I thought I should have maybe titled this post, “Why My Homemade Shower Cleaner Didn't Work — and Here's One That Does!”
It took me a pretty short time to figure out that something wasn't quite right with my Homemade Shower Cleaner.
Read on to find out what went wrong.
First of all, I am so sorry about this. I just get so excited when I find a DIY recipe to share with you all…
You know–a way to
– get the toxins out of your home and your body
– save money and
– still get the job done.
I just love that kind of thing.
Well, I feel horrible when I have to come back and tell you that something I shared just wasn't right.
Like when I had to post on update to my Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid.
Other things I have to admit aren't as humiliating, like when I realize that Lilla Rose Flexi-Clips aren't just foofy hair ornaments.
Or when when I change my mind about The Best Essential Oils Company for the money.
But this one is a little humbling.
You see, after using my Homemade Shower Cleaner to get some of the soap scum and mineral deposits off of my shower, it looked great.
I really thought I had found something wonderful–and so I posted about it.
It was a super simple recipe — basically just castille soap and vinegar.
What I didn't know was that there is an issue when mixing those two ingredients together.
I read a number of posts, looked up pH scales, and even corresponded with a few chemists (one of them being my father-in-law. He's really a genius, and very engaging, and has some great stories about his days teaching in the high school chemistry lab. I wish he'd been my teacher :-).)
What happens, it seems, is that the acid and base in the vinegar and the castille soap react, causing the castille soap to unsaponify, which basically means that the soap is broken down to its original oils.
Whatever the reason–my spray bottle is now clogged and though I couldn't really see it, when I scraped my fingernail (or this pan scraper) against the shower wall, a bunch of residue from my not-so-good-shower-cleaner came off.
Ick.
Sorry about that folks.
I do have some good news to share, however.
A Revised Homemade Shower Cleaner – Homemade “Soft Scrub” that took off the filmy gunk and is my new shower cleaner.
I got this recipe from Live Renewed and I really like it! (Notice that Emily at Live Renewed made the same mistake I made. Turns out a lot of bloggers have been posting vinegar and castile soap cleaning mixtures that just don't work. Glad I'm not the only one :-)!)
WARNING: Unless you are going to add a broad spectrum preservative to this lotion, please use it within 24 hours.
Homemade Shower Cleaner | Homemade “Soft Scrub”
Ingredients
3/4 cup baking soda (slightly heaped)
1/4 cup castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's)
1 Tablespoon water (please use filtered water. See Is Your Water Safe?)
A few drops of essential oil (optional. Here's my series on choosing “the best” essential oils.)
Method
1. Add all ingredients to a bowl.
2. Mix completely.
3. Spread the mixture on the area you wish to clean. Rub in lightly with a rag, or sponge and rinse off.
4. Store in a closed container.
We use rags for everything in our home.
Super frugal and a great way to use clothing that isn't usable anymore.
I'm glad that I finally have something that works to clean our shower.
This would also work on your:
– bathroom sinks
– kitchen sink
– kitchen countertop
– toilets
– anywhere that you need a little cleaning strength without a lot of abasiveness
It even got that “Shower Cleaner Unsaponified Gunk” off of my shower–lickety split.
Sorry if I caused you all trouble.
This Homemade Shower Cleaner really works.
For other DIY Personal and Home Care Products, check out:
– “The Best” Eye Makeup Remover
– Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid
– Jojoba Oil Face Wash
– Easiest Deodorant
– Foaming Hand Soap
– Nourishing Sugar Scrub for Hands and Body
– Nourishing Lip Scrub
I found the same thing about 15 years ago after talking with a chemist. Vinegar and soap DO NOT mix. That’s why we use it in the rinse cycle when washing clothes….it breaks down and removes any residual soap. Also, I don’t mix up the baking soda/soap mixture anymore….The baking soda loses it’s properties quickly after mixing up anyway. I keep a box of baking soda under the bathroom sink to use for cleanup and the Dr. Bronner’s is always there by the tub anyway, as well as a bottle in the shower – it’s what we bathe with. I don’t need the soda every time tho, as I have found that the best thing to remove soap scum is…..well….oddly enough….soap. The Dr. Bronner’s removes it quick as a wink.
Keep up the good work!!
Are you serious? I was thinking the baking soda was just for a little abrasion. What property does it lose? Now I am going to have to write another post? Yikes!
This might sound like something obvious, can this be mixed ahead of time and stored until it’s time to clean the showers? Looking at the recipe, I don’t know if it’s something I ‘m suppose to put together right before cleaning. I like to have cleaning products already mixed up and ready to go so I can clean with minimal effort. 🙂
I don’t think it should have to be made each time. I would put a lid on the container though :).
This is the same recipe I love using only I don’t ever measure it 🙂 I just dump some baking soda in a bowl and add enough castile soap to make a good paste. I also add a few drops of tea tree oil. Works wonderfully for showers and tubs as well as sinks and to get all the burned-on gunk on my glass top range.
I am going to add the Essential oils idea – thanks! I was thinking a nice scent would be a great addition!
I know! I first discovered it when I tried to use castille soap and water in my liquid soap dispenser for my bathroom. I thought it was strange when the soap started separating… Now I know! I wish we could get a whole house filter too, but we live in a rented condo and some things have to be approved by the landlord. (we found out we can’t get our ducts cleaned for this reason too.)
Ugh. I’ve thought about renting but that would be the tough part.
I bet you could get those ducts cleaned if your doctor says it’s medically necessary. Not to allow it could be a potential violation of the fair housing act especially if it’s disability related. I have severe dust allergies that I know duct cleaning helped with.
I don’t think you can get a doctor to do that. I tried to get whatever I could recommended by a doc but they are really strict. It’s your choice what house to buy.
I’m lucky I have a good landlord. I asked and they (owned by a couple) gave me permission and reimbursed me.
Not only that, but sometimes castille soap will separate if you put it in water. I found this out the hard way. Between my hard water and all the chlorine my local water treatment plant adds, it causes the castille soap to desaponify in the water. So Emily’s all purpose cleaner did not work for me. (I mixed some natural dish soap with water in a spray bottle and it works great for an all purpose cleaner.) So I guess my water must have some pretty nasty stuff added to it… 🙁
How crazy. That is really something. We have a whole house filter but that is really strange!