The Best Bathroom Cleaner Ever (Removes Soap Scum in Seconds!)
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I can’t even begin to tell you how many bathroom products I’ve tried over the years.
I loathe cleaning the bathroom (*shudder*), so I need easy solutions that get me in and out as soon as possible—AKA do what the marketing label promises me it will do. Which apparently, is very hard to find! I’m consistently disappointed in the options that line our store shelves.
Well, I shouldn’t say ALL of them.
In my internet search for a better option, I came across multiple bloggers sharing a Dawn dish soap and white vinegar mix. Dish soap? AND white vinegar? Surely it couldn’t be that easy.
Turns out, it was that easy. And costs pennies. And is now the only bathroom cleaner I’ll ever use!
This miracle formula powers through soap scum instantly, and leaves you with a sparkling tub that looks like HGTV stopped by and worked their magic. I also use it on the floor, sink, and toilet, for a gleaming bathroom that looks like I spent hours scrubbing, but totally didn’t!
Supplies Needed:
- 1 cup Dawn dish soap (don’t skimp on the brand—this makes all the difference!)
- 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
- Clean spray bottle (if you use the glass ones from Grove, you’ll need to scale down your measurements)
- Cute label (optional, but fun!
Directions:
Step 1: Heat vinegar in the microwave until it’s very hot, then pour into a spray bottle. This helps the vinegar mix with the dish soap.
Step 2: Pour dish soap into a spray bottle and shake well to combine.
Step 3: Add a label! I used this label maker paired with a clear tape cartridge to print out my label, and adhered it to a strip of washi tape. Then I covered both with a layer of packaging tape so the label is protected and doesn’t fall off.
How to use it:
My favorite place to use this cleaner is in the shower, but bathroom floors, toilets, and sink areas are perfect surfaces to tackle while you’re at it.
Just spray the area you want to clean, and wipe away with a damp microfiber cloth, sponge, or paper towel. If you’re using this in the shower, I recommend using a scrub brush to work the product into the tile, then rinse the area afterwards.
Note: This stuff smells pretty strong at first, but the vinegar smell dissipates quickly.
If you haven’t tried this homemade cleaner yet, do it sooner rather than later. I can’t say I LOVE cleaning the bathroom now, (although cleaning does have it’s benefits), but the task is so much easier without struggling and scrubbing like I used to!
Have you tried this bathroom cleaner?
Share your thoughts about it in the comments below. Did it change your life, or at least make your cleaning routine easier?
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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Rest assured, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.
I really, REALLY appreciated this recipe. Honestly I’ve always struggled with keeping up with cleaning showers/bathtubs. It was stressful having products that I couldn’t use while showering, or they had bleach in them and had to be left to sit for a long time. Anyway, I did exactly what was instructed: Spray the solution all over the tiles and grout (yes, we have grout and it was very effective), wash my hair, and then scrub the walls with a sponge and rinse. I am blessed to have a detachable shower head that I can use to spray down the walls. Thank you very much! I would highly recommend this.
You’re so welcome! I keep my cleaning supplies right in the shower so I remember to do it. 🤪
Can you add essential oils to this?? And if so what would you recommend?
You could definitely try it! I would just use scents that are your favorite. I love lavender and cedarwood.
LOVE this natural cleaner! I was wondering though, does it have to be dawn soap or can you use other dish soaps?? I have gain on hand and wanted to know if it made a difference. Thank you!
Dawn definitely works best! You could try it with what you have, but if it doesn’t work well then you may want to pick up some Dawn.
Great DIY cleaner- I always feel like I save money and feel better knowing what I’m spreading throughout my kitchen! Have you ever made a DIY cleaning solution for a carpet cleaner?
I haven’t, but that sounds like a great idea!
I just bought the blue dawn dish liquid and the distilled white vinegar to clean my tub. It’s amazing, very easy to clean. I love it
It’s the best bathroom hack!
What about fiberglass tubs? Hard water has stained it pretty I have tried everything.
For hard water stains I use Barkeepers Friend. This stuff is amazing on stains and works on fiberglass as well.
Will this leave the shower floor very slippery?
Ours is fine as long as it is well rinsed. We’ve discovered that it’s more the bathroom floor that you have to be careful with – of course one should always be careful of stepping out onto any floor with wet feet.
