This homemade bathroom cleaner blasts away built-up soaps scum in your tub or shower. No scrubbing required!
I hate cleaning the bathtub. I’ll be honest, I used to wait until we were having house guests to clean it. Then a few years back I tried a homemade cleaner. Little did I know that it would knock my socks off. Seriously, it is the best homemade bathtub cleaner. My bathtub has never stayed cleaner because I DON’T HAVE TO SCRUB IT! A no-scrub cleaner that cuts through soap scum and ring-around-the-tub? Yes! It’s for real! I have been using it for several years now. All my family uses it. I talk to my friends about it. It is THAT good!
What is the best natural Shower Cleaner?
You found it! It’s a two ingredient mixture of Dawn dish soap and vinegar.
To make your own homemade tub cleaner, you will need:
- 1 cup original blue Dawn dish soap
- 1 cup white vinegar
Heat the vinegar in the microwave for 1 minute. Pour both ingredients into a plastic spray bottle and spray evenly over the tub. Warning: it stinks.
In 30 minutes to 1 hour, come back and use a cleaning rag to wipe away all the grime. Wipe, not scrub. Really!
If you don’t believe me, just look at these photos:
Score! I did not scrub one tiny bit and my tub is sparkling white. The pictures just don’t do it justice. I could actually see the line down the middle where the solution touched the tub. Look:
And no scrubbing! Really… I just wiped the grime away!
Is it safe to mix vinegar and Dawn dish soap?
Yes! Mixing Dawn and vinegar is completely safe. And it works wonders on soap scum! I really can’t say enough good things about this easy homemade cleaner.
A few other notes…
- You can use other brands of dish soap. They work okay. But blue Dawn is still the best I’ve found.
- Did you know they sell cleaning grade vinegar? I found mine at Wal-Mart by the other multi-purpose cleaners. It’s cheaper than food grade vinegar and is perfect for jobs like this.
Still skeptical? I let my tub build up grime for two months just to make a video to show you exactly how amazing this stuff is. Why? Because when you find something this good, you have to share it with everyone!
It’s worth taking a look through the comment section below. So many people have used this method with great success.
Comments & Reviews
I'm definitely trying this today. Thanks afor the tip.
You're welcome! I hope you love it as much as I do!
Hi Jennifer! You just wipe the cleaner away? Do you need to rinse it? Thank you!
You’ll need to wipe the cleaner off, then rinse the tub. I have a handheld shower attachment and that’s what I use.
On my way to buy this can't wait,also one cup of dawn blue,15 minutes then hot clears clogged drain . seriously works.
Did you use regular white vinegar or the cleaning grade vinegar for this?
I've used both and they both work great!
This sounds so easy. I'm like you, cleaning when someone is coming over.
I wonder if you just hosed it down if that would work? hmmm, I'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip.
You do need to wipe it, not just spray it off.
If you have a pressure hand held shower head put it on highest pressure w/steamy hot water it will work ALSO I ADD A LITTLE (few drops) of scented essential oils to help with the STINK Haha I keep mixed with water in a small spray bottle Works great (that or a clothespin)
Do you have to heat it each time you use it?
I think it works better that way, but I've also used it without heating and it still works.
Did you use on ceramic/porcelain tub or plastic/acrylic tub
I've used it on both types and it works well on both!
I'll be danged… it really does work. Looks like it worked on the hard water spots on the chrome too. All i had was cooking white vinegar and Palmolive Oxy. Next time i think i will use a brush on the bottom of the tub though, to get in the little grooves better.
Oh my goodness! Just sprayed and saw grime moving. I can't wait to see how it looks in an hour.
I've found that a little bit of baking soda works amazing too, if I really have a spot that just doesn't want to come off!
I've had good success with that too. The baking soda is great for scrubbing really stubborn spots!
I have been using this and it is amazing! Thanks for posting.
I tried this and loved it but I used 1/4cup dawn and 1 3/4 cups Apple cider vinegar and fill my spray bottle with water I also found it works great on toilets and sinks I had stubborn stains and all I had to do was spray wait about an hour and use the toilet brush came like new I also poured some in my toilet brush holder to sanitize the brush love it
I have a fiberglass shower/tub combo. It is ridiculously hard to clean. It is becoming harder to clean with age (it's and mine!) Any other tips before I try it?
