How to Clean a Shower
Make your shower sparkle like a pro with quick and easy instructions
Learning how to clean a shower can help you keep your bathroom sparkling in a few simple steps. Body soil, soap residue, mildew, and mold are the main culprits that build up in showers, making them dirty.
Establish a weekly shower cleaning routine to keep fungal and bacterial growth at bay. If you don't clean regularly, mold, mildew, and bacteria will creep up the shower curtain and the walls.
If you squeegee or clean off soap scum every time you use the shower, you can prolong deep cleaning to every two weeks.
Follow these steps for how to clean showers, including those with ceramic tile, fiberglass, and natural stone. And learn tips for how to tackle tough shower stains.
How Often to Clean Your Shower
Clean the shower thoroughly every week. If you take one minute each time you use the shower by using a shower squeegee or a bath towel to wipe down the shower walls and the shower door, you can stretch cleaning to every two weeks.
Shower curtains should be washed monthly or more often as needed. Clear the drain catch of any excessive hair.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
Cleaning Ceramic Tile Showers
- Sponge or plastic mesh scrubber
- Rubber gloves
- Soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush
- Squeegee
Cleaning Fiberglass Showers
- Squeegee
- Spray bottle
- Sponge or soft-bristle brush
Cleaning Stone Showers
- Microfiber cloths
- Spray bottle
Cleaning Glass Shower Doors
- Sponge
- Microfiber cloth
- Spray bottle
Cleaning Showerhead
- Soft cloth
Cleaning Shower Drain
- Drain snake or wire hanger
Materials
Cleaning Ceramic Tile Showers
- Commercial shower and grout cleaner or a homemade solution of 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, and 3 quarts of hot water in a spray bottle
- Chlorine bleach
Cleaning Fiberglass Showers
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda or borax
- Sponge or soft-bristle brush
Cleaning Stone Showers
- Non-acid, ammonia-free stone cleaner or mild dishwashing soap
- Warm water
- Chlorine bleach
- Stone sealer
Cleaning Glass Shower Doors
- Commercial glass cleaner (optional)
- Dish soap
- Distilled white vinegar
- Rain-X Water Repellent
Cleaning Showerhead
- Distilled white vinegar
- Plastic bag
- Rubber bands or twist ties
Cleaning Shower Drain
- Distilled white vinegar
Instructions
How to Clean Ceramic Tile Showers
The biggest challenge with cleaning tile showers is the grout, especially if left unsealed. The porous nature of the grout makes it the perfect growth medium for mildew spores, so it's essential to keep up with cleaning to keep mildew away.
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Empty the Shower
The shower will be much easier to clean if you remove all the shampoo bottles, soap, razors, poofs, and toys. Combine products and recycle any empty bottles.
Wipe each item with a cloth dipped in hot water to remove any sticky messes or mold. Remove hair from the drain.
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Ventilate and Wet the Walls
To help ventilate any fumes from cleaning supplies (and allow the shower to dry quickly), turn on the bathroom fan and open the door and windows.
Use a bucket or a handheld showerhead like the Waterpik ShowerClean Pro with a pressure rinse head to wet the shower walls.
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Remove Mildew
If you notice mildew on the grout, tackle it before you move on to the usual grime.
- Mix a solution of one part chlorine bleach and two parts water.
- While wearing rubber gloves, apply the solution to the mildewed grout with a sponge.
- Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes, then scrub the grout with a soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush.
- Rinse the area well with hot water before moving to the next step.
Warning
Never mix cleaning solutions like chlorine bleach and ammonia that can cause toxic fumes.
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Apply the Cleaner and Wait
Whether using a commercial cleaner or a homemade solution, the key to easier cleaning is giving the product time to do its job.
Spray cleaner on the shower's walls and floor, and step away for at least five to 10 minutes. The cleaner will begin to break apart the soap scum and soil and lessen your need to scrub.
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Scrub and Rinse
Clean every section of the walls and floor using a sponge or plastic mesh scrubber. Never use a metal scrubber or hard-bristle brush because they can scratch the ceramic tile.
Rinse the walls with clean water, starting at the top and moving down.
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Squeegee Dry
Use a squeegee or old towels to remove any water from every surface. Skipping this step will result in water spots.
How to Clean Fiberglass Showers
Fiberglass shower enclosures are durable and easy to clean using the right tools and products. It's essential never to use anything that will scratch the fiberglass surface, especially regarding what you clean with. When scratches occur, soil settles into the area, making cleaning harder.
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Empty, Spritz, and Squeegee
After removing all the bottles and accessories in the shower, spray the walls and floor with distilled white vinegar.
Use a squeegee to wipe down the walls. The vinegar will cut through soap scum and any minerals in water spots.
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Scrub the Floor
Fiberglass floors are usually textured and need some scrubbing to remove grime. Use a good scrub brush or a soft-bristle brush to scrub away the dirt on the textured floor. Rinse with water.
