One of the clever bathroom cleaning products that I’ve really grown to like over the years are the daily shower cleaner sprays. After you shower you simply mist some of the spray around on the shower walls and it helps to keep your shower clean with less mold or mineral buildup in between more thorough cleanings.
I started out with the name brands like Tilex. . .
then used the store brand . . .
then bought the dollar store stuff . . .
and now – I finally know how to make my own!
My homemade daily shower cleaner spray is actually doing an even better job than the store bought stuff was and that’s because the homemade version includes a dishwasher rinse aid product in the recipe. This has done an awesome job of leaving the shower surfaces cleaner and smoother after a shower.
When it’s cleaning day, I just give my shower tile a little scrubbing with my homemade lemon soft scrub and it looks great. No heavy duty scrubbing is needed because the daily spray keeps things from getting too bad during the week.
In one of my previous posts about how to clean a shower head I shared that I also have some annoying glass block windows in one of my showers. Those glass block windows get covered in water spots – and they are soooo hard to clean off. I was super happy when I discovered that vinegar worked really great on the water spots.
But guess what?
This homemade daily shower cleaner spray keeps the water spots from ever forming on the glass windows in the first place! Oh happy day! Those windows finally look cleaner than they ever have before. I’m sure it’s the rinse aid in the mix that’s working the magic.
If you’re a person that likes to use the daily shower sprays, I think you’ll really love this shower cleaner recipe too.
I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the store bought stuff again. It really is that good.
My recipe makes a 32 oz batch, which is the same size as the commercial brands of daily shower cleaner sprays that are being sold. Just save the bottle from a store bought brand once you’ve used it up, and simply refill it with your own homemade version.
To make my DIY version, I begin by pouring a ½ cup hydrogen peroxide, ½ cup rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of rinse aid (like Finish Jet Dry) into a spray bottle of at least a 32 oz size. I always use my funnel to make things easier!
Next, slowly add 3 cups of water (the mixture might bubble a little bit because of the dish soap). If you are re-using a 32 oz bottle from a store bought daily shower cleaner spray, you really don’t even need to measure for this step . . . simply top off the bottle with water.
Put the top back on the spray bottle and then slowly tip the bottle back and forth to mix the ingredients.
To use: After showering, mist the spray on the walls of the shower and you’re done. There’s no need to wipe.
Update: I’ve discovered this daily shower cleaner makes a great window cleaner! You can read more here: My Unexpected Window Cleaner
Update #2: I’ve been asked by readers if they should be concerned if there is overspray that lands on the bottles of shampoo, or the shower curtain, etc. I’ve been spraying this around my shower for several years and I’m sure I’ve hit some of the other stuff too, but I have never seen any problem so I think it’s OK to spray away!
Update #3: There have been many questions about whether this mixture is safe on a variety of tub/shower surfaces such as fiberglass, plastic, glass, marble, etc. After doing some research, I believe that because there is nothing acidic in this mixture (no vinegar or lemon juice), that it is indeed safe for all the common bathroom tub and shower surfaces that are non-pourous surfaces. For pourous surfaces (such as slate) you will not see much benefit as it will just be absorbed. More discussion on this topic can be found in the comments below.
An additional thing to be mindful of is that hydrogen peroxide can slowly break down in the light. That’s why hydrogen peroxide is always sold in those dark brown bottles. If possible, keep this mixture in a cupboard or some other place where it will be dark to keep the hydrogen peroxide at optimum performance. A couple other ideas are to use a dark bottle, or to just add a little more peroxide from time to time. A reader told me she just put a sock over the bottle, and another wraps her bottle with dark duct tape. {Two ways to just make your own dark bottle! 🙂 }
You might also see that this mixture is a light color when you first mix it (because of the rinse aid or colored dish soap that may have been used) but over time the mixture seems to look more clear. Once again, I think it’s the peroxide in the mixture that causes the colors to slowly fade away.
Homemade Daily Shower Spray
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1/2 cup Rubbing Alcohol
- 1 teaspoon Liquid Dish Soap
- 1 tablespoon Dishwasher Rinse Aid
- 3 cups Water
Instructions:
- Begin by pouring the hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, liquid dish soap, and the dishwasher rinse aid into a spray bottle of at least a 32 oz size. A funnel is very helpful for this step.
- Next, slowly add the 3 cups of water (the mixture might bubble a little bit because of the dish soap). If you are re-using a 32 oz bottle from a store bought daily shower cleaner spray, you really don’t even need to measure for this step . . . simply top off the bottle with water.
- Put the top back on the spray bottle and then slowly tip the bottle back and forth to mix the ingredients.
- To use: After showering, mist the spray on the walls of the shower and you’re done. There’s no need to wipe.
More Easy Homemade Cleaners:
Made this and was AMAZED at the results! So great! Thanks for sharing!
Could you add a couple drops of essential oil to the mixture in order to give your shower a fresh/pleasant scent (i.e. lemon or eucalyptus)? I wasn’t sure if the spray will leave your shower smelling subtly of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.
Got this recipe from a friend and loves it. Just made this recipe and applied it to my shower. Now my husband asks if it is safe since we live rural and have a septic system??
Thanks for sharing these articles, Keep publishing your content and publish new content for good readers.
Useful information. Keep sharing!!!
It’s more expensive to buy, but I always keep on hand cherry almond scented cleansing alcohol (70% by volume) for my nails, so I’m going to try it for this recipe. I get this alcohol at Sally Beauty supply.
Has anyone tried adding some essential oil to make it smell nice?
Hi where do I buy the hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol from?
Thanks
In the U.S., you should be able to buy hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol at any drug store or larger grocery store. It is usually sold in the pharmacy area of stores, near other first aid items like bandaids. Sometimes you can find these at dollar stores too.
Do you have a specific dish soap that you use? I’m excited to try this as I have looked all over for the daily spray but cannot find it! Found it on Amazon but it was very expensive. Thank you!
I usually use Dawn dish soap although there have been many times I have just used the store brand from my local grocery store (Meijer True Goodness brand). I think almost any dish soap would be OK.
I have hard water and I found adding another tablespoon of rinse aid really helps.
I have been using your recipe for several years now, and I just love it! I’ve seen zero mold or pre-mold in my showers with it, and it’s especially helping our vinyl shower curtain liners. No issues with it harming any surfaces. I have two little suggestions to add: 1. Do keep it in an opaque bottle, in the dark, since light can make hydrogen p. ineffective… and 2. when mixing, I pour the water into the spray bottle first, then mix the other ingredients in a measuring cup and add them to the water – no bubbles! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe – it’s so much less expensive than the commercial stuff I was using, much easier to find the ingredients, and I feel it’s probably a little more healthy since I know what’s in it!
I was super excited to find this and I’ve been using it for a little over a week. My husband is finding that the solution is eating away at the caulk around the tub. Any solution to this?
I love this! I also now use it as a light cleaner for quick cleans of my bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Thank you so much!
We just had our bathroom remolded and I used my half water half vinegar solution on my new pebble stone and grout because I hate the pink that seems to start to show up so quickly. Well… I now have a white haze on the areas that I sprayed this mixture. After some research it appears the vinegar caused the sealer to become cloudy, I could cry! Do you think your solution will be safer?
Well, there is nothing in this mixture that is acidic which is a plus for it being safe for many surfaces.
Love this stuff. Works well. I used wintergreen alcohol and it smells great. Thank you.
Can I use vinegar instead of the rinse aid?
The rinse aid is very helpful in not leaving streaks so I think it’s a good ingredient to leave in if you can find this ingredient. You can substitute vinegar, but vinegar is acidic so it should not be used on any soft stones like granite or quartz.
