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Family Savvy

Lifestyle Blog by Jamie Tarence

Sep 8th, 2018

Dawn & Vinegar Shower Door Cleaner

This easy to make & inexpensive Dawn & Vinegar shower door cleaner is hands down the BEST way to keep shower doors sparkling & soap scum free!

Dawn & Vinegar shower door cleaner

This Dawn & vinegar shower door cleaner is so effective at keeping shower doors clean that I leave a bottle in my shower year round.  It costs little to nothing and works like a charm~better than any cleaning solution I’ve ever purchased.

Dull shower doors used to be one of my biggest cleaning frustrations until I discovered the power packed duo of Dawn and vinegar.  This simple and inexpensive solution cuts through the persistent film left by soap scum, and it does so with completely natural, non-toxic ingredients.

Before discovering the Dawn and vinegar solution, I tried myriad store bought products that claimed to clean shower doors. Nothing yielded good results.  The bottom line is that cleaning shower doors is a very challenging task, and soap scum is hard to remove without the right ingredients.

Fortunately, the right ingredients are simple, inexpensive, and effective. All you need is Dawn, white vinegar, and a professional spray bottle.

If you’ll use this several times weekly, your shower doors will stay clear and clean, as soap scum will be kept at bay.

Dawn & Vinegar Shower Door Cleanerdawn & vinegar shower door cleaner

Ingredients:

  • 1 part Dawn liquid (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 part white vinegar (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 professional sprayer (this solution won’t spray well from a cheap spray bottle)

Preparation:

  1. Heat 1 1/2 cups vinegar in the microwave for 2 minutes.
  2. Pour vinegar into spray bottle.
  3. Add 1 1/2 cups liquid Dawn to spray bottle.
  4. Shake well.

Here are a few tips for making the most of this solution.

1) Have a funnel handy so that you can easily fill the sprayer with both solutions.

2) Heat vinegar before adding the Dawn. Supposedly, heating the vinegar prior to adding the Dawn makes the solution mix together more efficiently, so I always heat my vinegar when making a new bottle of solution.

3). Put the solution in a professional sprayer. I found a Zep professional sprayer at Home Depot, and it is far superior to any sprayer I’ve ever used.  It is sturdy, comfortable in the hand, and sprays a large surface area with each pull of the trigger. I tried a few inexpensive sprayers before tossing them all and getting one that works. This sprayer can also be purchased here on amazon but is less expensive at Home Depot.

4) Keep a squeegee in the shower to use with the spray. The OXO Good Grips All-Purpose Squeegee is my favorite for both shower doors and windows. It is much easier and less expensive than cloths or paper towels.

Note: If you do the process while showering, be prepared for a strong vinegar smell. This doesn’t bother me at all, as vinegar is natural and non-toxic.

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Comments

  1. Helpful recipe and informative. Helpful Information. I Appreciate your hard work. It will be helpful for every housekeeper. I benefit so much from your knowledge! Love your style! How can I remove shower iron?

  2. I thought Dawn wasn't toxic being they use it on birds and animals to clean oil off them. Maybe mixed with something it is worse

  3. Hi Marsha, that must be maddening! I wonder if leaving the solution on overnight might work? It definitely works for soap scum; hard water spots might require another formula. Please let me know if you find something that works. Comments are super helpful. Good luck!!!

  4. I have stubborn hard water spots on my shower door. I tried Dawn and vinegar and it didn't work all. I have also tried everything under the sun and nothing has worked. Very frustrating.

