Here’s the easy DIY recipe for the best shower door cleaner EVER using Dawn & vinegar~safe, non-toxic, and inexpensive!
Soap scum is the biggest problem with shower doors.
What is soap scum? It is what remains on shower doors when hard water mixes with dirt, soap residue, and body oils. If allowed to build up over time, the deposits harden and can be very difficult to clean. The most commonplace for soap scum to cling is to the shower doors that are used regularly. The steam, water, soaps, shampoos, and other bathing products eventually end up causing a cloudy film on the shower doors that is very unattractive.
What is the best way to remove soap scum?
I am a stickler for clean shower doors and have searched for years for the “best product” to do the job. A few years ago, I was surprised to find out that the best shower door cleaner was a surprising mixture of inexpensive products that I already had at home. This mixture can’t be bought “ready-made” at the store, but a simple DIY recipe does the job perfectly.
Store-Bought Cleaners are Not the Best
This might sound shocking, but try it yourself and see. I’ve tried myriad cleaners specifically for bathrooms~from oxy versions to scrubbing bubbles versions to bleach versions. No only have I not found one yet that leaves shower doors sparkly, but I dislike the fumes and harsh chemicals of these cleaners. Just read the back of most of these and you’ll find warnings about harmful fumes.
Dawn + Vinegar DIY Solution Works Best for Soap Scum
Dawn and vinegar are the dynamic duos to turn soap scum covered shower doors sparkly and clean. Although I am not a scientist, my research on it has revealed the following.
- Dawn breaks down grease and grime. Of all the dishwashing soaps you can buy, Dawn is the best at removing oils. In oil spills, Dawn is the best solution for cleaning the birds’ feathers without harming their skin. The reason? Dawn contains petroleum. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works.
- Vinegar removes residue and imparts shine. Vinegar is a nature’s wonder that can be used for so many purposes. My dermatologist Dr. Jo Herzog shares what it does in this post on Listerine vinegar foot soak.
Which Dawn should I use for shower door cleaner?
Standing in the grocery aisle choosing a Dawn can be confusing lol; there are many varieties. I’ve used almost every variety, and honestly, I can’t tell a difference. There might be a subtle one, but I haven’t seen it. Every Dawn + vinegar mixture that I’ve used to clean shower doors has done a stellar job. But if you want the breakdown of the different Dawn options, here goes.
- The New and Improved Dawn Ultra Blue contains โ3X More Grease Cleaning Power.โ It is 3 times stronger than non-ultra Dawn (regular Dawn).
- 3X Dawn is 50% stronger than the 2X varieties.
- Note that some other varieties of Dawn Ultra still say โ2X Grease Cleaning Power.โ
Just try the different ones and see if you see a difference. Remember~you will be adding equal parts vinegar to any Dawn you use, so the “cleaning effect” is not just Dawn~but Dawn combined with vinegar.
How to Make Dawn Vinegar Shower Door Solution
How to Make the Best Shower Door Cleaner Ever with Dawn & Vinegar
How to make the Dawn-Vinegar shower door cleaner that works better than anything store bought.
Materials
- Original (blue) Dawn
- white vinegar
- spray bottle
Tools
- funnel
- 8 cup glass measuring bowl
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups Dawn and 2 cups vinegar into a glass bowl.
- Stir; heat 4 minutes in the microwave; remove and stir again.
- Using a funnel, carefully pour the solution into the spray bottle. *
- Shake well to mix the solution. Use as needed on shower doors.
Notes
* Be careful not to burn yourself if the solution is hot.
** If Dawn is a thicker, commercial type version, use 2 parts vinegar to one part Dawn so that it won't be too thick.
- Use equal parts Dawn + vinegar. If your Dawn is a thick version, use 2 parts vinegar to 1 part Dawn.
- Heat Dawn & vinegar in the microwave for 4 minutes (do not boil). Stir well, and pour into the bottle when not too hot. This is key for the effective mixing/blending of the mixture.
- Put the solution into a good spray bottle. These clear spray bottles come in a set of 3 and are less than $20.
- Use a funnel for mess-free pouring. I use collapsable funnels like these that don’t take up drawer space.
The pyrex glass bowl below is perfect for heating the Dawn-Vinegar solution. The spout makes it easy to pour into the funnel once the solution is heated and mixed.
How to clean shower doors with Dawn + Vinegar.
- Spray the Dawn + Vinegar solution liberally on dry shower doors. Wet shower doors dilute the mixture. Also, the solution clings to dry shower doors better than wet ones.
- Leave on for at least 2-3 minutes. I shower while the solution is on my shower doors which takes about 5 minutes.