I know it isn’t but from the picture this could have been my post. I have the same funnel and measuring spoons, the same Meijer brand peroxide and rubbing alcohol. I will have to give it a try.
well I’m so excited that i ran upon your blog, very informational! can’t wait to get the ingredients, have to find the dish washer rinse…
I’d like to offer you an idea/hack I use when I spray my shower. I cannot continually pump a normal spray bottle (at least to spray my large shower) so I put my shower spray into one of those (small) lawn/garden air pressure pumps, pump the air out then hit the button and get a nice mist/flow to do the shower & floor. After spraying I release the pressure of the container (it busted on me once, lesson learned) and put away.
after reading all the other comments, I’m happy I learned about keeping this product in the dark (so hiding behind the toilet with the light out isn’t good enough? 🙂 ) Thanks again for your recipe, I’ll report back my findings when applicable.
i have never seen rinse aid in our south african shops
any thing else i can use instead
We have rinse aid in South Africa. Look in the cleaning isles at the dishwasher stuff. Dark blue bottles….
Hello, when I added the alcohol to the peroxide it went cloudy. Is this normal???
I am in the UK, so isopropyl alcohol isn’t easy to find so I used surgical spirit which is apparently the equivalent.
Mine has never gone cloudy when mixing.
It does seem to work, but just more concerned it has reacted and created something toxic :/
I have been using this spray for years with no toxic problems.
Ok, I managed to order some isopropyl alcohol – the ‘surgical spirit’ had castor oil and methyl-salicylate in it so I have think that might have been the issue. Works great now!
I tried the Mix, Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, dish soap and Rinse Aid, I found it left the shower walls and especially the Glass streaky I had to go with the commercial stuff. Chris
I found the same. Leaves streaks on glass doors, I’ve had to go back to the commercial products.
I still clean once a week or two but no major streaks. But I cleaned the same amount using the store bought stuff. I find this works better.
It leaves a soap film on glass shower door. Could this be because the Dawn now is “3 times stronger“ and therefore, maybe I need to use 1/3 of the amount??
Wouldn’t the Hydrogen Peroxide break down shortly thereafter in the spray bottle?
I try to keep mine in a dark place, or you can keep it in a dark bottle, or you can also just keep adding a bit more peroxide as time goes along.
The only problem with this mixture is it’s expensive to make? I paid £10 each bottle of the rubbing alcohol and the peroxide so it ended up costing about £5 per bottle!
Perhaps prices have risen while these products are more in supply during the pandemic. Rubbing alcohol and peroxide always used to be very low cost items at my local stores!
Just wondering what Grade [% ] is the Hydrogen Peroxide i.e. 3% , 6% please ?
I use the 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Thank you so much for the spray. It works really great and leaves even my dull shower clean. I put a couple of drops of scented oil to give it a fresh scent.
Question: My spray bottles are smaller than your standard ones. Is it ok to make a double batch and leave it in a gallon water jug (keeping it out of sunlight) or will it weaken the peroxide…
Thanks,
Christine
Yes, as long as it is kept out of the light so the peroxide doesn’t break down, I would say it’s OK to make a larger batch.
Just made this today, I’ll let you know how it works out. The store shelves are absolutely bare of shower spray right now. Thanks for the recipe. Terri
I was going to start using vinegar for the rinse aid in my dishwasher, but it looks like I shouldn’t use vinegar for this recipe?
Because vinegar is acidic you need to be a little more careful of the surfaces you use it on. It is not recommended for granite, quartz, or other soft stones. However if you have a basic tile shower, or an ordinary shower surround, the vinegar is probably an OK substitution to make.
With so many comments and kudos, I thought this was a good idea. It didn’t work at all. Not only that, but it turned my clear shower curtain liner “foggy” …worse looking than when it was dirty. I have to go buy a new one. /:
Thanks for letting us know I was going to try but rubbing alcohol and peroxide is hard to find these days and I would have really let down! Appreciate your feedback. I can’t stand falling for these D.I.Y to just see them miserably FAIL
thank you so much for this!!
This was awesome to find, thank you for sharing. For some reason, shower spray is not available right now. I guess the companies are not focused on shower spray at the moment given the pandemic?
Anyway, I just wondered what percentage of rubbing alcohol formula do you recommend? I have 99% and 70%.
Thanks!
I usually use the 70% but if you want to substitute the 99% that is OK too. I’ve been hearing that the shower spray is hard to find right now in the stores too, so I’m glad to have my homemade option!
Just made a batch and sprayed my shower. This is just what I was looking for!
Scrubbing Bubbles is my favorite Daily Shower Cleaner, but not always easy to find. I am going to try your “Recipe”. Thanks so much for sharing. Did you mention this also works on windows?
Yes, I have also used this as a window cleaner with good success!
The best spray I have found THANK YOU! I have bought and made many and hands down the best!
Thank you for this recipe. Daily shower spray is scarce or out of stock at all our local stores. I put ours in a cleaned out white bottle to try to preserve the integrity of the hydrogen peroxide (don’t have a dark bottle). The first time we used it, it dried with streaks of the cleaner down the shower door wall. But when I ran a wet washcloth over it, the door was clean as a whistle. It really works, but for us, we have to wipe it down. That’s worth it to avoid the scrubbing of hard water spots!
Į mix Little bit of bleach and water.
Own my own cleaning business. But I have tried and tried everything possible to man to get the black mold stain off of a customers shower, however it’s never been there because I cleaned for her every 2 weeks….But I went maybe a month or so before cleaning for her again. And it was terrible!! Black/pinkish mold all over. I was able to lighten it some, but want go completely away and it’s granite mind you!! Please help, if you have a solution!!!! TIA💛
I did a little bit of research on your mold question, and it seems like it always comes down to bleach (or peroxide for a slightly gentler option) to deal with mold problems. I did watch one video where the man was using “thick bleach” which apparently is an option you can buy that has a slightly more gel like consistency that helps it cling to surfaces better. He then was putting some kind of rolled up paper toweling or something over it to keep it in contact with the mold longer too. And that’s probably the key. If a cleaner is going to make the mold stain go away, it might just have to stay in contact with the surface long enough to keep working on the stain.
Clorox cleaner + Bleach the original
Not the blue one but the yes on the green one
Works tremendously
I am in the UK and use Dettol to get the black mould off the corners of the shower cubicle and the silicone. If it doesn’t work right away do it it again and it should come out like new and then you can keep it up with the homemade shower cleaner. It really works for me.
Idk if this helps, but I always use that clorox toilet cleaner gel (the bleach one) to clean the tile showers of any new apartment. It clings really well and I just let it soak in overnight. Visually you can see a huge difference in potentially moldy areas, but it also just gives me tons of peace of mind. Plus, a 2-pack is maybe $4.
For the ? about overspray if it’s a little no worries, onse in awhile I spray anything that’s removable 1st(shampoo,buff puffs ect) 1st, then spray everything else, get out and dressed come back and spray off removeable things. For bottles I use old ones that have darker pkg or get the big hydrogen bottles when done add a sprayer to top. I’ve been doing for 30yrs
I agree – I think this works better than the store-bought! But the rubbing alcohol smell is really strong – can I add something to tame it down?
Have u heard of odoban? It’s a great product it’s a deodorant and disenfectient. Just 1/2 the rubbing alcohol add 1/2 odoban. I was born w/asthma & alot allergies to everything, especially scents
Why not add dishwashing liquid last to avoid the bubbles? Personally I like bubbles, just sayin’! Lol
It bubbles too…🙄
I want to thank you so much for this recipe it is absolutely great! I just can’t believe how good it is and I’ve made many DIY recipes before and none of them compares to this.
Thank you thank you thank you Cathy
Can you use this mixture for cleaning outdoor windows? And if so, will it do any damage to the grass, flowers and shrubs under the windows?
Yes, you can use this on windows outdoors (I have used it that way too). If there is a tiny bit of overspray, I don’t think it would hurt any plants. I think the only way it might possibly do harm is if a whole lot of it somehow was spilled on them
Do you have to wipe it off outdoor windows?
