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Homemade Daily Shower Cleaner Spray

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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!

Save money and make your own homemade daily shower cleaner spray - so simple and it works great!

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.

Save money and make your own daily after shower spray using simple household ingredients

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!

Save money and make your own daily after shower spray using simple household ingredients

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.

Save money and make your own homemade daily shower cleaner spray - so simple and it works great!

To use:  After showering, mist the spray on the walls of the shower and you’re done.  There’s no need to wipe.

How to make your own homemade daily shower spray
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Homemade Daily Shower Spray

Save money and make your own homemade daily shower spray. This DIY homemade version will help keep your shower clean with no scrubbing or wiping needed!
Author: TheMakeYourOwnZone.com

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.

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!

Save money and make your own homemade daily shower cleaner spray - so simple and it works great!

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. One reader told me she just put a sock over the bottle.
{That’s one way to 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.

How to make your own homemade daily shower spray

 

 

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Comments

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    • 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.

      Reply

  4. 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!

    Reply

    • 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).

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  7. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  11. 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….

    Reply

  13. Hi – just sprayed this on my glass shower walls – but it is leaving marks – should I be rinsing it off.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  14. 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!!

    Reply

  17. I have used this receipt for years. It works great. No issues with tile fiberglass. It really shines up fixtures.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  19. 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?

    Reply

  20. 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!

    Reply

  22. 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!

    Reply

  23. 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.

    Reply

  25. 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!

    Reply

  26. 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!

    Reply

  27. 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

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  28. 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?

    Reply

  30. I saw that you were using the window cleaner on the outside of your windows. Can it be used inside too?

    Reply

  31. 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).

    Reply

  33. 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.

    Reply

  34. 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.

    Reply

    • 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).

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  37. 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!

    Reply

  39. 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?

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  41. 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.

    Reply

  42. 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!!!?????

    Reply

  43. 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.

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

      • 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.

        Reply

        • 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

          Reply

          • 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 🙂

            Reply

  44. 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

    Reply

  45. 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?

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • 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?

        Reply

        • 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.

          Reply

  47. 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.

    Reply

  48. 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.

    Reply

  49. 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.

    Reply

  50. 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.

    Reply

    • 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).

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  54. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • 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!

        Reply

  56. 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?

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • 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?

      Reply

      • 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!

        Reply

        • 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.

          Reply

  57. 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!

    Reply

  58. 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!

    Reply

  59. 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.

    Reply

  60. 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!

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

    • 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

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  64. 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.

    Reply

  65. 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 🙂

    Reply

    • 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).

      Reply

  66. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  68. 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?

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • 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.

        Reply

  70. 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.

    Reply

  73. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

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