Follow the directions exactly, including heating the vinegar. Then let it sit for at least one hour, maybe two. Sometimes the cleaner runs off of the walls, so I go back in periodically and swish it back up the sides of the tub. Then see how it goes. You could also do a second coat of cleaner if the first one doesn't get everything. Good luck!
I am 78 and I have used the Original Dawn Detergent and white vinegar, leave on Bouton an hour and then wipe off and rinse and it works wonderfully!
I can't wait to try this. My husband is a mechanic and he can destroy the tub like no other!
Ah, I feel your pain. We drove a junker for years and my husband became a part-time mechanic to keep that thing running. When he decided to wash his monkey suit, I almost killed him when I saw the black ring around my washer!
I was married to a mechanic and this works great for getting rid of the grease ring after he showered.
Does this work on old porcelain?
It has worked on every tub I've tried it in so far. I hope it works for you!
Does this work on tile in the shower or just the bathtub?
It works anywhere there's soap scum and hard water build up! My mom uses it to clean the hard water build up around her kitchen faucets and I use it on our tile tub surround. It leaves the tiles squeaky clean!
Will this work on shower glass doors too? We have textured doors that nothing seems to help get the soap scum off of!
Yes! It may take a few times to get it all off because the solution drips off before it can get all of the soap scum, but it will work!
Suggestion for glass shower doors after using the above cleaner. Spray or use Rain X on the doors! Water runs
off & no water spots & scum. I did this when selling my house & got tired of daily Cleaning so it could be shown while I was at work.
how did you let your tub get so dirty to start with yuk
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
Great reply Jennifer!
I rent My home & my tub was like nearly dark gray. After four years of living here & giving up on trying to get it back to white, spending so much money on products that never worked . I found This at 1am and said what the heck…. You are a god sent !!! I was Impatient , left if for like 2 minutes ( more or less… most likely less) and it came right of ! Wow like really wow!
She literally says in the article she purposely waited a while to clean it to show how well this works….
If you read her post she left it for 2 months to make the video..no need to be rude
My tub was way dirtier than yours. 😉 I followed the directions and it worked great! I wiped it with a warm, damp towel. Only one spot did not come off the first time, so I re-sprayed that spot, left it on 15 min, went back to wipe again and that was that. Thank you so much for this!
Hurray! I'm so glad it worked for you. It's amazing stuff.
Why do you have to use original (blue) dawn?
I've tried other brands and they still work, but not as well. There is something in blue Dawn that is just really awesome!
It’s made to get through more heavy types of stains. They use it to clean animals after oil spills. It also can kill fleas on a pet.
Just used your brew in a toxic tub/shower. Hasn't been cleaned in OVER a year. Rubber gloves and brush with looooong handle. Waited an hour and Voila, presto chango, magic and pretty much sanitized. Thank you for your cleaner hint.
Followed directions exactly and used ingredients you posted. Let sit 2 hours. Didn't touch it 🙁
Oh no! I wonder why… it's worked SO well for me.
Well, there’s your problem! You DIDN’T follow the instructions exactly. If you left it for 2 hours, it dried on — and it doesn’t work if it’s dried on, believe me, I’ve done it. Try again and wait only half an hour. If the tub is super bad, use a Scrub Daddy to swoosh it around, but make sure to use hot water to soften the Scrub Daddy so it doesn’t scratch if you have a tub made of anything but hard porcelain. Then wipe off with a soft wet rag, then rinse.
Also, this recipe is great for practically everything else but doesn’t really fix those rusty stains from hard water in iron-rich areas. Lime scale, yes, rust, no. But then, getting rust off isn’t its job. There are other cleaners for that. I now swear by this stuff!
Works AMAZINGLY!!!! Our tub has literally been BROWN since the day we moved in. Not Comet, not Barkeeper's Friend, not soap scum sprays or the most diligent of elbow grease has worked. Used this formula with some baking soda on the bottom of the tub (which is one of those horrible tub liners with built in grippers) and scrubbed my heart out (it was really really bad!) and… It's bright!!!! I might actually take a bath after another treatment or two! Thank you so much! I wish I had checked this out sooner. I had almost lost hope!