  5. Hi Angela! I let the solution sit while I shower (or work for a few minutes), then I wipe the glass down with a wet cloth. You can squeegee or dry after that. So, yes, you do rinse:-)

  6. I tried this do I rinse off prior to squeegee? Because I didn't and it looks like soap still on the glass

  7. Jamie, Your solution was absolutely amazing! My shower glass doors never looked better. I am a recently divorced man and I must admit I never cleaned a shower I became single in August of 2017. I like you tried soap scum removers... spray and walk away lies from many products. All of them full of chemicals and I felt stoned after using a lot of them. Your Dawn and Vinegar solution was absolutely the best... it worked the first time on my caked on soap scum shower doors!!! I am extremely happy with the results. Thank you so much! Mark

  8. Wendy - what is the product that you use on your glass / windows? Wendy APR 24, 2016 @ 04:13:55 I have a car washing product you spray on after you have cleaned your screens and it will stop anything clinging onto your glass. Only needs doing twice a year, smells great too. I am a professional car detailer and can guarantee success, all natural products. Many other household uses as well,

  9. Hi Anita! I would not recommend using vinegar on marble; I fear that would cause etching:-( Perhaps find a reputable marble dealer and call and ask for best cleaning products. Hope you find what works for you!!

  10. I have marble walls in my shower, no doors. Is it safe to use the dawn/vinegar solution on the marble or will it pit. If so what do you recommend?

  12. Now see, the Mix I read, said 32 Oz spray bottle, 1 cup Dawn. and fill the rest of the way with the white vinegar . In other words 1 part dawn, and 3 parts vinegar . So do you think 1/2 and 1/2 is better?

  13. Hi Gina, I have honed travertine walls and floor in my shower also. I just make sure to rinse the solution each time. I've been told sealing once a year is the best way to take care of travertine, so I haven't made any other modifications. Hope this helps!!!

  14. I have honed travertine on my shower floor, and would like to try to use the vinegar -Dawn cleaning idea for my glass shower door, however will this cause pitting in my travertine floor if I rinse off the door with water ? How do you get the mixture off the glass without it hitting the shower floor ? Are there other suggestions. Thanks

  15. Hi Cynthia! I've never used anything but the white. You can certainly give it a try; however, since apple cider vinegar is sometimes brown, I wonder if it might stain? Let us know if you try it!!!!

  16. Will apple cider vinegar work as a substitute for white? I have the cider vinegar on hand already.

  18. Heating the vinegar just speeds up the reaction between the vinegar and the Dawn. For every 10 degrees C one raises the temp of a chemical reaction, you double the speed of that reaction. It does not change the reaction. Dawn has a pH of 9. Common vinegar has a pH of 2.4 Some or all of the alkaline part of the Dawn will be neutralized by the vinegar. If this combination actually did improve the cleaning action of Dawn, you can be guaranteed that P&G would formulate a Dawn shower spray. Likely, you would get the same result with Dawn diluted 1 to 1 with water. Dawn is a very strong cleaner. I use it to clean automotive grimes from my hands.

  19. NEVER Spray any vinegar on granite! Nor any mixture with vinegar in it. It will pit granite. For a 22oz. spray bottle (I reuse cleaned out Spic n Span spray bottles) here is the recipe I use: 1c. White Vinegar 1\2c. Dawn (any kind) Rest water Plastic scrubber I have a plastic coating on my shower walls (Bath Fitter Shower) and can’t use Comet, etc. This works like a charm. First time I cleaned with the Dawn mixture got about 90% of the scum off. I cleaned it a 2nd time about a week later and the walls were like new. I did not heat the vinegar, just mixed it after I put both in the bottle with water. (Gently rock bottle back and forth. If you shake it, it’s going to suds up!)Some say to use apple cider vinegar. I don’t think it makes a difference. I have not tried this on glass, but it does work on plexiglass\acrylic shower doors. I spray it on and let it sit for about 10 minutes, then spray it again when I start scrubbing.

  20. Hi Debbie! I have the glass shower doors but have heard from some friends that it works on their acrylic. Give it a try; it can't hurt. Let me hear how it works!

  22. Harvey, I certainly apologize for misleading anyone, and I've made the changes in the post. Thanks for pointing out that Dawn is neither natural nor non-toxic. That being said, the solution of Dawn and vinegar works beautifully to clean shower doors. We will just use for that purpose. Thanks for sharing all of this info!!!

