# How should I clean my shower? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065 "2014-04-14T03:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/21 "2014-04-14T17:57:29Z")
I know it sounds weird but, I promise, it works. Use clean, unused dryer sheets. Get them wet (not sopping) and scrub the walls, shower door and floor. You’ll need to rinse everything afterwards with clean water but whatever is in the dryer sheets, and the texture of the sheets I guess, takes off everything. I had tried everything on the soap scum on the shower door – Tilex, shower sprays, vinegar – nothing worked. The wet dryer sheet took it all off the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/22 "2014-04-14T18:03:47Z")
I’ve always used a lemon half dipped in salt for cleaning soap scum off shower doors. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/23 "2014-04-14T19:37:34Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Then I spray the tiles with this stuff brilliantly named Clean Shower. The one I’m using now is by Arm & Hammer. I’ve been using Clean Shower since before it was acquired by Arm & Hammer. It was developed by a guy in the Jacksonville, FL area, and after reading an article about it, I tried it. Been using it ever since. We still have to do an occasional scrub, but it works great to extend the time between serious scrubbing. Plus my spousal unit will scrub the shower since he knows how much I hate doing it. So the alternate question to the OP is to marry/live with someone who’ll clean it for you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/24 "2014-04-14T20:45:40Z")
I just clean my shower like once every two months with a sponge and Bon Ami. It sucks and I hate doing it but it’s only 6 times a year. But now you guys got me wondering if I should use Clean Shower every day instead. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/25 "2014-04-14T21:09:29Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I’ve always used a lemon half dipped in salt for cleaning soap scum off shower doors. That’s what Heloise® recommends. No vile chemical fumes, and it smells nice when you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/26 "2014-04-14T22:29:55Z")
get some liquid body wash. squirt ample amount on body. rub yourself against the walls. win - win. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/27 "2014-04-14T22:34:07Z")
Nothing beats a power washer. Just leave the engine outside the house. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/28 "2014-04-15T06:18:21Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Actually, if you spray the shower/tub down with vinegar and then spray baking soda over it and let it sit for a bit, it works even better. The baking soda, water and vinegar react with the dirt and scum and the baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive when wiping it down. How do you ‘spray’ baking soda? I use vinegar + baking soda for a lot of cleaning jobs but I can’t imagine how it could be sprayed on a vertical surface. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/29 "2014-04-15T09:14:49Z")
> **[Amazon.com: Drill Brush - The Original Drillbrush Power Scrubber - Bathroom...](https://www.amazon.com/Drillbrush-Drill-Brush-Original-Accessories/dp/B002DLYV22)** > > The Drillbrush Power Scrubber brand is the industry standard for drill powered cleaning tools. Established in 2007, we have been designing and innovating brushes based on feedback and demand from our valued customers. Our brushes are professional... And an abrasive cleaner (Cif?) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/30 "2014-04-15T13:59:39Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > How do you ‘spray’ baking soda? I use vinegar + baking soda for a lot of cleaning jobs but I can’t imagine how it could be sprayed on a vertical surface. ‘Dust’. Whatever. I just lightly shake the box of baking soda over the area I want to clean and it sticks to the wet areas. I’m sure someone can devise a more efficient delivery method. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/31 "2014-04-16T00:58:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > ‘Dust’. Whatever. I just lightly shake the box of baking soda over the area I want to clean and it sticks to the wet areas. I’m sure someone can devise a more efficient delivery method. I’ll certainly give that a try. I suspect I’ll end up with half the contents of the box on the floor of the shower recess, though. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/32 "2014-04-16T03:26:39Z")
[QUOTE=Trinopus] I need to use something damn strong on the textured floor of the shower-stall. I’ve tried steel-wool. It may be time for a wire brush… To put it in Animaniacs terms, Good Idea or Bad Idea? [/QUOTE] Bad Idea. You’ll add a zillion scratches to the pebbled texture, creating lots of places for soap scum and mildew to attach to. My go-to big gun for the tub and shower is Zep’s Tub Tile and Shower (or some similar combination of nouns) cleaner that’s sold at Home Depot. It’s cheap and highly effective. Spray it on, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then a little gentle scrubbing should get the gunk loosened up. If it’s really bad, you may need a couple rounds of this. _Wheel of Morality, turn, turn, turn. Tell us the lesson that we shall learn_. That Zep stuff is strong and stinky. Don’t breathe the fumes, don’t drink it and don’t forget to file your taxes today. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065/33 "2014-04-16T04:40:46Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Bad Idea. You’ll add a zillion scratches to the pebbled texture, creating lots of places for soap scum and mildew to attach to. > > My go-to big gun for the tub and shower is Zep’s Tub Tile and Shower (or some similar combination of nouns) cleaner that’s sold at Home Depot. It’s cheap and highly effective. Spray it on, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then a little gentle scrubbing should get the gunk loosened up. If it’s really bad, you may need a couple rounds of this. > > _Wheel of Morality, turn, turn, turn. Tell us the lesson that we shall learn_. > That Zep stuff is strong and stinky. Don’t breathe the fumes, don’t drink it and don’t forget to file your taxes today. On a first time clean I’d use toilet bowl cleaner and an old toothbrush on the textured shower floors. Squirt it on when the floor’s damp, scrub it in w the brush and rinse after a few minutes. Make sure not to let the cleaner sit on the metal drain or it could leave a mark. Repeat as necessary. On subsequent cleaning I almost never had to use toilet bowl cleaner there again. Note to any and all - be careful not to use one cleaner after another when they rinse down the same drain, you can still gas yourself that way. Don’t follow bleach, ammonia or hydrochloric acid (most toilet bowl cleaners) w/ each other. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-clean-my-shower/686065.md?page=1)