Yes, you would spray it on the windows and then wipe it off, the same as you would other glass cleaners.
Rinse aids are usually made with citric acid. Will this not erode tile over time?
Does it matter what brand of dish soap?
Different brands of dish soap will work, however try to use a dish soap that is for grease cutting, rather than the ones that are more about hand moisturizing.
it left everything foggy and streaky
Make sure nothing is old and measured correctly, if so then make sure it’s on the finest spray not stream if that doesnt help use a foaming attatchement
Is there a substitute for the rinse aid?
Another commenter thought about substituting RainX, a product that is sold in auto supply areas of stores and is used as a rain repellent on car windshields. I have not personally tried it but it’s something to consider if you can’t find rinse aid.
To keep the bubbles down reverse steps one and two.
Can you use these substances/chemicals with a septic system?
I believe that Yes, you can, because the main concern with septic tanks are strong chemicals that can kill the helpful bacteria and there is nothing of that strength in this mixture.
Is this safe to use on dark tile and grout? I worry the peroxide will lighten the grout.
You could probably just leave the peroxide out if it is a concern. The rubbing alcohol and the rinse aid will still be very helpful to prevent spotting and mildew in the shower.
Am going to try is
double entry , pls remove
slow system.
Can you spray on shower glass doors? If yes is a squeegee be sufficient to get the glass sparkly or does the dish soap in the mix streak the glass?
Add the water first and it won’t bubble up, then add other ingredients.
It didn’t stop mold or do anything with soap scum.
I’ve been using my mixture for years and it’s done a fine job for me keeping away the mold and scum.
Vinegar
Hello Bev,
I will try your shower daily spray… I have tried another DIY that has vinegar, peroxide and dish soap, and the grout in my new shower is coming off. I did some research and find out that Vinegar will soften the grout because it’s an acid. I am hoping that by rinsing it with lots of water, it will be ok and harden again.
I hope that your formula is safe to use on grout.
Thank you
Filo
Lovely,,
hubby just uses watered down vinegar in his shower spray & loves it..
and No, LOL, vinegar wont eat your shower !
Can a drop of fabric softener be used. I do not have a dishwasher.
No, I don’t think fabric softener would be an equivalent substitution. The rinse aid doesn’t cost much so even if you don’t have a dishwasher, it’s not too costly to buy a small bottle. Sometimes you can find rinse aid at the dollar stores too.
I was wondering if I can use the homemade daily shower spray on my shower curtain liner & is it safe on tile as well?
Yes, you can use it on your liner, and it is safe to use on tile too.
I just had a new shower installed with clear glass door. It was recommended NOT to use anything with ammonia or acids. That eliminates winded and other OTC prodcts
What do you think. Would your stuff work
Thanks
Well, there is nothing acidic in my mixture and the only possibility of ammonia would be some dish soaps have trace amounts of an ammonia derivative. But I think if you used a natural dish soap, or castile soap instead, that would be the answer to that.
For shower doors, use a squeegee, then wipe down with a microfiber cloth. While it’s a little more time consuming, That works really well.
Can you use this when you having been using a cleaning product with bleach in the shower? Bleach and alcohol are dangerous when used together
If this is a concern, I would give your shower a thorough cleaning with just soap and water first to help clean away any remnants of a previous cleaner. But I think it’s very unlikely that those small trace amounts that might have remained would cause any problem.
Hello, I would like to know if this product will take off the finish on fixtures that have a Bronze finish.
I highly doubt there would be any problem, but I can’t say with complete certainty as I have never personally used my spray on bronze finish fixtures. However I have used this spray for many years on my chrome fixtures with no problems.
50 or 70% rubbing alcohol??
I use the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.
For years I had to scrub my shower with a caustic and smelly product to remove the terrible iron stains from our very hard well water. Recently we installed an iron filter, which has completely eliminated the iron stains. I bought some commercial daily shower cleaner and am delighted at not having to scrub out the shower. The problem is that I have to turn on the bathroom fan to keep the chemical smell from permeating the house. Today I found your recipe for DIY daily shower cleaner and I will be making this as soon as I can get hydrogen peroxide and the rinse agent. I think this is going to be my favorite cleaning product! Thank you!
I have been using a commercial daily spray on my shower to help keep the orange cast from the iron in my well water down to a dull roar. Like you, I finally had filters installed to clear the iron. It’s been about a year now and the iron stains are almost gone except on the glass doors where I still have a haze, and areas where things I use only occasionally tend to sit. I believe I’ll have to take a razor blade to the door. I’m going to try this DIY spray because the commercial sprays seem to have disappeared from the stores.
Is this safe for pets once the surface is dry? My cat likes to drink water from the tub.
My other cat used to do lick the floor of my shower as well. I wouldn’t let the two cats I have now lick the shower water after this spray. Perhaps put a fresh bowl of water in the shower
Great mix and it works! To avoid suddsing, place water first in the bottle, then all the other ingredients .
Is it safe for marble showers?
Because there is nothing acidic in this mixture (such as vinegar or lemon juice) I believe that yes, it is safe for marble showers.
The main problem with essential oils is, they are TOXIC to animals and you should not use them around pets AT ALL!!! I researched it!!! Your other cleaners that involve essential oils, shouldn’t be used if you have pets… I would however, use the lemon scrub you use. That sounds good!!
That is not true at all, where did you read this?
It is true that you shouldn’t use essential oils around cats as they are unable to metabolize essential oils due to the lack of glucuronyl transferase, a liver enzyme. Some, not all essential oils are ok to use around dogs. My source is Lea Jacobson, a certified clinical aromatherapist.
Can this mixture be used safely on painted grout on the tile and a painted bathtub? Thank you.
I would say yes, this mixture should be safe for painted grout and a painted tub. However if you want to be extra careful, just leave the peroxide out of the mixture.
If it has peroxide don’t you have to be careful with your towels etc being bleached colour out of them and also what you are wearing when you spray it.
I have never had a problem although I’m also not spraying this directly on my towels. I think the peroxide is diluted enough that any bit of overspray will not cause any discoloration problems.
I have been using this but because it is so hard to find alcohol during the pandemic, I have been substituting White Vinegar. It seems to work. What do you think about this?
Because vinegar is acidic you have to be a little more careful of the surfaces you use it on. It’s OK on tile and glass, however if you have any granite or soft stone in the shower area, the vinegar could eventually mar those surfaces.
It could be hazardous to your health. Combining hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can create peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
I LOVE this daily shower cleaner! Thank you! I added lavender essential oil to mine for an incredible scent and store it in an amber glass spray bottle. Such a money saver!
How much essential oil do you use? Ty
Thank you for all the great tips. I will try it on the next shower clean
It’s a daily shower spray. Why wait? If you start now you may not have to do a next shower clean!
Thanks for sharing this! Due to COVID my last store-bought bottle is about empty so will be making this since I WAS lucky enough to find both peroxide and rubbing alcohol recently.
Is this for the glass walls or the tile?
I primarily use it on my tile, however I have glass block windows in my shower and it works very well on them, so I believe you could use this on glass walls with success too.
Would an automotive product like Rainex work as well as the rinse aid?
That’s an interesting idea Marion! I think you probably could substitute Rainex.
Yes that works
Can this be used on fiberglass tub surrounds?
Because there is nothing acidic in the mixture (like vinegar) I believe that Yes, it’s OK to use on the fiberglass tubs surrounds.
Thank you, I don’t want to destroy my Fiberglas surround. 😊👍👌
Can you use this on glass shower doors? And if so, do you need to rinse it off?
Yes, you can use it on the glass shower doors. I don’t have glass doors to have personal experience on how it performs there, however I use my spray on some glass block windows we have in our tub/shower and it’s done a very good job of keeping the hard water spots off of them. You should not have to rinse it off.