Hi, Kalyn,
Question: does the spray bottle have to be glass?
Thank you
Sally
Hi Sally,
No – you can use any spray bottle you like. 🙂
The only thing that seems to remove soap scum in my bathroom is the flash bathroom cleaner, however I can’t stand the smell. I can’t wait to try this version!
Please come back to tell me if it worked!
Does it streak your shower doors?
We’ve never had that problem! We have glass shower doors and we clean it with this and then quickly rinse it after.
Has anyone tried this cleaner on that orangey hard water staining? I need something super strong to get through that stuff. Thx!
I haven’t yet! That’s a good question. But I do know that Bar Keepers Friend works GREAT on stains! You can pick it up in most Walmarts too.
Pamela, i used it at my son’s house. His tub/shower surround was orange. I sprayed and let it set for about an hour. It did take a little bit of scrubbing, but I was really impressed it worked that well!
Thank you!! Will definitely have to try it! 👍
I read that vinegar should it be used on grout..is this the case? I will sure try itbo. The shower door though!
Hi Shirley,
We use it on the door all the time, just give it a quick rinse after. I’m not sure about vinegar on grout – we used this on our old tile bathroom and never saw a problem though!
Hi Kalyn,
Our tile/grout specialist informed us to never use vinegar on grout. It will break down the sealant quickly. He recommended using just Dawn and water- baking soda if needed.
In Australia we don’t have this dawn soap so can I use any dish washing brand
I’m sure other brands would be equivalent!
Costco sells it.
Kalyn, I can’t get the cleaning schedule download button to work.
Hi Hannah! This should be fixed. I’m having Joseph reach out to you with the schedule as well just in case you haven’t received it yet.
I’m looking for something to get the soap scrum off my tub mat. Do you think this will work.
It should! You may need a soft brush to get the soap scum out of any spots that a cloth may miss but the cleaner should work really well.
Yeah, smell is pretty strong at first and my kids really hate the smell. But I agree with you, vinegar smell dissipates quickly. This is a useful cleaning item. Can you suggest something homemade like this for cleaning my bathtub? It’s ceramic made.
I tried several cleaners from different local shops. The result is not satisfactory, let alone the higher price 🙁
I use this cleaner in my tub but just be careful, it can make the tub really slippery.
I’m going to have to give this a try. Cleaning is not my favorite chore but it does have to be done…and I am trying to buy less cleaners, if possible. Thanks for sharing, Kalyn!
I swear by this one! It’s so easy!
This is fantastic! It works fast, and is such an easy cleanup to boot. Thanks for sharing.
I am so excited to try this! We have shower doors and they are so difficult to clean that I have to spend a ridiculous amount of time on them. I so hopeful this is the solution I’m looking for! Thanks!
It works really well on the glass surrounding our shower!
I use a version of this (I add water) to mop my laminate floor. I use vinegar and baking soda to clean the soap scum from my bathtub.
I haven’t tried it on my laminate floor! How much water do you add??
Kalyn, I mix 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar. 1 squirt of liquid dish detergent. put it all in a spray bottle and you’re good to go! Spray it on your floor but not to saturate, and use a microfiber mop. I usually do 3-4 foot sections at a time. It keeps my floors looking brand new
I’m going to have to give this a try. Thanks!
This stuff really works! I discovered it a few months ago and it worked so well on our hard water spots. We have all glass showers, which until this cleaner were a pain to keep clean. I’ve been telling everyone I know about it (yep, awkwardly asking all my friends if they have soap scum problems 😂). Now I can send them to your post. Thanks for the reminder to do this in my showers again soon!
“So… do you have soap scum issues?”
“HOW DID YOU KNOW!?”
🙂 🙂
I keep most of my shower cleaning supplies right in the shower now. Helps me remember to not let it get too far. 🙂
I tried this for the first time. What am I doing wrong? I sprayed, then I used a light scratchy rough sided sponge over it, rinsed the sponge with clear water, used the sponge side to clear off the solution. It seemed to make tons of suds- took several rinses with the sponge and clearing off with water. I had to scrub hard to get the soap scum and hard water stains off.
Hmmm, I’m honestly not sure! I haven’t tried the solution with hard water stains, but I do know it gets really sudsy fast. I like to use a rag with it instead of a sponge because it seems to soak in the solution better rather than spread it all around. I hope that helps!