Ironically, a place where you go to clean yourself, is one of the most germ filled places in your home. Why do showers get so dirty? How can you clean your shower?
As I was getting ready for the day today, I looked around my bathroom and realized how easy it is for me to get my bathroom dirty. Then I looked, in the shower and realized how dirty the shower was too! Why does the shower get so dirty? What can I do to clean my shower, and keep it clean?
Why does my shower get so dirty?
First, let’s answer the question that I’m sure everyone has asked at some point in their lives. Why does my shower get so dirty so fast? The simple answer is because we use it.
When we wash our bodies in the shower, the dirt and grime that we are trying to wash off, falls to the ground. Unfortunately, not all of that dirt and grime from our bodies goes down the drain. Most of it sticks to the floor and walls of the shower, leaving the shower dirty.
Why is it important to clean my shower?
Not only does having a clean shower keep us happy, but the shower is the most germ filled spot in you home. Why?
When taking a shower, water is sprayed everywhere. The floor, walls, door or curtain, faucets, shower head, etc. Water is going everywhere and is constant. Well, when the water doesn’t dry properly, mold and mildew can start to form, which is harmful for our bodies. Regularly cleaning your shower can reduce the risk of sickness and diseases.
How can I clean my shower?
It is so much easier for me to clean my home while using the stuff I have in the pantry, instead of buying harsh chemicals.
Doing some research, I have found that the 2 most effective home remedies for clean a shower are vinegar, and Dawn dishsoap. Jill Nystul has done a blog post about how effective these two household products are in her bathroom. She even talked about using this mixture for the first time in her boys’ bathroom. She was so shocked on how it turned out!
“This homemade shower cleaner works so well because it’s two cleaners in one! White vinegar can eliminate odor, dissolve tough messes, and remove stains, and do about a hundred other things too.
Dawn dish soap cuts through stubborn grease and grime like nobody’s business, and it has almost as many uses as vinegar. The soap also makes the homemade shower cleaner thicker, so it clings to the walls and floor of your tub and shower, rather than running right down the drain.”
Making the cleaner.
Use equal parts of both. Jill recommends using about 1 or 2 cups of both the vinegar and the dishsoap. Pour 1 or 2 cups of vinegar in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave it until it is hot. Once finished, pour into a spray bottle. Then add your dishsoap to the bottle, and gently shake.
Spray the cleaner thoroughly throughout the shower. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. After sitting, scrub your shower down. All done!
This is an easy and effective way to clean your shower from any mildew and grime.
Cleaning the shower head.
Cleaning the shower head can be tedious work. It’s difficult to remove water scum and grime. Instead of taking the shower head off and scrubbing it, try soaking it in vinegar. You can even leave the shower head on!
Fill a plastic bag with vinegar (not too full). Place the bag over the shower head, so the shower head is completely covered. Wrap a rubber band around the top of the bag to keep the bag in place. Let it sit overnight. The next morning, remove the bag and dry with a clean rag.
This cleaning method will ensure that all of the water scum and grime are off, with minimal scrubbing.
How can I keep my shower clean?
The best way to keep your shower clean from harmful bacteria is to spot clean it every day, and deep clean it every week or month.
When spot cleaning, move the shower curtain and dry off the sides of the tub with a rag, to reduce mold on the shower curtain. Rinse and dry all of the shower walls, and squeegee, if necessary.
When deep cleaning, use the cleaner that was mentioned above. Clean the faucets, shower head, and grout.