I have glass shower doors and when I first used this, the glass had spots on them after drying. The next time, I rinsed everything with warm water after spraying down with the diy cleaner. The glass has looks perfect after the warm water rinse. I find this actually works better than any store-bought cleaner!!
would this work on a molded tub surround or the tub surround kits that you install yourself?
thanks!
Yes, it should work on those type of surrounds.
Thank you for this recipe! I’ve been looking for a daily spray to use on my natural stone shower, and I think this will work as long as I omit the rinse aid.
-Can a scented hand soap from bath and body works be used instead- or does it have to be dish soap?
Dish soaps often have the ability to cut through grease and oil and have better cleaning ability, which makes them a good choice for this mixture. If you substitute a hand soap, I would avoid any very thick ones that are advertised as “moisturizing” and try to stick with ones that are close to the consistency of a dish soap.
They say to use Dawn dish detergent for Everything!! It fights Grease, knocks out stains and good for the environment!! Do it’s a win win!! I was told Dawn and water mixed was a great glass cleaner, no strikes..But the recipe for cleaning the shower is dead on. I have known about this solution and it works wonders…
Wouldn’t the peroxide damage the shower drain? It would eat away at the seal and cause the metal to rust.
I have used this for several years with no damage. After it is sprayed on, much of it evaporates as it dries, and what would wash down the drain later is pretty negligible.
If I can’t find alcohol, can I use white vinegar instead? Does it change the recipe?
Thanks for your help.
I would not substitute vinegar. It does not evaporate as quickly as alcohol, and is much more acidic. Perhaps you could substitute vodka or some other clear grain alcohol.
This is the BEST, does work better than the commercial product! My husband is a welder and the shower showed it, was using the commercial brand for years, saw this hack and thought “What have I got to lose?” I was astounded! WONDERFUL, THANK YOU FOR THIS!😀
This concoction works great, We’ve been using it on the tile and glass shower door for years. BUT with COVID-19 it is near impossible to find bottles of either Peroxide or Alcohol. Good thing I mix it in the the 32 ounce refill bottle and use that to refill the spray bottles A quart (makes 2 batches) each of Peroxide and Alcohol has lasted about 9 months and still going strong. Found a bottle of GREEN Wintergreen alcohol in the powder room vanity and mixed up a batch using it. Smells real nice. Before I would add just a pinch of essential oil to make it smell good, but the wintergreen means I left the essential oils out this time.
In the midst of the pandemic I’ve been unable to find shower spray in the stores, so I looked up to see if I could make some. Your recipe sounds great! I’m wondering if you’ve ever added some essential oil for a touch of fragrance – seems some lemon oil might be nice. Thanks!
Yes, I think you could add some essential oils to this mixture. I think 10 drops might be a good starting point.
I’m going to try Dr. Bronner’s rather than dish soap. They come in lovely scents now.
What concentration hydrogen peroxide do you use, and what percentage rubbing alcohol?
Thank you.
Each of those ingredients is about 1/8th of the mixture or about 12%.
I love this!!! My bathroom has no ventilation aside from opening the door and this has cut the mold/mildew down to practically nothing. I also spray a little on the lower half of my shower curtain liner and it’s like magic. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing that Laura – I love a good success story!
Is it safe for both tile and grout?
Is this safe for marble tile?
Because there is nothing acidic in this mixture, yes, it should be safe for marble tile.
I had my husband to cover a regular plastic spray bottle he poured peroxide into with black duck tape.
That sounds like an easy way to make your own dark colored spray bottle!
Can this spray be used on stone? My shower is made of all stone.
A couple thoughts on that – On the one hand there is nothing acidic in this mixture so it should not etch stone. However if the stone is pourous, it might not do much good either as this mixture works better on hard glazed or sealed surfaces like tile.
Does this work on shower doors
OMG, this really works, I sprayed my soap scum glass shower enclosure all over then used a micro cloth to easily remove all that yukky stuff. Using each time you shower eliminates to need to scrub hard. Thanks!
Dónde yo puedo comprar el Dishwasher Rinse Aid?
Rinse Aid can be found in grocery stores near the dishwasher soap (Por lo general, en las tiendas de comestibles junto al lavavajillas)
Sorry! This didnt work at all for me. Left the dried water marks on the shower doors.
Can vinegar be used with this homemade recipe ???? Or substituted for one of the products ????
I suppose vinegar could be used, however I prefer my current combo of ingredients. Because vinegar is acidic, you might need to research if it is safe for the surface on which you wish to use it.
When commercial companies clean the exterior of sliding glass lanai doors, the windows never fog up and do not build up dirt or spots. They remain clean for at least a year. Do you think your recipe will work as well? Or do you know what they add to the water ?
No, I don’t know what the commercial companies are using, but I do know that the rinse aid in this recipe can be helpful for keeping water spots away.
The only hydrogen peroxide I can find says “topical solution”. Does this make a difference?
That’s the one. It’s intended use is for a cut or scrape. You won’t find our use on the label 🙂.
No, it does not make a difference and it’s OK if it says that. My bottle of peroxide says Topical Solution too. 🙂
Thanks for tip/mix I use it for a window cleaner as well ! It actually works to clean a lot of different surfaces . I have glass shower door and glass walls in my shower and my homemade remedy after using a lot of cleaners is a blue square Thin scotch pad and I lather it up with LAVA soap to clean off water spots and soap scum works great ! Hope it works for you ! Thanks again Todd
Can this be safely used on acrylic showers?
Yes, it is safe for acrylic showers.
I mixed up a batch of shower spray with 80-proof vodka (what I had in the liquor cabinet) which is only 40% alcohol. I’ve used this for the last week and it seems to work pretty well. I can’t be specific but I don’t think it’s as good as the original mix with rubbing alcohol. I think it’s a reasonable substitute until I can find rubbing alcohol somewhere. Not to mention the cost difference between 80-proof vodka and store-brand rubbing alcohol.
Me too!
I haven’t been able to buy rubbing alcohol anywhere!! Can I substitute vodka in this shower cleaner mix?
Yes, I think that substitution would work Linda.
I personally think vodka is a good substitute for A LOT of things ! HAHAHAHA
I have rebath showers that wants us to use cleaners from a list! Would the solution hurt a nonporous Acrylic?
If the surface is not porous, then I believe this mixture will work fine.
My shower has slate walls and floor. It’s so hard to clean!! Do you think this can be used on slate?
I think slate might be too porous for this mixture to be effective.
Just mixed this up and sprayed on my tile shower. It foams up and am worried that I will have to rinse. It has not dissipated after several minutes. Can I eliminate the dish soap? I’m thinking this is the problem. Anyone else encounter this?
Hi Suzanne…I would suggest you cut down the dish soap measurement but don’t eliminate it. It’s used as an adhering agent. Landscapers use a few drops of dish soap in their pesticides to keep it in place..like glue; especially in rainy areas. Hope this helps
Thank you for this recipe. I have bought clean shower for years, now there is a shortage of many items such as clean shower. I will try it and if it works as well as the store version I will make my own. THANK YOU AGAIN👍
Pam I have the same problem. I have found that if I use a eraser pad it helps with the soap scum on the glass door and the side glass. 😊
Do you know if anything in this mix is toxic to animals?
I don’t believe this mixture would be toxic to animals because the rubbing alcohol, peroxide, rinse aid, and dish soap are used in small amounts and are then further diluted.
Great …we have a well, so I can’t seem to keep up with the minerals deposits. Can’t wait to see! Thanks
I am so glad I found this, ty for posting. Can’t wait to try it out NOW. With this pandemic, I can’t find it in any store.
I’m going to try this. It looks easy, and if it works well will be cheaper than buying it in the store. The commercial brand is “sold out” at the moment at our local supermarkets.. And I can’t go to a lot of different stores to check availability.