- Wipe shower doors with a wet washcloth. I toss an extra washcloth into the shower with me when I plan to wash the shower doors. I let it get wet while I am showering, and it is ready to use when it is time to wipe the Dawn + Vinegar solution off the shower doors.
- Rinse shower doors with warm water. I have a shower head that is handheld, so I start from the top and rinse all the doors until they are crystal clear.
- Wipe shower doors down with a squeegee. I love this white Oxo squeegee and keep it in the shower just for this purpose. If you don’t wipe the doors with a squeegee, the doors will still be clean, but they won’t dry as crystal clear.
Watch exactly how I do it in the video below.
How to Make the Best Shower Door Cleaner Ever with Dawn & Vinegar
How to make and apply Dawn-Vinegar shower door cleaner.
Materials
- 1 cup Dawn dish washing liquid (see note)
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 good spray bottle
Tools
- A funnel helps to put liquids into bottle.
- A sprayer for spraying solution onto doors.
- A washcloth for spreading solution onto doors.
- A squeegee for wiping down at the end.
Instructions
- Heat vinegar in the microwave for 60-80 seconds.
- Add vinegar and Dawn to spray bottle.
- Shake well.
Notes
Use equal amounts of Dawn + vinegar; I typically do 1 cup of each.
What to do if your Dawn-Vinegar gets thick.
For some reason, after years of using Dawn-Vinegar to clean shower doors, I encountered a problem. I noticed that my solution would not spray well. The problem? Some of the Dawn had gotten thick. There were small clumps that were inhibiting a good flow from the sprayer. If this happens to you, there is an easy fix. See how I do it in the short video below.
So there you have it~my favorite cleaning hack for the bathroom~Dawn + Vinegar Shower Door Cleaner. I hope you try this; if so, please comment so the rest of us can hear your thoughts!!! As always, thanks so much for stopping by. Be blessed, and stay (shower door) savvy!!!
Shelley that is a great question!!! I have found that after a week or two, my solution gets separated a bit and also thickens. I put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes to get it back to normal. If it is really thick, I add a bit more vinegar before microwaving. Hope this helps!!!
Probably a silly question but do I have to heat up the solution each time I use it. Ty
Hi Carolyn, I have not used the foaming. For some reason, I don’t think it would work as well as the regular, but maybe some others will weigh in.
I buy Dawn foaming soap, have you experimented or had anyone else ask trying that particular type of Dawn Dish soap?
I am not sure about granite cleaning, so I can’t advise. I wouldn’t use this solution unless you do some research. Granite is its own animal.
How to get โsmearsโ from granite and also the black covers on my appliances/oven, microwave, etc
I usually use the blue, but that should work also. Give it a try, and let me know!!!
I have the green dawn antibacterial
Have you every used it with vinegar
Hi Penelope, I don’t have marble so cannot answer this question. If it etches your marble, personally, I would not use it. I would consult a marble or stone expert for the best way to clean marble. Hope this helps!
If this solution splashes on the marble in my shower, it etches the stone and destroys the surface. How do you protect the stone or marble in a shower using this method.?
Hi Tina! I am so glad it worked! I am surprised that it worked so well minus the vinegar. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!! It is super helpful!!! XoXo
Thank you for this. I hate cleaning the tub but had to give it a try at 11:00 last night. I did skip the vinegar because I read in BHG years ago it can harm enamel on tubs, but the regular Dawn worked like a charm! Egads! It really worked! Passing this along to my daughters.
Hi Janis! I had this happen once in the Winter when my bath space was colder. Cold makes liquids more firm. I added a bit more vinegar and zapped a few minutes in the microwave to mix. Worked like a charm. Hope this helps!!!
My mixture thickened after about 2 weeks — what may have caused this do you know?
Let me know how it works, Jennifer!!!
I will have to try this.
Hi Sheila! Personally, I would not spray this on a shower curtain (I wash showers curtains in the washer and put them out to dry). But if you try it, please let us know how it turns out!
Can you spray it on your shower curtain?
Hi Carol, thanks for sharing your good results! We have hard water too and also have great results with this solution. Have a great day!!!!
worked great it got all the hard water off the glass and no streaks
Kathleen, thank you so much for letting us all know that this works on frosted glass. It is super helpful when readers share comments. Thank you for taking the tine!!! XoXoXo
Yea, it worked to remove those awful streaks on the frosted shower doors. Thank you!!
Kathleen! I honestly donโt know because my glass is clear. But I donโt know why it wouldnโt work. The ingredients are natural so shouldnโt hurt. If you try it, please let us hear how it turns out. Xoxo
Will this work on frosted glass? I used some cleaning product I shouldn’t have and it’s streaked really badly. Help!!