Hurray hurray hurray!!!
This also works like magic on coolers! My hubby left ours out all winter. It was horrible! I really thought I'd have to toss it and get a new one, but because they're so expensive I figured I'd give this a try 1St and I'll be darned if the thing doesn't look brand new! I wish I would've done before and after pictures! Thanks so much for the 'recipe'!
Followed the directions (so easy!) as you posted them and my spray bottle was clogging….not sure why? I know it worked fine before adding the mixture because I had been using it with water before. I ended up splashing it out of the bottle and we'll see how it works. Do you have trouble with your spray bottle clogging?
My spray bottle doesn't clog. I'm sorry you're having trouble. Hopefully it still worked for you!
I bought a spray bottle at the dollar store but the tube in it was so narrow, it wouldn't suck up the thick solution. I removed the sprayer and splashed it on the tub and walls. It really worked great. I'll have to look for a sprayer with a thicker tube.
Just happened to run across this. trying to find some way not to use hard chemicals and not scrubbing my shower and wow this works thanks. So much easier now
Have this mixture "percolating" now in my apartment shower- I can already tell its working if I swipe my finger along the area right under the soap dish where it runs down. I did not use the whole amount so can I re-heat it next go-round with the dish soap and vinegar combined?
Yep! Just label it so you know what's inside
The dirt I had before wouldn't scrub even with my fingernail, that's how tough it was. Your mixture simply BLEW away the dirt off the bathtub, shower tiles, sink, toilet, etc. It simply made these look like new, and I'm not exaggerating a bit. Absolutely no scrubbing, just wipe it with a sponge or even a piece of toilet paper, the metal/ceramic underneath will remain shiny and will look like new. I have noticed the metal piece inside the drain (the one that keeps long hairs from going into the drain) turned green so careful if you have any metal/copper parts around the bathtub.
I have used half Dawn (blue one) and half regular 5% vinegar from the store. Didn't warm it up at all, just let it sit anywhere between 30min-1h. The washroom will STINK, run the fan or open a window.
No more hours passing rubbing all these dirty places! Thank you for saving me that hard work.
You are so welcome!
I tried this and wish I had the same results as everyone else. I followed step by step and let it sit for an hour but when I went to wipe it down there was no change. 😭
I have hard water stains (like orange) in my bathtub and sink. Do you think this will work?
I'm not sure it will. It's best for removing soap scum and hard water build-up, but give it a try. What do you have to lose?
Hopefully you got the orange spots off. Here is how to get those orange stains off your tile and grout if you didn’t already or if anyone else reads this.
Get 1 non-see through spray bottle (hydrogen peroxide needs to be in dark container). Pour hydrogen peroxide in spray bottle. Mist onto the orange stains. Have a good laugh for about 30 seconds as you watch the tiny bubbles make your life easy. When you stop laughing, give the stain a light swipe with toothbrush, scrubby sponge or whatever. May need to give it a 2nd spray if extremely built up but probably not.
Dollar Tree sells peroxide in brown spray bottles!
Ok, my tub was absolutely disgusting. I've let it slide for way, way too long. Working a new job, kids, caring for my dad… it was last on my list. Every day I looked at it and thought I had to do something. I'd try scrubbing here and there and it seemed like such a huge job. I've seen this recipe before, but hadn't tried it. I had a small amount of Dawn blue in my laundry room and a jug of vinegar and I thought it couldn't hurt! I mixed up a spray bottle and added lemon juice like one of the posters recommended. I sprayed and let it sit for 1/2 hour. I used a scrubby sponge to try and "wipe away" the grime… well, some came off, but some was stubborn. I could see drip marks in the dirt where maybe the spray didn't cover as well. I didn't rinse, but sprayed again and let it sit again. After about 20 minutes I went to work again with my sponge. I had to use a bit of elbow grease in spots, but not nearly what it was before. My tub is white again!! I rinsed a bit, then took a shower and rinsed more during that. My fixtures haven't been so shiny in a long time and I won't be embarrassed by my tub anymore. Now my only big issue is the caulk. I have that nasty black in the caulk and can't seem to scrub it away. I am running to the store today to get more Dawn blue for my laundry room and cleaning. Thank you! I did take before, during and after pics and the difference is amazing!