How to Clean Stone Showers
If you have upgraded to marble, granite, or another natural stone as a finish, your shower should be cleaned a bit differently. By wiping down the walls after every use, you should only clean the stone once a week.
Warning
Never use vinegar or harsh cleaners on natural stone because they can etch the surface.
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Empty and Spray
Empty the shower of all loose items. Spray down the walls with a commercial stone cleaner or 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap solution in 1 quart of warm water.
Wipe down with a microfiber cloth, using a bit of extra elbow grease on any water spots and soap scum. Rinse with clean water and dry with a microfiber cloth, starting at the top of the shower and working to the bottom to avoid streaking.
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Treat Mildew
If you spot any mildew on the stone or grout, mix one part chlorine bleach and one part water.
While wearing rubber gloves, dip a sponge into the mixture and apply it to the mildewed area. You can use a toothbrush to reach smaller grout areas.
Let the solution sit and work for 15 minutes, scrubbing lightly with a soft-bristle brush and then rinsing away with plain water.
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Reseal the Stone (Twice a Year)
Natural stone typically needs a barrier to prevent chemicals and water from penetrating the stone. Sealing the stone twice a year prevents bacteria from settling into the natural crevices of the stone's surface.
After the stone is immaculate and dry, apply a sealer in small sections following product directions. Buff with a soft cloth until all of the sealant is absorbed.
How to Clean Glass Shower Doors
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Make a Cleaning Solution
You can use a store-bought cleaning solution or make a solution from equal parts distilled white vinegar and dish soap. Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
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Spray Cleaning Solution
Spray the cleaning solution on both sides of the shower door. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes.
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Wipe Clean
Use a damp sponge and clean water to wipe away the cleaning solution. Dry the surface with a microfiber cloth.
How to Clean a Showerhead
Here's how to quickly clean a showerhead without unthreading it. The inside of the showerhead is a dark, moist place where mold and mildew can flourish. If left to multiply, a showerhead becomes a way to spread mold spores every time you shower.
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Soak Showerhead
Use distilled white vinegar as a soaking solution and soak the showerhead in a plastic bag filled with vinegar for one hour. Secure the bag by tying it with twist ties or rubber bands.
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Rinse, Wipe, and Dry
After an hour, turn on the water to flush the showerhead. Dry the showerhead and polish it with a soft cloth and repeat monthly.
How to Clean a Shower Drain
Clean any clogs from your shower to prevent water from accumulating on the bath floor.
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Remove and Clean Drain Cover
Remove the drain's cover and soak it in white vinegar to remove soapy residue.
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Remove Clog
Use a drain snake or a straightened-out wire hanger to make a small hook to pull out hair clogs or other shower gunk on one end.
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Rinse Drain
Run hot water down the drain to flush out any remaining buildup.
How to Remove Stains From Showers
Removing Rust Stains
If a metal can or any other object leaves a rusty ring in the shower, apply a paste of lemon juice and baking soda to remove the stain. However, if the stain is large or old, you must use a commercial cleaner that contains oxalic acid.
Warning
Never use chlorine bleach on a rust stain. It may cause the rust to become permanently set on the surface.
Eliminating Adhesive Residue
If you've had stickers on the shower floor or a removable accessory left some goo, use olive oil to saturate the area. Allow it to sit and work for at least 15 minutes, and then use a plastic scraper or the edge of a credit card to remove the goo. If a bit of glue is left, some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball will typically remove it.
Tips to Keep Your Shower Clean Longer
- Prevent mold and mildew by removing moisture. Towel down a shower after you shower, improve ventilation by using the exhaust fan every time you shower, open a window, or if you don't have a window or ventilation is poor, get a dehumidifier for the bathroom.
- Bath mats with suction cups are necessary for certain slippery showers and bathtubs, but they're also a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Wash them every week and replace them every two years to prevent a mold problem from brewing.
- If you need a quick remedy for cleaning mold off your vinyl shower curtain liner, a melamine sponge, like Magic Eraser, can wipe away your woes.
- Shower caddies or shower nooks also tend to harbor mold and mildew in crevices; remember to clean these areas when you shower.
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How do professionals clean showers?
Professionals use acid-based cleaning solutions like vinegar for hard water spots and soap scum. For deep-set soap scum, cleaners will use heavy-duty detergents and degreasers. Bleach cleaning solutions are best reserved for cleaning the mold and mildew from grout. Professionals also use a clear or colored sealant to prevent mold or mildew from settling or spreading from the grout lines.
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What is the best thing to clean showers with?
Clean your shower with vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap as a fast, efficient, and inexpensive cleaner.
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What is the best cleaner for a shower without scrubbing?
The best non-abrasive cleaner for a shower is vinegar and dish soap. Never use a metal scrubber or hard-bristled brush since it can scratch delicate tile.
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Is it better to clean a shower wet or dry?
It's better to clean a shower right after it has been used. The steam and moisture loosen dirt and make grime easier to wipe away.