I’ve been using this formula for a couple of years and it works great! I use wintergreen type isopropyl alcohol (the green one) which give it a nice smell so I don’t need essential oils. I also recycle my brown peroxide bottle so it keeps the peroxide fresh
-My question is, with the dish soap, doesn’t that leave a scum as well as soap you use in the shower?
I am trying to get years of soap scum and water marks off my tile.
I have not had a problem with soap scum from the teaspoon of dish soap in this mixture. Usually bar soaps will cause much more problems with scum than liquid soaps too. I have also had good success using my Oil Soap Soft Scrub when cleaning soap scum in my shower. https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/diy-oil-soap-soft-scrub/
I’ve never had a problem wit soap scum or any buildup from this formula. I don’t believe this formula will clean soap scum, but it will definitely keep it from coming back. In the past I’ve used the white “magic erasers” and they’ve worked pretty well
I would advise not using it on porous ceramic. Before noticed the damage, the cleaner ate away parts of my soap dish that was in the shower. I now cover the soap dish when I am spraying the shower. The shower cleaner works great on the glazed tile and shower curtain, however.
Will I be able to use your cleaner on stain resistant grout and porcelain tile? . I’ve been reading there are many things not to use.
Some things like vinegar, citric acids can deteriorate the grout resistant to stains, porcelain tile, and marble stone.
Thank you,
Tanya
Do you think you could add essential oils too this as well?
Yes, I think you could add some essential oils to the mixture if you would like to do that.
Are there any chemical reactions between the peroxide & alcohol?
No, I’ve not had any reaction or any problem with both those ingredients being in this mixture.
Will this work on a fiberglass tub and shower combo
Yes, the homemade shower spray should work on a fiberglass tub & shower combo. You could also test it on a small spot first if you wish too.
is it safe in a grey water collection tank
Well, it’s not really intended for that purpose. I think there are other cleaners that are more appropriate for cleaning those kind of tanks.
I think what Tyrone is asking is will it cause any issues in an RV gray water tank when it gets rinsed down the drain during the next shower. (I don’t think he’s asking if it can be used to clean the tank.) I’ve been using Clean Shower or Tilex Shower Spray in my RV for years with no gray tank trouble, so I would think this would be fine. The tank would be a nonporous plastic which she stated this formula is for.
I just made my second batch. It works great! Thank you!!
I have used this. I spray shower before I get in and wipe it down when I am through. Has really worked well for me. But it did turn the shower bar just a little. I wouldn’t leave it on long. Mine works great this way. Test it on a small hidden spot before using it!
Well, I was excited to try this. Had all the ingredients. Made it , used it and now have permanent spots on my relatively new white marble- like wall tile. Any thoughts? I have tried most everything to remove them. Epic fail.
Can this be used on walk in glass shower doors as a preventative same as times? As in, spray, before buidup from hard water.
Yes, I believe it could. The rinse aid in the mixture should help to prevent buildup on the glass.
cAN THIS BE USED IN A SHOWER THAT ISMADEOF PLASTICE?
Yes, you can use it in that type of shower.
But is it good on marble? A lot of those cleaners are not.
There is nothing acidic in this spray so I think it would be safe for marble.
Just a thought, I’m no scientists but I have read that peroxide looses its bacteria killing abilities after being in the light, that it’s basically water after being out of the dark colored bottle. Maybe it could be mixed in an old peroxide bottle instead of a clear bottle?
Wow! Made life so much easier! Thanks!
Brilliant !!! Thanks !
would it be safe to add a drop or two of essential oil?
Yes, you can add a bit of essential oil if you wish.
I was thinking of tea tree oil while reading the article. Not only would it give it a fresh smell but also because it is an antifungal so it would kill and/or stop mold from growing.
If I start using this now, will it eventually clean tiles/grout that have never been sprayed daily?
I don’t think so Donna. If the tiles are currently dirty, you would want to give the tiles and grout a good scrubbing first so it has been cleaned, and then you can start using the daily spray.
Hi do you know if this is safe to use on porous ceramic tile surfaces?
I’m not sure on that Linda. I would lean toward not using it on a porous surface. This spray is more intended for hard surfaces like glazed tile, porcelain, or glass. I don’t think the spray would hurt your tile, but I don’t think it would work as intended either because I think it just be absorbed into the tile.
There is no vinegar in this recipe?
Mixing vinegar with hydrogen peroxide creates peracetic acid, a strong disinfectant that can be highly corrosive. May be good for killing off germs, but proceed with caution!
Seventh Generation makes a safer rinse aid than the other commercial brands.
Works great on glass shower doors also used it on my bathroom mirrors and it’s great! GOOD STUFF!,
Do you wipe your shower doors down after spraying, or just spray and leave on?
This recipe works! Thank you. It reminds me of the recipe I use to easily clean my windows every spring.
Yes! I have used this shower spray recipe to clean windows too (and wrote a post about it as well 🙂 ) https://www.themakeyourownzone.com/unexpected-diy-window-cleaner/
Thank you so much. I’m always looking for easy ways to clean.
I was wondering about the addition of EO. Thx for sharing.
Can’t believe how well this works,
I was thinking if tea tree oil because of its antifungal feature.
please google mixing peroxide and vinegar, it’s potentially toxic. Vinegar is also going to be harsh on grout for the same reasons as the soft stones. I do look forward to trying your recipe, the rinse aid, is brilliant 🙂
Yes, I have been using it on my glass shower doors since July and it is keeping them spot free. The store bought one would leave spots. So happy with this home made version.
Mixing hydrogen peroxide with those other ingredients will quickly break it down, especially if you’re using tap water and storing in a clear bottle. So it’s basically the same as adding a half cup of water. Also why add dish soap when you’re trying to remove hard water/soap spots to begin with? The rinse agent is doing all the work here.
I keep my bottle in a dark cupboard, and you can keep adding a bit more peroxide if there are concerns about it breaking down. Also, Dawn soap does not create the same kind of soap scum that many bar soaps do that are used in the shower. The rinse agent is a very helpful ingredient, but I think that other ingredients are helpful in the mixture too.
Is this safe for colored grout? I have white subway tiles with dark grout
If you are concerned about the peroxide causing fading of the colored grout, I would try substituting vinegar for the peroxide in the recipe. I really don’t think there would be a problem with the peroxide because it is diluted, but if you want to be cautious, use vinegar instead.
Thank you! I will give it a try!
Just wondered it this works on the glass shower doors?
I don’t have glass doors so I don’t know for certain, but I spray this on the glass block window in my shower and it works well. The rinse aid in the mixture does help to prevent the spotting on glass.
Is this safe to use on painted tile ??
Yes, it is safe to use on painted tile.
Is this safe on acrylic tubs and showers?
Yes, it is safe for those surfaces.
Isn’t dangerous to mix peroxide with alcohol
I have never had any type of reaction, and have never had any problem having both those ingredients together in this mixture, so yes, it is safe.
Great shower cleaner can be made by equal parts of distilled water (not tap) and white
vinegar mixed in a spray bottle then add 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, all thoroughly mixed.
Spray on glass then squeegee dry. Great on all windows, mirrors and even car windows.
Thank you for your post. I have been using a similar recipe in my shower spray bottle and I agree that the rinse aid is the key. I also put a similar concoction in a dollar store scrubby with a handle that holds the liquid. I use this to clean the walls and tub as well. Sparkly clean. And since it is natural safe products I clean the tub/shower while I”m showering. Easy Peezy and poof! That part of the bathroom cleaning is done.
Is it safe to use on marble?
I believe it is safe on marble because the mixture containers nothing acidic (it contains no vinegar or lemon juice so I believe it is OK for marble, granite, or quartz).
Can this be used on a fiberglass shower?
Yes, it is safe for fiberglass.
You could add the dish soap last to avoid overbubbling ❤️
I mixed this together and use it everyday. I love it!
I use mine every day too!
What can be substituted for rinse aid?