I have used the Clorox gel toilet bowl cleaner on the caulk around our tub. Squeeze some on the caulk and let it sit for about 30 minutes and then wash it away. On some spots, I had to repeat the process.
Cover the area with cotton balls soaked in bleach overnight. The next day it will be gone.
Mix equal parts bleach and baking soda to make a paste you can apply to the black caulk with a Q tip. Let sit for a while and boom – black is gone!
Hi. Do you use water when scrubbing it off?
Yes!
THIS IS THE BEST RECIPE AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEANING 🛀🏾 BATHTUBS. I’m in love with it and keep sharing with everyone. 💃🏻
Thanks so much!
OMG! Thank you so much for this cleaning hack for my evil tub. I just tried it and every where I sprayed it worked. I can also see where my spray bottle missed areas as those are dark compared to the clean areas.
I let it sit for a few hours and it just wiped off. Even the mold did. My back thanks you too!
I added Tea Tree oil to my mixture about a teaspoon worth in a 4 cup spray bottle. I will have to get some Dawn as prescribed.
Again thank you!
USMCGal
Hurray! So glad it worked for you!
I add a bit of baking soda to this mixture (maybe 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) to give a bit of scrub when I wipe out the tub. It doesn’t really require elbow grease but does help with stubborn spots.
Just did this yesterday. Worked great! I am really happy and grateful that you posted this! THANK YOU!
I’ve tried this and all I used was my HAND to WIPE not scrub clean and it worked GREAT!
I use the Blue Dawn-vinegar mixture for everything it seems. I don’t have a dishwasher and even use it to do dishes. The vinegar makes things absolutely sparkle!
So glad to hear it, Michelle! Thanks for the review!
Does it work on granite or onix?
Yes, it’ll work… but I would be careful with stone. The vinegar may dull the shine or etch the finish.
Tried this today and it works wonders!
I used it on the hand held shower head. Some Dawn and white vinegar in a baggie and wrap the baggie with a rubber band. Soak. Scrub with a toothbrush or electric toothbrush. All build up, black yuck was gone. The shower head gleamed. Perfect!!!
After reading this, I made a mad dash to the store for some dawn. The soap scum just wiped right off. The bath tub looks brand new. Thank you. Next I ‘m trying it on the master bath shower glass doors, hope it works just as well.
Have been hunting for something to use on the bathtub (hard water / well water sucks!). I’ve tried everything including the Dremel scrub brush tool with little success. First try, with a little pressure on the scrub side of the sponge / scrub brush, everything came off all but a patch in the middle. Running second time now…even I have to do it again, I’m THRILLED! Thank you so much for sharing!!! Made a HUGE difference!
OMG THANK YOU!!! My boyfriend is a mechanic and a no longer bachelor. When I moved in to his house almost 3mon ago his tub was stained black or diggy grayish. I seen you tub cleaner diy and pictures and said humm kinda looks like our. What can it hurt I have tried everything to clean it except for replacing it (which was coming). Holy cow our tub looks new!!! Where did I miss this?! I am going to buy dawn and vinegar by the gallons this is my new and only tub cleaner!!
Thanks again and thanks for saving my knees lol
What about on a Terrrazo Tile shower stall? Do you think the vinegar would damage the surface?
I would be very careful if you try it. Maybe do a test spot?
I also did this to clean my bathroom. I even posted a picture! I made mixture into a paste since it was tiled walls with years of hard water stained. It worked so well I felt like had found the Holy grail! LOL
My husband is a coal miner. The shower is black and oily( disgusting!) just spayed it on, put wash away, and wiped it off! It’s actually cleaner than any chemical cleaner I’ve used!! Thank you!!
How do you clean a bathtub used for dog grooming. The enamel is gone and dirt is in beaded in the tub and shower walls
That’s a tough one. You can definitely try this cleaner, but if the enamel is gone, it’s probably time to get a new tub.
