Cleaning the Bathroom Shower

One of the most disliked cleaning jobs around the house is the shower. Due to the design of the whole thing and the clingyness of soap scum it makes cleaning it that much more of a headache.

So here are a few tips to simplify cleaning your bathroom shower as much as possible.

1. First invest in a handheld showerhead. The prices for them are fairly reasonable and considering how much you will save in elbow grease this is a no brainer. Most of them also come with various water settings so you get two benefits for the price of one. Something to help you clean your shower that also gives you a good massage!

Now just in case you’re wondering how a handheld showerhead will help you clean your shower think of all the times you have to reach hither and yon to rinse away your shower cleaner. Do you ever have to pause and take a deep breath after all that bending and stretching? I used to. Not fun! This is where the handheld shower head comes in. Just stand outside the shower and point in all directions to give your shower a good rinse. Most of them come with a 6 foot hose which is plenty for an average shower.

2. Second make sure you are using the right cleaner for the job. Most times you are looking to get rid of soap scum and hard water deposits in the shower so read your cleaners and make sure you purchase one that says it will do that AND is safe for your shower finish. You can also mix up an eco-friendly shower cleaner from baking soda (for the scrubbing power), vinegar (to get the soap scum), dish soap (for the anti-bacterial properties), and water (to dilute).  With natural products sometimes you have to let them work a bit so after applying (to damp shower walls) let it sit for several minutes before rinsing off.

3. Third do not wait until Spring Cleaning to clean your shower. Clean it at least once a week or the build up will be mind boggling. I personally know of one family that cleans their shower after every use... no it’s not mine but it is something to think about.

Shower Cleaning Steps

1. Step in shower and clean doors first (if you have them)
2. Wet shower doors. Apply cleaner. Rinse
3. Now step outside of the shower
4. Wet down the shower walls
5. Apply cleaner (here’s where I use a long handled microfiber shower cleaner mop to get this done)
6. Let sit a few minutes (don’t let it dry) and rinse
7. Use a dry cloth to dry shower.
8. Now buff up the chrome and fixtures.
9. Wipe down the outside of the doors.

More Details

• If you have buildup in the door tracks here is where you take those toothbrushes I was talking about and scrub it away. Rinse and dry well.
• If your shower head has mineral buildup (you can see it and you will have poor water flow) tie a plastic baggie that has vinegar in it to the shower head and let sit overnight. In the morning run the shower to dislodge the mineral deposits.
• You get the idea. Vinegar can remove that hard water build up in your bathroom.