Vinegar could possibly be substituted but because vinegar is acidic you might need to do some research on if it is safe for certain surfaces you may wish to use it on (for instance acidic things should not used on soft stones like granite or quartz).
Can you use anything but rinse aid?
Well, the rinse aid is very helpful in minimizing water spots so I think it’s an ingredient you would miss. You could try substituting vinegar, but because vinegar is acidic you might need to do some research on if it is safe for certain surfaces you may wish to use it on (for instance acidic things should not used on soft stones like granite or quartz).
I have been using this daily shower cleaner for a couple of years & love it. I have tweaked the recipe by using a tsp. each of dawn dish liquid & thieves household cleaner, & add drops of essential oils (lemon oil & tee tree oil). I have a larger container I recycled from unsweetened almond milk & it holds a triple batch. We also had a fiberglass shower refinished last December & I made sure this mix would not compromise the finish & it has not.
Have been using body wash forever – no soap scum
Is this recipe safe for natural stone shower tiles?
Yes, I believe it is OK to use on natural stone. You have to be careful not to use acidic ingredients on natural stone, and this mixture has no vinegar or lemon juice, so there are no acidic ingredients.
I have been using this for years and rarely need to scrub my shower/tub at all. Well worth it. I put the Dawn in last so it doesn’t bubble up.
Great idea!
What if i dont have a dishwasher rinse aid?
I suppose you could still give the mixture a try without it, however it is a very helpful ingredient because it works to prevent water spotting after the mixture is sprayed on.
What percentage hydrogen peroxide p,ease?
It is the 3% peroxide.
What’s rinse aid?
Rinse aid is used in automatic dishwashers to help glassware rinse cleaner and avoid spotting. It can be found in most stores where the dishwasher soap is sold.
Thanks so much I’ll try it!
Can this be used for an acrylic shower?
Yes, I believe this is safe to use on acrylic showers as none of the ingredients are harsh ingredients.
I have tried this and I’m amazed at how well it works
So glad there’s no vinegar. Most natural cleaning recipes have that and two people in my family are horribly allergic to the point of throat closing up. Thank you.
I’m so glad this no-vinegar mixture can be a solution for you Jude!
I’m very eager to try this. I have a couple of questions. Have you tried swapping out the dish soap for dishwasher soap or detergent? Does this solution make the inside of the shower or tub slippery for the next person?
I have never tried swapping in dishwasher detergent and I don’t think I would recommend it. Dishwasher detergent needs the heavy action of the dishwasher to rinse away fully, so I think it would behave differently in this mixture. Also, it does not make the floor slippery. I hope you enjoy this spray!
Can this be used on a glass shower door too?
I have used this spray successfully on the glass block windows in my shower, however I have never personally tried it on a glass shower door. That being said, I think it would work as the rinse aid in the mixture should keep things from spotting.
Does it work on rust or tanin stains too?
I don’t think it has the ability to remove any existing stains. Its main purpose is to prevent soap scum and buildup from water residue. However it may help to prevent any future stains from forming.
Has anyone used it on shower curtain liners?
I took Cookin’ Amigo’s suggestion to leave out the dish soap (but no vinegar). I also put a black sock over the bottle. I use Finish “Jet Dry” rinse agent. This stuff works great on my tile and the shower curtain! And the alcohol odor disappears in minutes. Thank you both for this recipe!
Can I use this mixture on marble?
Yes, because there is nothing acidic in this mixture it should be OK. When it comes to soft stones like marble or granite you need to avoid acidic things like vinegar or lemon juice (neither of which are in this mixture).
Where does one buy these items the hydrogen peroxide and alcohol
Both rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide can be found in the pharmacy sections of larger retailers (like Walmart or Target) or even in many grocery stores. You may even be able to find both these items in your local dollar store near other first aid or personal care items.
You’re probably getting streaks due to the soap you are using. Also, VERY IMPORTANT, use Distilled Water. If you have hard water and are putting it in the solution, that defeats the purpose. 🙂 I’d add some vinegar as well for an extra boost, but the rinse aid should handle it. Leave out the soap since you’re using it as a daily spray and not a full on cleaner.
Can the shower spray be used with tile and grout
Yes, I have tile and grout and use it all the time with no problems.
Can’t wait to try this!
Any idea if this is safe for RV ‘plastic’ shower surrounds?
I think this would be OK for the shower surrounds too. I don’t think the diluted amounts of alcohol or peroxide would create any problems.
I use lemon oil,,straight from the bottle…add lemon oil onto a cotton rag,,and wipe in same direction on chrome shower doors,,chrome faucets,,and chrome itself…works great…and repels water spots…no need to re-apply for about 3 months,,or as the lemon oil wears off…..PS…don’t over-saturate onto cotton rag-rags….
That’s interesting Lisa – thanks for sharing!
Add the water first to prevent foaming.
Hi – just sprayed this on my glass shower walls – but it is leaving marks – should I be rinsing it off.
You usually do not rinse the spray off and it’s the rinse aid in the mixture that helps leave it streak free. Perhaps try increasing the rinse aid in the mixture if you are having this problem.
Love it — have been making my own for quite a while. I also feel that using body wash in the shower is better than bar soap, which seems to always leave a film!!
Can you use this on cultured marble?
May I add essential oils like peppermint or orange? Will it effect the results?
Yes, you can add some essential oils and it should not effect the final cleaning results.
I have used this receipt for years. It works great. No issues with tile fiberglass. It really shines up fixtures.
Is this safe to use on tile?
Yes, I use this all the time on the ceramic tile in my shower and in fact this spray is ideal for keeping your tile clean.
I have a shower door with stainless steel (i’m pretty sure it’s stainless and not just chrome). Is this spray safe to use on the stainless or if sprayed and left on will it cause discoloring? Anyone try this before?
Hydrogen peroxide and 70% alcohol are used to clean and disinfect stainless steel equipment in hospital pharmacies.. It is ok to use on stainless steel
We LOVE this spray!! Have been using it in our new home since March. I add Lemon Tea Tree oil to the mix. Smells amazing!! Glad to find this recipe. The ones with Vinegar smelled terrible (no amount of essential oils helped!). And I feel like this works better!
Your instructions list rubbing alcohol but the photo shows isopropyl rubbing alcohol
I consider rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol to be the same thing.
This solution is AMAZING! We updated our bathroom in dark tile and glass show wall. We quickly learned how much trouble soap scum was. After trying other solutions I found this and have been so thankful. It is very effective at keeping soap scum from the tile and glass. It’s quick and easy to make, costs almost nothing, and best of all works!
So glad to hear this mixture has been a good solution for you! It has worked very well for me too 🙂
I cheated (kind of). I have one of those shower sprayers that automatically spray when you get out of the tub. I drilled a hole in the top of the bottle and poured this mixture in it. Cheaper than buying the new bottles of liquid. I only made a small batch to test. Didn’t know about keeping in a dark bottle. Will try covering the bottle. I keep the solution under the sink cabinet which should be pretty dark. Jury still out, but I hope the solution works as well as everyone says.
Whoops, I meant to say chrome not stainless
On my second batch! This mix is both marvelous and amazing. There is NO scrubbing, stainless faucets dry spot free. You must start with a clean shower but thereafter it is just a mater of remembering to spray your homemade mix!
My shower and tub look like new! Never before has it looked so good, and all I do is lightly spray, and I don’t even have to do that every day. Amazing!
So I tried this for the last few days. I notice that it leaves streaks unlike scrubbing bubbles which leaves the glass crystal clear. Would adding more Jet Dry make a difference
I think you could certainly add some more jet dry to the homemade shower mixture and see if that makes a difference on the glass shower door. I haven’t noticed streaking when I use this mixture, but my shower is mostly tile, with glass block windows so slightly different surfaces I guess. Another thing might be to try a little more alcohol as that aids in faster evaporation.