Hi. I didn’t see anyone mention how long the house smells like vinegar. 🙂 Anyone?
It IS a little smelly! I just leave the bathroom window open during cleaning and for about an hour after.
It looks like your tub has a non-slip bottom. Is this true? My tub has a non-slip bottom and over time the non-slip areas that we stand on the most have turned kind of gray/black. I have read that the discoloration is caused from the oil on your feet. I have tried everything to get rid of the discoloration but nothing seems to work. Does your solution get rid of the gray/black?
It KIND OF works… I’ve found that if you soak paper towels or cloth rags in the solution and lay them on the non-slip areas, then let it sit for 24 hours (re-spray the solution on if it starts to dry out during that time) it will get most of it off with a good scubbing. Those dang non-slip areas are SO hard to clean!
I went out this morning bought the stuff, microwave, sprayed away…..now counting the minutes to wipe away. Was going to do a before and after…..but it was bad…..lol….
Omg this worked so well for me. Thank you!
Will this spray damage polished nickel fixtures? Or perhaps they can safely be cleaned with this as well?
I’ve used it on mine with no problems.
Thank you for this. I will try it!
I’m very sensitive to the perfumey odors of most cleaners. When you say this stinks are you talking perfume or vinegar? Thanks!
definitely smells like vinegar!
Please help.:. Tried and did nothing … what else to try ?
OMG What a great tip! Just used it and I’m floored! Thanks so much!
Can I use a different brand of soap and cleaning vinegar than the ones you used ?
Yes!
I have used this cleaner for years and years. The absolutely best cleaner around and so inexpensive. The problem that we have with it that the tub can be REALLLY slippery if not rinsed very well. Of course my kids loved it when they were young as they would slide from one end of the tub to the other, but uh-oh if they stood up. Fortunately, they learned quickly no messing around for a few baths until the tub had been rinse a few times.
I’ve been using this for years now. I actually keep a spray bottle on my tub and I also fill one of those dish scrubbers with soap dispenser with the dawn & vinegar solution for quick spot cleanings.
I am trying the bath tube thing right now because my daughter likes all the body wash and it’s summer. I feel like it gets dirty so quick. I does stink and try not to breathe and turn on bathroom fan. Mine is sitting in there cleaning right now. It’s crazy how many things you can use vinegar and Dawn for(not together usually). I love it.
Hi! This did work wonders on most of my tub, but there are parts that is still stained. One stain is at the bottom of the tub, and the other is on the sideI’ve tried this method twice (once per day). How do I make the mix more concentrated? Thanks.
This cleaner is most effective with soap scum and ring-around-the-tub. If your tub is actually stained, this might not work.
I’m impressed. It actually works. I have emphysema and can’t clean my tub like I used to. It’s been a very long time. I decided I would try this, and anywhere it sat for the hour, with a wipe of my sponge mop, hardened gunk came right off. This is great.
how do you get it to stay on the walls/ back of tub? my tub is on a slant towards the drain so it all just pools around the drain! Do you continuously spray it?
One thing I’ve done before is soak rags or paper towels in the mixture, then lay those down on the slanted surfaces so the mixture stays in place. It works pretty well!
Does the vinegar have to be heated? Or does it make a difference ? I have always cleaned using this recipe and I heard years ago about something needing to be heated but I never have. Now I’m curious as to what it would look if I heated the vinegar, I’m made because just a few hours ago I made this and I put the he two in my bottle but never heated . Is it too late for me to heat the DIY CLEANER??
Ty in advance
The heat helps break down the soap scum.
This is truly a MIRACLE cleaner. Best thing since sliced bread and rear window defrosters. For those of us 65+, get one of those garden knee pads at the 99 cent store and it makes wiping out the tub so much more comfortable. I can’t stop looking at my bathtub!
I’ve been stalling cleaning the scum from my shower, thinking there’s no way I can stoop, then scrub then actually get up out of the shower then get dressed. Your post gave me the strength! I have a gallon container of white vinegar and a big bottle of Dawn…. Watch out shower I’m coming loaded.. 😎