  24. I use this Dawn + vinegar mixture regularly and like what it can do. However, there are a couple of factual errors in your post that you should perhaps revisit. Firstly, this is NOT a non-toxic mixture. To say, "..it does so with completely natural, non-toxic ingredients" is grossly misleading (and, some might say, irresponsible). Vinegar is natural and non-toxic, but should still be treated with some care since it's an acid. Acetic acid, to be more precise. Dawn dish soap is a chemical soup that has never claimed to be either natural or non-toxic. Proctor & Gamble have listed some of the ingredients on their website (https://www.pg.com/productsafety/search_results.php?searchtext=Dawn&category=ingredients&submit=Search) Please read them so you know what you are exposing yourself and family to. Do some Google searches on the ingredients and you will quickly find that Dawn contains many nasties, some of which are banned in other countries. This doesn't mean that the cleaner combination shouldn't be used (as I say, I use it) but people do need to be aware of exactly what they are using. Secondly, heating the vinegar doesn't make it "bond" better. Heating vinegar slightly makes the acid effect a little stronger. Most people wouldn't notice any difference. If you use cleaning vinegar there is no need to heat at all since cleaning vinegar (usually 6%, sometimes as high as 12%) is stronger than the typical kitchen 5% vinegar. Don't use this mix on granite, travertine, marble, or any natural stone/tiles. The acid of the vinegar will cause pits in natural stone products. For this reason, care must be taken with the spray bottle and cloths - don't put them down onto natural stone materials. Please change the claims of this being non-toxic and natural. If it gets on a child's skin or is ingested this mix has really horrible consequences. Ingested, it can kill. I hope this helps your readers.

  25. It is so nice to have specific, detailed instructions for this type of cleaning solution. Shower doors can be tricky to clean, especially when they are mostly glass. This seems like a very easy solution to try, so I will be going to the store to buy a professional sprayer soon. Thank you for a helpful and informative article!

  27. I use the mixture you posted, but I also use another mixture I found on Pinterest, but altered it a bit. Where I live we have pretty hard water that leaves hard water deposits on the tile. I use this mixture 2-3 times a week and yours for the once every week or two since I live alone. It called for 24 Oz of water. I put in 8 Oz vinegar and the rest distilled water. 1/2 c hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 c rubbing alcohol, 2 T Blue Dawn dish detergent, 3 tsp Jet Dry rinse. I spray it on about 5 minutes or so before I start my shower. While I'm in the shower I have a tile scrub brush and hit any areas that might need it, which is not very often. I have an old wash cloth that I'll lightly scrub the tiles with. When I'm finished with my shower I'll rinse the tile and bathtub out. I'll do this the 2-3 times a week. By doing this, it cuts down on the heavier cleaning.

  29. I have been using Zep Professional Sprayers for years. I worked at Home Depot and came across them there around 1997-98. I will only use them because they work. I would say the average sprayer lasts at least 10 years, which is about how often I have moved. As it has been said, nice larger spray handle, that is easy to grip, larger spray area, having to spray less often. The Ace Hardware near me sells them for $4.50, Home Depot $3.28. Ace is across the street from me, Home Depot is a 10-15 minute drive.

  32. Having a handheld shower head would be the trick...which I don't...so went out and bought a squeegee...thanks for your reply! Really does work on the scum..

  33. Hi Nan! I wipe mine down with the washcloth that I shower with, then I rinse with the handheld shower head. It comes off easily for me. Hope this helps!

  34. Works on soap scum, but definitely a lot of effort to get the soapy dawn mixture off the doors....think I will get a squeegee and try that...

  36. I have a car washing product you spray on after you have cleaned your screens and it will stop anything clinging onto your glass. Only needs doing twice a year, smells great too. I am a professional car detailer and can guarantee success, all natural products. Many other household uses as well,

  37. Peter, thanks so much for letting us know that it works for shower walls too! I have travertine, so I need to make sure it won't harm the natural stone. Will report back when I find out! Blessings!