I tried to scroll thru most of the comments but is it ok to add a few drops of essential oils (any, like lemon, lavender, peppermint, maybe OnGuard or something) for a touch of scent?
Yes, it is OK to add a few drops of essential oil if you wish for a little added scent.
I use the old peroxide bottle and a sprayer from another bottle. Works perfect!!
I saw that you were using the window cleaner on the outside of your windows. Can it be used inside too?
Yes! I have used it several times indoors too with good results.
I have just joined the DIY cleaner club and am very excited at the prodpect. i have a suggestion that can be used for any mixture containing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). I keep a small spray bottle of 30% H2O2 (the concentration sold commercially as a first aid product) to prevent or treat disease when i repot orchids. i find it convenient to protect the bottle from light exposure by simply wrapping the bottle with a layer of aluminum foil. A single sheet of foil is completely opaque. This approach would mean you could keep using your socks on your feet! (fyi most socks are made from knitted fibers which will allow some light to pass through).
Great idea, thanks!
I really like this, have used it for years now, thank you
I agree, this recipe is definitely a keeper. I have used it for years too!
This works great! thanks for the post, it has done a great job of helping me keep my tub clean between regular cleanings. I added a half teaspoon of tea tree oil to mine but followed the rest of your posted instructions. I’ve finished using my first bottle, it lasted a long time too.
I made a batch recently with just with water, the rinse aid, and a tablespoon of eucalyptus oil. It’s working great.
BTW – I learned a while back that switching to liquid body wash instead of bar soap eliminates a great deal of soap scum.
That sounds like an interesting recipe Steve. And I agree – I think there is less soap scum build up with body washes too (as opposed to bar soap).
Are these ingredients safe to use on stone tile enclosures? Or just tile? Thanks
Usually the things to be most concerned about on stone are acidic substances like vinegar or lemon juice. This mixture does not have either of those ingredients and instead has rubbing alcohol and peroxide, which are safe to use on stones like granite or quartz. So I have never tried this personally on stone, but my inclination would be that it should be OK, based on the fact that it does not have any acidic ingredients.
Does this spray work well on iron stains? We have well water issues and lots of iron and rust.
I am not sure on that Angie. I think it might help to some degree, but I don’t know if it can stop iron or rust problems completely.
Found this today, I’ve scrubbed my shower & tub out and sprayed for the first time as of ten minutes ago!
Definitely looking forward to less water spots and other nasty buildups. Used one of the suggestions from the comments to keep it in a black-sock-wrapped bottle, wish I’d have though of that when I was making perfume years ago.
Thank you for sharing this—I added lemon essence to make the bathroom smell nice, and now my SO might be able to be in the bathroom after I clean, what with there being no heavy chemical or bleach scent!
Thank you so much for the recipe for the shower spray! I’m tired of paying way too much for the store bought brands !
Some family members use the spray pretty liberally. They spray painted walls and ceiling, shower curtain and rod, even the bath products like soap and brushes or loofahs. Is this recipe safe for those surfaces and products?
I don’t think there should be any problem with the spray hitting some of those areas too. Some of my spray goes over onto soap bottles, etc. too and I have never seen any bad effects. At least they’re happy to use the spray I guess!
I took a black sock and placed the bottle inside to keep it dark.
Excellent idea Donna! A great resourceful solution to the dark bottle problem.
Buy a large bottle of peroxide. When you use the last of the peroxide, save the bottle and just drop in a sprayer from an old spray bottle. This way you have a dark bottle and the peroxide will be protected.
I am assuming this can be used on tile showers also. I recently have started using all natural cleaning products so really looking forward to trying this.
I have the foe or fake marble shower walls. Does anyone know if this will bother this stuff? I’m now using the store bought stuff and have for several years now…I’m thinking if the store bought stuff has not bothered it yours should be ok too!!!?????
The best tip I’ve ever found to keep the shower free of soap scum is to not use soap. Bear with me. As you might imagine, the cause of soap scum is soap. As soap scum builds up, it becomes a breeding place for mold and bacteria. Rather than cleaning soap scum, prevent it from forming in the first place by using body wash. Like shampoo, body wash is a form of mild detergent. It is not soap, and it does not form soap scum. So, clean your shower, then stop using soap. Use body wash instead, and you will find that the soap scum does not come back.
Pete this is exactly where I ende up. Not only is there no soap scum but it is way better for your skin, body wash doesn’t dry out your skin – bonus is less money on body lotion!
I have always used only body wash, but still get mold in the corners of my tile and glass shower. So, that isn’t a sure deterrent against mold buildup. I’ll try this mixture and see if that can prevent it.
Yup, always use body wash and still get mold in corners.
I’m curious to try this mixture, hope I find the green alcohol to add
Shower gels are not soap, merely a bunch of chemicals that mimic cleansing. I don’t go near them. Old fashioned lye+fat soap for me. I’ll just continue to clean my shower daily with this spray 🙂
Hi! I was concerned that the peroxide or some of the other ingredients migh affect the grout, silicone sealant in the shower. We live in an apartment and can’t very well replace anything that’s damaged.
Thank you!!
Sylvia
I leave for work before my husband and he does not have time to spray the shower before he leaves. My question is, 1. can I spray after my shower (before his) and it still be effective? (and safe – not slippery) or 2. can I spray the shower later that evening and it still be effective?
Hmmm, that’s kind of a tough one Leslie. I think out of those two choices, I would spray in the morning after your shower and hope you still get some benefit after his shower too. It should not make the floor slippery. I think if you spray it later in the evening, it won’t give you the same benefits.
Thank you for your reply! I’ll give it a try and see how it goes.
To clarify, is that ethyl rubbing alcohol or isopopryl rubbing alcohol?
It is the isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
What is the percent of the alcohol that is used? 50% 75% 91%? I know the stronger is usually used medically, for sterilization. Does it matter?
I use the 70% isopropyl alcohol, which is the one most often found at drug stores and grocery stores. If you have the 90% alcohol, I think I would use a little less (maybe just a 1/3 cup or 1/4 cup) and use a little more water.
Hi, I’ve been seeing similar recipes online. Nearly all of the recipes contain peroxide. while I know that peroxide is a good disinfectant and helps prevent mold and mildew from forming it has a very short shelf life, about 30 days, shorter if exposed to sunlight. I use peroxide to clean my kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Also, I keep it separate in its dark opaque bottle until i’m ready to use it. However, once it’s mixed with something the other ingredients act like a catalyst and cause a chemical reaction. It’s the chemical reaction that make it so effective but it’s my understanding that after a couple of hours(?), days(?) it becomes useless. Which is why I hesitate to premix peroxide with other ingredients.
i’ve read that borax, when mixed with water, can act like peroxide. i just need to find a mixture that doesn’t either cake every time in the bottle or leave white in the shower.
Huge money saving tip! I have never made my own version but will start after reading your post. BUT, I do use the store bought versions and soak my razors in them between uses and it keeps my blades razor sharp FOREVER. Obviously it keeps the mineral deposits which dull the blades off them the same way it keeps a shower clean. Just remember to rinse well before use and shave away. You know how much razors cost, this will save you a bundle.
Great tip. Thanks
You could buy the Dawn foaming soap, pour out most of the detergent into another container. Fill up the foamer with water. You’ll start saving right away. When all the full strength Dawn is gone, replace it with whatever D.L. you like and keep on saving.
This sounds great, thanks for sharing. I have the “automatic” rinse machine (scrubbingBubble brand). Do you think this will work in that system? I mean, i can only shake the solution once, then stick it in the machine. After that, I won’t be able to shake it anymore. Thanks.
In these types of situations, I usually feel it’s worth a try. I think if you weren’t satisfied with how it worked in your automatic rinse machine, you could empty it back out and all you would have lost are the ingredients you used (which aren’t that costly of ingredients).
