How to Clean a Shower
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When it comes to how to clean a shower, there are a number of things to consider and various different areas to tackle. First, you’ll need to clean the shower stall itself, as well as any doors or shower curtains, and it’s also important not to neglect any hardware, tracks, hoses, and showerheads.
The most important thing to do when cleaning your shower is to invest in some high-quality tools that will make cleaning much easier and more effective. Microfiber cloths are vital when it comes to cleaning your shower, and they’re an integral part of almost every method you will find listed below.
This Shower Cleaning Pack from E-Cloth comes with two excellent quality microfiber cloths: The shower cleaning cloth and the polishing cloth. When used together, they effectively remove soap scum, dirt, and watermarks, leaving your shower looking as good as new after every use.
With a convenient suction cup hook, the cloths can be easily stored in your bathroom and used regularly to keep your shower gleaming and reduce the need for frequent deep cleans.
Related: The Best Natural Shower Cleaner: Non-Toxic Soap Scum Remover
E-Cloth Shower Cleaning Kit
How to Clean A Shower Stall
The first thing to do when cleaning your shower is to clean the stall itself. The method for doing this will depend on the type of surface you are dealing with. Will will address tiles, stone, acrylic, and fiberglass in our How to Clean a Shower guide.
Cleaning a Tiled Shower
Cleaning both ceramic and porcelain tiles is very simple and their high durability means that they’re not prone to scratches or surface damage and acidic cleaning agents can be used safely. However, cleaning the grout between the tiles can be more challenging as this is the area where mildew, soap scum, mold, and dirt will tend to collect.
Follow these steps to effectively clean your tiled shower stall:
1. Spray the tiles and grout with your choice of natural liquid soap or create your own by mixing equal parts distilled water and white vinegar. Allow this to soak for around 3 to 5 minutes
Better Life Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner, Tea Tree, and Eucalyptus
2. Take a mildly abrasive cleaning brush and scrub the tiles and grout to remove any surface-level dirt or grime.
3. Mix equal parts baking soda and lukewarm water to form a thick paste. Apply this to the grout, allow it to soak for five minutes, and then go in with an old toothbrush to scrub away more stubborn dirt.
If you’re working with white grout and you have some discoloration, you can also use hydrogen peroxide to remove this. Spray or wipe the hydrogen peroxide over the affected area and then remove it with a clean microfiber cloth.
4. Rinse the entire stall until all of the remaining cleaning solution, hydrogen peroxide, and dirt residue has been washed away.
5. Wipe the tiles dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Related: How to Clean Wood Doors
Cleaning a Stone Shower
Stone showers can be a little more high maintenance, largely due to the fact that stone is highly permeable and is therefore prone to scratching surface damage, and discoloration. It’s important to avoid any harsh chemical cleaning agents or acidic ingredients when cleaning stone showers.
Use these steps to clean your stone shower safely:
1. Mix a mild liquid soap, such as castile soap, with warm water and spray this all over the surface. Leave this to sit for up to 5 minutes.
Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap (Variety Pack) Peppermint, Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Almond
2. Gently clean the stone with a soft sponge or cloth. Any brushes or scouring pads are likely to be way too harsh for use on a stone shower.
3. Rinse the shower clean and then dry thoroughly with a towel or dry microfiber cloth.
Related: The Best Marble Cleaner for the Floor and Bathroom and How to Clean a Pebble Shower Floor
Cleaning a Fiberglass or Acrylic Shower
When cleaning a fiberglass or acrylic shower, you will need to avoid any harsh scrubbing brushes or sponges, as these surfaces can be scratched or their shiny surfaces can easily be damaged. Instead, use the following steps:
1. Dampen the shower stall with some warm water and spray the entire surface with your chosen natural cleaner, liquid soap or distilled water, and white vinegar mixture. Leave this to soak while you move on to the next step.
2. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the top of the white vinegar mixture. Allow this to sit for a further 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Rinse the entire shower with water to remove any residual dirt or cleaning products and then wipe dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
If you find that you have some stubborn stains or discoloration on the fiberglass or acrylic surface, it’s important not to scrub away at this too much as like we said, you could end up scratching your shower stall. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective stain remover and is gentle enough to use on your fiberglass or acrylic shower.
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | E-Cloth General Purpose Cleaning Cloth
| 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner
| 9.6 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | CleanWell Botanical Disinfecting Wipes
| 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
How to Clean Shower Doors, Curtains, and Hardware
Here are our favorite methods in this step of the How to Clean a Shower guide for cleaning glass shower doors and fabric shower curtains:
Cleaning Glass Shower Doors
This is our favorite technique for removing watermarks, soap scum, and smudges from your glass shower door:
1. Take your white vinegar and distilled water mixture (it is important that you use distilled water as this won’t leave any watermarks behind) and spray this all over the glass door. Leave this for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on how stubborn the dirt or marks on the door seem to be.
2. Take a damp sponge or cloth and wipe the entire shower door.
3. Dry the door using a towel or microfiber cloth and then take a polishing cloth to buff away any smudges (the E-Cloth Shower Cleaning Pack is really useful here).
Tip: keeping a squeegee in your shower stall and wiping off your glass door after every use will also really help to prevent watermarks and soap scum buildup.
HIWARE All-Purpose Shower Squeegee for Shower Doors
Related: How to Keep Your Glass Shower Doors Sparkling Without Chemical Cleaners
Cleaning Fabric Shower Curtains
When it comes to cleaning your shower curtain, the first thing you should do is always check the care label. This will tell you whether or not the curtain is suitable for machine or hand washing.
Follow the care label guidelines and use a gentle, natural detergent to wash your shower curtain.
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Choice  | Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent
| 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
Excellent Value  | Method Liquid Laundry Detergent
| 9.6 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Planet 2x HE Ultra Laundry Liquid Detergent
| 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
For PVC shower curtains that are not suitable for machine or hand washing, we recommend taking your water and vinegar mixture and spraying this over the curtain before scrubbing with a soft bristle brush and rinsing away. For any mildew or discoloration, use the same baking soda paste we recommended for cleaning tile grout, or alternatively, go in with a little hydrogen peroxide.
Related: How to Clean a Plastic Shower Curtain
Cleaning Shower Heads and Hardware
Showerheads, hoses, and drain covers can become breeding grounds for bacteria and limescale growth, but it’s easy to avoid this by regularly using the following cleaning method:
1. Spray any hardware with your white vinegar and distilled water mixture and leave this to soak for around ten minutes before gently cleaning with a soft bristle brush or an old toothbrush.
2. For limescale, mildew, or mineral deposit buildup, add a little lemon juice to the mixture to help it cut through the grime, remember though, these acidic ingredients are not suitable for use with stone showers. Instead, opt for a mild liquid soap and a gentle bristle brush.
If your shower head has any particularly stubborn limescale stains, fill a plastic bag with your vinegar, water, and lemon juice mixture and tie this around the head or remove the showerhead and soak it in this solution. Allow it to sit for around 30 minutes to an hour before removing it and rinsing thoroughly.
Related: How to Clean a Jetted Tub
Final Thoughts on How to Clean a Shower
Cleaning your shower might not be your favorite task when it comes to cleaning your home, but it doesn’t have to be an extreme hardship. By following the methods detailed above in how to clean a shower and using effective tools such as the E-Cloth Shower Cleaning Pack, you can maintain a sparkling clean shower with ease and efficiency.