. Vinegar is acidic and has the potential to damage some items. Here is a quick list of some items you should never clean with vinegar. [7]
- Natural stone surfaces – marble, granite, limestone, or travertine
- Grout
- Unfinished wood/hardwood floors
- Cast iron
- Electronics
- Rubber
- Waxed furniture
References
- [1] Cobb, Linda. Talking Dirty With The Queen Of Clean: Housekeeping’s Royal Lady Shares Hundreds Of Fast, Ingenious Tips!. United Kingdom, Simon & Schuster UK, 2012.
- [2] Mott, Benjamin. 201 Everyday Uses for Salt, Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda: Natural, Affordable, and Sustainable Solutions for the Home. United Kingdom, Sasquatch Books, 2022.
- [3][5] Moore, Melodie. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Household Solutions. United States, Alpha Books, 1998.
- [4][6] MacPherson, Charles. The Pocket Butler’s Guide to Good Housekeeping: Expert Advice on Cleaning, Laundry and Home Maintenance. United States, Appetite by Random House, 2020.
- [7] Martha Stewart – “9 Household Items You Should Never Clean with Vinegar.“