Really interesting cleaning recipe! I also don’t use Hydrogen peroxide as a cleaner and I am curious to try it! Thanks for sharing!
Would like to try the shower spray, but how will it affect the shiny chrome?
I have not had any problems using this around my chrome faucets in my tub area, but I guess it’s also true that I spray this on the tile walls and not directly on the faucet. Nevertheless I’m sure my tub faucet has gotten some of the “overspray” and the chrome looks fine.
I just tried this and sprayed directly on the chrome. Worked beautifully! The water here where I just moved to leaves water spots after just one shower, so this is great! I don’t have a dishwasher, and I hate drying dishes, so I’m going to start adding a few drops of rinse aid to the rinse water. I expect it should really help!
Thanks For sharing. I bought and used the green alcohol. My husband loves the spearmint scent.
Interesting idea to use the green alcohol!
Had no idea green alcohol was a thing. Sounds like I would like that. I hear that eraser works well. I’m going to try that too. I have glass doors and it’s time consuming! Glad I kept reading lol
I have very hard water and my shower turns blue. I first used Mr. Clean bathroom eraser and it came sparking white. Only had to scrub hard on the bad spots. I then made this shower cleaner spray and have used it now for2 weeks. Blue has not come back and my walls in the shower are still sparking white. This is a great spray and I happen to love the alcohol smell I just feel it makes my shower smell really clean.
Does this homemade daily shower cleaner work on shower doors too?
I can’t speak from personal experience because we have a shower curtain set-up, but I think it should work to keep the scum and water spots away on a door too.
Try using this combo…1/2 cup Dawn, 1 cup Vinegar, 1 cup Finish (DW finishing rinse) fill reminder of spray bottle with water. I also add Tea tree oil for the minty scent. The key is starting with clean shower doors. Then spray them daily after showering and rinse off. Makes them sparkle!
OK, a dumb question here…I made a cleaner with dawn, vinegar, H2O and tea tree oil….does it need to be rinsed off after spraying or just left on?
Boomdog02 – That sounds like a cleaner mixture that needs to be wiped off after spraying it on. I don’t think it would need rinsing, but would need to be wiped. The rubbing alcohol and the rinse aid in this daily shower cleaner recipe are what make you able to spray it on with no rinsing or wiping needed, and the recipe you described sounds different than that to me.
Boomdog02, that is exactly the recipe I was thinking of by the time I got to the end of the article – great minds think alike!
How are you finding it, have you had to make any changes to it and is it doing a good job on your shower?
Also – most importantly are you having to wipe it down? We currently squeegee the shower after use, quite frankly this is a terribly boring affair!
I added 3/4 cup Finish, the dishwasher finishing rinse and it made a world of difference. I experimented by adding essential oils to give the room a nice minty spa scent…it doesn’t need to be washed/squeegeed. I just splash some water and it rinses clean.
absolutely love this stuff, keeps my shower looking great, and I’m going to make a few bottles and give them to my daughter-in-laws for Christmas!
Homemade cleeaners make a great gift idea! So glad you are enjoying the recipe 🙂
I have the fiberglass tub shower combinations. Cleaned the soap scum, etc. from both showers, shower heads, curtain liners and bathtubs with half Dawn half vinegar mix. Soaked the shower heads in this mix by using a plastic bag with rubber bands around it. With some scrubbing got everything spotless.
Now I use your after shower spray daily and both are still sparkling. Even use it on the curtain liners. It keeps them nice and clean. A real work saver. Love it.
Thank you, thank you!
So glad it’s helped you Betty!
Just a note, because some of the comments are indicating the desire to add vinegar to this home-cleaning formula. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are not a good mix. They react to make peracetic acid, a corrosive and irritating (to the lungs) chemical.
Hydrogen peroxide + rubbing alcohol is OK
Rubbing alcohol + vinegar is OK
Hydrogen peroxide + vinegar is NOT OK
And keep bleach away from all of these.
Thank you! My first thought was to mix them all but I’m certainly no chemist!
I’m so glad to find this tip and can’t wait to try it! We have fiberglass doors, too, and they never seem to look clean…even right after I’ve cleaned them. And love that this concoction won’t aggravate my asthma nearly as much as the foaming stuff I used does!
Instead of the dishwasher rinse aid can I use a tablespoon of vinegar instead….
You probably could substitute vinegar but it might not have quite the same “sheeting” quality as a rinse aid does. It’s worth a try!
I have actually replaced the rinse-aid in my dishwasher with straight white vinegar and have been very pleased with results, so I dont know why it would be an issue
Thanks for the clarification. I am going to give this a try!
Are dish detergent and dish soap the same thing? Any particular brand?
Any brand of liquid dish soap will work (and I updated the recipe to show it as liquid). It seems like more often the powdered stuff for dishwashers is labeled as detergents and the liquid stuff is usually labeled as soap.
Debby, I use the blue Dawn liquid dish soap and it works great!
I’ve been using another concoction very similar but now I will try yours. Sounds like yours just may be better with the jet dry.
Love your blog!!!!!! I am definitely going to try this. We are cutting our grocery bill back as our new years resolution and cleaning products are so expensive! This definitely will help! I love how theres no chemicals too. Found your blog via pint rest which linked it to spam. Sad…. someone stole your picture but since the picture had your blog name in the corner on it I just searched and found it. Some people aren’t very bright. But anyways glad I found your blog 🙂
Of course there are chemicals – ALL of the ingredients are chemicals. To those who want to use vinegar instead of a rinse agent – it will not do the same thing because vinegar is an acid while the rinse agent affects surface tension (sheeting action).
Hello. I love this idea. I spend way too much on cleaning products. My question is can I add some essential oil to this mixture.
Yes, I think it would be OK to add a few drops of essential oil to this recipe (maybe 5 to 10 drops). It would still be pretty watered down so I don’t think it would cause any problems.
Thank you SO much for this recipe. I have a one piece fiberglass shower/tub and used to have the grossest shower in town but now it sparkles, just from using this! Not only that, costs next to nothing to make.
I have the link on my Pinterest page for everyone to see: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/55802482856117940/
Love, love, love!!!
Glad to hear you had good success with this shower spray! It’s been working great for me too 🙂
We made this and really liked it, however, we’re wondering if 1) You can use this on days you don’t shower, and 2) can it be used in plastic shower doors?
I think you should be able to use this spray even if it’s not after a shower, however I don’t know if there would be a need for that. But if you wanted to give that a try, I don’t think it would cause any problems.
I have not used this spray on plastic, but I think it would certainly be worth a try. The rinse aid in this spray would probably work on plastic too to help water spots from building up.
It works great for cleaning tile counter tops and bathroom sinks. The rinse aid makes everything sparkle. It even makes the icky bathroom sink in my husbands bathroom look awesome.
To clarify, my cleaner is the vinegar / water/ dish soap mixture.
I use this formula and add several drops of my favorite essential oils. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lavendar makes the shower smell great and opens up my sinuses if I spray the warm shower immediately following my shower while I am still in the stall before I towel off.
Adding essential oils is definitely an option if you want your DIY shower spray to have some fragrance.
Just found your site and made this. I will let you know how it works. Thanks!
I think you’ll like it Melissa!
Great idea!! Love it and all your awesome ideas 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I did not think of using Hydrogen peroxide. I have a similar mixture of 1 part water, 1 part vinegar, a few squirts of isopropyl and a few squirts of eco friendly dishwashing liquid. I put in a spray bottle and squirt to clean. I used this for cleaning the floors with a dry mop and came up very clean. Windows looked clean as. For the stubborn grit on windows, I used a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid.
I sometimes use my vinegar and water mixture to clean my floors too Mary. I put a microfiber cloth on my swiffer, and then keep spritzing it with my homemade cleaner while I damp mop the floor. I think next time I will try adding a little rubbing alcohol and dish soap like your recipe above.