Homemade Shower Cleaner – toxin free
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I've been working hard to make more and more homemade homecare products recently.
Things like homemade glass cleaner, homemade dish soap, and the like.
Today, I've got a homemade shower cleaner to share with you!
Cleaning bathrooms is NOT one of my favorite things.
You remember that song from The Sound of Music, right? “Raindrops on roses and cleaning the bathroom….”
Ahem. We just got the 45th anniversary copy of The Sound of Music as a family Christmas present so it was kind of on my brain :-).
Anyway, I really don't like cleaning bathrooms.
And I really don't like all of the chemical stuff that you supposedly need to buy in order to get it clean.
If you're like me, and you just don't like cleaning the bathroom, then this homemade shower cleaner is going to make your life a lot easier.
We seem to have an issue with hard water. We get a film on our shower that needs to be removed now and then and we have one of those acrylic shower stalls, so you really don't want to use an abrasive cleaner that would put scratches on it–making it harder to get clean in the future.
So the other day, it was time to clean the shower again :-(.
I looked all over the internet to find something easy to make–and that would work!
I found one DIY shower cleaner that was super popular, but it used a premade dish detergent with color and fragrance in it–two things that I really like to avoid– and so I kept looking.
Later, I finally found what I was looking for–a DIY shower cleaner without the extra “stuff”. I whipped it up super quick and really–it worked great. Sadly, the blog isn't around any longer, so I'm pleased to be able to offer it to you all.
No need to scrub a ton and scratch up your shower.
And no exposure to super toxic chemicals.
Why Make Your Own Home Cleaning Products?
1. Reduce toxic exposure for you and your family.
Like I said, I really dislike the chemical and fragrance smells in the multiple chemical-laden products on the shelves these days.
2. Use less packaging
With all of the multiple cleaning products in the stores, I prefer to make my own items, and then refill the reusable spray bottles, etc., thereby lowering my impact on the environment.
3. Lower toxins in the environment.
Every time you purchase something that's loaded with chemicals you encourage companies to keep making them, and after you use it you are putting the toxins back into the air we breathe and the water we drink. Let's keep this stuff out of our environment as much as possible, shall we?
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Sal's Suds
- 1 cup vinegar
- 10 drops essential oils (I used lemon for its grease-cutting capabilities and fresh scent)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a spray or squeezable plastic bottle.
- Shake to combine.
- Apply to shower surface evenly.
- Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes.
- Rinse off.
UPDATE: There is some info on the internet about not mixing castille soap and vinegar, but this really does seem to work. I am going to do some more experimenting and will get back to you on this.
Here are some other great posts about Natural Home Care Products:
– No-Streak Glass Cleaner
– Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid
– Homemade Cleaning Paste Recipe
Since I've made quite a few DIY household products, I had everything in my home needed to make this.
If you don't, all of the ingredients are fairly easy to find and you will be able to use them for other DIY projects in the future.
You should be able to get most of the ingredients for this Homemade Shower Cleaner at the store. If you prefer to shop online, you could check out Amazon.
You can check out Rocky Mountain Oils (formerly Native American Nutritionals) for essential oils. I recommend them in my Best Essential Oils Series.
What DIY Home Care Products do you make?
The debate about borax is just that; the research I’ve done disproved the side effects enough for me to continue using it. Just a thought.
Also a question: Dr. Bonner’s website says not to use it mixed with vinegar because they cancel each other out, becoming inert, in a nutshell. I wonder if, over time, this formula would become less effective as it sits in the spray bottle?
Thanks for this post! Gonna try it, but maybe with a different soap?
Thanks! About the Bronner’s, I am going to be posting an update. The cleaning solution for sure works, but there is a slight film left behind so I am working something else out. The issue is sort of about inertness, but you’ll see the details in my next post – it’s pretty interesting. I haven’t figured it all out but something is going on for sure – thanks! I don’t know about a different soap b/c it looks like it’s the pH that’s the issue and it looks to me like soaps are all bases.
Since we’re on the subject of showers/bathroom cleaner, anyone know of a good way to get rid of mold on the bathroom ceilings? I’d prefer something natural but mold itself is a health problem so anything effective would be great. thanks!