Hi Kathryn!! I am so happy that you found my site helpful!! And thank you for sharing it with others:-) Bleasings to you, my friend!!
XoXo
Great and quite useful recipes! Iโm recently trying to use more natural cleaning solutions and your pieces of advice seem to be quite effective for me. Definitely trying and recommending this post to some friends. Greets!
So glad this worked for you, and LOVE the Dawn tip for laundry!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!! Blessings to you!!!! XoXo
And I’ve never used on granite:-)
Hi Susan! I spray mine all over the doors before getting in the shower. Leave on during shower. Wipe down with wet washcloth after shower. Rinse. Let air dry. I am sure you could do it any other way; that is just my routine. XoXo
A little confused…do you spray this on wet shower doors before the squeegy? Is it ok for granite?
This worked great for me. Used dollar store sprayer and dollar store scrub brush and the shower walls look great again. I didn’t heat the vinegar…used a couple pumps of dawn…..very small sprayer. Rinsed afterward with shower nozzle.
Another dawn tip. I’ve stopped buying spot cleaners for laundry…just used very watered down dawn. No grease stains!
Hi John! I just spray it on before stepping into the shower and let it sit while I shower. Then I spray it off and wipe it down after showering. It is about 3 -5 minutes for me. Just see what works for you!
You don’t say how long to keep the solution on for?
Hi Tracy! I typically get about a month’s worth out of my bottle, but it just depends on how often you clean. If you clean daily, it might not last that long. So glad you love it. It is one of my all time fave tips:-) XoXo
I have tried the vinegar and Dawn mixture, and its the best, I just wondering how long the mixture last
Also thank you
Suhana, I just saw your comment; I apologize for being so late to reply!! Thank you for your kind words. I’ve never had shower iron so can’t be any help in this area. If you find out a solution, please let me know!!!! Have a wonderful day!!!! XoXo
Hi Patti! It is amazing, isn’t it?! Thank you so much for the marketing suggestion:-) It is all natural and just a savvy tip that I love sharing on the blog! Happy you’ve found it!!!:-)
I couldn’t believe how your solution worked. It cleaned the scum right off, but the magic part is that the shine LASTS for a long time. It’s better and certainly cheaper than anything else I’ve tried. You should market this somehow. Thank you!
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?
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
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!!!
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.
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:-)
I tried this do I rinse off prior to squeegee?
Because I didn’t and it looks like soap still on the glass
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
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,
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!!
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?
Hi Anthony! I have only used the solution as I shared in the post; however, if you try the other mixture and it works, let us know!!
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?
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!!!
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
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!!!!
Will apple cider vinegar work as a substitute for white? I have the cider vinegar on hand already.
Thanks for this helpful info!!! Gotta love Dawn!!!!
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.
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.
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!
Does this work on acrylic shower doors as well or only glass ones?
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!!!
Hope it does the job for you, Brooke!! Thanks so much for writing!
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.
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!
Hi Christopher! Thanks so much for sharing this!
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.
Hi Christopher! I agree with you! Zep sprayers are the best!! Mine are still going strong!!!
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.
Yes, I’d love to hear if it works!!
I use Sunlight dish liquid for my dishes. I’ll give it a try with this, and let you know how it goes.
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..
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!
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…
Thanks for sharing, Wendy!!!
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,
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!
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.
It works on walls too.
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!
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! :)
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!
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?
Susan, thanks for taking time to comment! I am so thrilled that you enjoy the blog. Blessings to you!!!
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/ :)
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,
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!!!
Does it have to be Dawn or will it work with any other brand?
Hi Melodie! I just leave it on during my shower and wipe it off with my washcloth before getting out. No squeegee necessary:-)
How long do you leave it on before you use the squeegee?
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!
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…
Hi Arlene,
I’ve never tried it so don’t know. If you find out, let us know how it works!
Do you think this solution would work on the inside and outside of car windshields? It is so hard to cut the grease etc. on the glass.
Lesley, thanks so much for the compliments! We are definitely enjoying our new bathroom space:-) Blessings to you!
Love how the bath and shower are separate but are in the same wall. This would be a pretty simple design to do. I’m in love with the grey tiles too.
Yes! Finally someone writes about access bathroom requires.
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.
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.
Hi Janice! It keeps well sitting out until time to refill! I do shake mine if it ever needs it; otherwise, it has a great shelf life!!
Can this mixture sit until the next use or do you have to mix a fresh mix every time you need to clean?