  38. I found this same recipe elsewhere for the entire shower. I used it, and it works. You just let it set for a few minutes and rinse.

  40. Hi Lee! So glad it worked beautifully with a generic dish soap! Now that you have your doors squeaky clean, all it takes it a few days a week maintenance. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Blessings to you!

  41. Hi Jamie! I just tried this with a generic dishwashing soap and it worked like a charm! I sprayed and rinsed the inside of my glass shower door about 3 times to make sure to get the scum off. The third time, I let the solution sit on the glass for a few minutes and then rinsed it off. The glass is sparkling! Thanks for the all-natural tip! :)

  42. Hi Sarah, this is for shower doors only. I am sure that another type of mixture would be better for walls depending on the type of material. Hope this helps!

  43. I have always liked shower enclosures a lot, but have always found the glass to be difficult to clean. Hopefully this is going to be able to work for me, because then I won't have to deal with scrubbing so much. Does this help with cleaning the rest of the walls too, or is it just a glass door cleaner?

  45. It’s a very simple and efficient recipe. My sister is trying recently to quit using harsh chemical detergents and to clean more naturally, so your post will be of a great help for her. I’m definitely recommending your tips to her and to some friends too. Greets, Susan from http://bloomsburycarpetcleaners.org.uk/ :)

  46. It's a very simple and efficient recipe. My sister is trying recently to quit using harsh chemical detergents and to clean more naturally, so your post will be of a great help for her. I'm definitely recommending your tips to her and to some friends too. Greets,

  47. Hi Amber! I've never used any other brand except Dawn. When doing the research for the formula, everything that I read said to use Dawn. I hope this helps!!!

  51. Hi Gretchen, I usually just spray it before I shower, then use my washcloth after showering to wipe it down before rinsing. It is much easier than using a squeegie:-) Thanks for commenting!

  52. Do you spray it and let it "set" and then rinse? Or spray then wipe? Do you think once a week would keep it clean?...I'm not a squeegie-after-every-shower kind of girl...

  58. Hi Jennifer! I have new shower tile~honed travertine~and am not worried at all about the solution. Since I spray it and leave it on just while showering, I think it is fine. I just make sure to rinse well after using.

  59. Can this solution cause any problem with granite, ceramic tile or grout? Under the shower door is a granite threshold and we have small grouted tiles on shower floor.

  61. Can this mixture sit until the next use or do you have to mix a fresh mix every time you need to clean?

Trackbacks

  2. […] Not only will it save you money, but you’ll also be using those items like vinegar that just sit around in the pantry for years on end with no use. Why not put it to the test? Check out my favorite DIY cleaning recipe. […]
  3. […] Right now I am using a Zep Professional 32 oz spray bottle to hold my homemade shower cleaner. You can buy these at Home Depot. Some people say that this cleaner is hard on the cheap spray bottles and that this Zep bottle holds up better. This spray bottle also has a long trigger that is ergonomically designed to be easier on the hands. One pull on the spray handle dispenses a lot of product. This is good if you have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome and don’t want to do a lot of repetitive squeezing. The jury is still out on this bottle so let me know how it works out for you. I am loving mine so far. I want to give thanks to Jamie Tarence of Family Savvy for introducing me to this bottle in her shower cleaner article. […]
  4. […] Right now I am using a Zep Professional 32 oz spray bottle to hold my homemade shower cleaner. You can buy these at Home Depot. Some people say that this cleaner is hard on the cheap spray bottles and that this Zep bottle holds up better. This spray bottle also has a long trigger that is ergonomically designed to be easier on the hands. One pull on the spray handle dispenses a lot of product. This is good if you have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome and don’t want to do a lot of repetitive squeezing. The jury is still out on this bottle so let me know how it works out for you. I am loving mine so far. I want to give thanks to Jamie Tarence of Family Savvy for introducing me to this bottle in her shower cleaner article. […]

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