I’ve started using a vinegar/water mix as my general cleaner. I use Seventh Generation’s tub and tile cleaner for the shower. I recently read that Borax is not a healthy ingredient in green cleaners. I just googled it and found this information:
What’s the problem with borax?
Borax can have short- and long-term health effects:
Short-term irritant. Borax can be irritating when exposure occurs through skin or eye contact, inhalation or ingestion. Poison reports suggest misuse of borax-based pesticides can result in acute toxicity, with symptoms including vomiting, eye irritation, nausea, skin rash, oral irritation and respiratory effects. Toddlers and young children face special risks from hand-to-mouth transfer of carpet or crack and crevice, dust or spray borax treatments.
Hormone disruption. Borax and its cousin, boric acid, may disrupt hormones and harm the male reproductive system. Men working in boric acid-producing factories have a greater risk of decreased sperm count and libido. According to EPA’s safety review of these pesticides, chronic exposure to high doses of borax or boric acid causes testicular atrophy in male mice, rats and dogs.
Animal studies reviewed by the EPA indicate that while the female reproductive system is less sensitive to borax, exposure to it can also lead to reduced ovulation and fertility. Borax and boric acid can cross the placenta, affecting fetal skeletal development and birth weight in animal studies of high-dose exposures.
(Link deleted by Whole New Mom due to it not working anymore.)
I’ve heard about issues w/ Borax as well but haven’t been sure what to do about it. I am assuming you are bringing this up b/c you are thinking we shouldn’t be using it, right? I might have a new better option anyway – stay tuned :).
Cool! Bookmarking this for later use! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
The dish scrubbing brush is key I think to keeping it easy. Also letting the baking soda sit there. I’m not proud to say that my showers have gotten pretty bad before getting to them and this wipes the mildew right off! My husband has even gone behind my back and cleaned with the chemical stuff and I’ve recleaned with baking soda and gotten it cleaner! We do not have hard water. We have annoyingly soft water actually so not sure if that makes a difference
Nice! Yes, I don’t know about the hard water. What is “annoyingly” soft water? I’ve been thinking about getting a softener…..Ours is about 8 grains. Thanks!
LOl, it just feels soft! Like it never rinses out the soap all the way. Our city also uses a strong chemical in it 2 times a year and it actually smells like bleach. freaks me out. The softness just makes me never feel fully clean I guess. I know hard water has it’s own issues but I wish I had that instead.
I think I am going to have to ask my facebook fans – thanks!
I clean my tub and shower with baking soda and a long handle dish scrubber. Wet shower, sprinkle with soda, let sit, then scrub off and rinse. Pretty easy and it gets off everything!
I was just looking at that – does it really work that well? I’ve felt it didn’t work that well for me in the past….
I’ve been getting into natural cleaners more, too. It’s really wonderful how well vinegar and baking soda clean–better than commercial products and without the toxicity. I love posts like this!
Curious about your thoughts on the baking soda/vinegar combo. Many things I have read about these say the acid and base cancel out and render the blend ineffective. But… you have indicated that it works! Thanks for your posts!
Hi Hope. I just responded to another reader about this. You all are sharp! I had seen something like that but really thought this worked. So I am going to have to go back and really check out the shower. Might be “back to the drawing board” on this one…hope not :).
This cleaner is definitely one that I need. But I thought the vinegar and soap cancelled each other out. Maybe not though, if this worked great for you.
I too enjoyed learning about essential oils and how to analyze them for purity. Thanks for your hard work in bringing such vital information to us.
You know, I just read that the other day as well….I’m going to see what I can dig up about this. It appears that they do from what I am reading so I am going to go examine the shower and see…maybe I’ll have to do another “oops” post — Thanks for mentioning this :).
Thank you! This is so timely. I was just looking at my shower wishing I knew of a good DIY cleaner! I’m a fairly new reader and enjoy your content. Thank you, also, for the info on essential oils. I look forward to getting some in the future.
Great to hear it! I hope it works well for you!