How to Use Vinegar to Clean Shower Stalls

Vinegar Cleaning Solution

• For light cleaning, you can dilute the vinegar with water. For heavy soap scum, it’s best to use it full strength. Pour the vinegar into an empty spray bottle. You may add a few pinches of baking soda to the vinegar if you wish. The baking soda won’t dissolve completely in cold vinegar, so it serves as a mild abrasive.

Cleaning the Shower Stall

• Spray all the surfaces in your shower stall with the vinegar or vinegar and baking soda solution. Thoroughly saturate the walls and floor, then let the vinegar sit for several minutes to begin breaking down the scum. Scrub a grimy test spot. If the soap scum doesn't scrub away easily, spray the shower again to keep the surfaces wet, and allow the vinegar to sit several minutes longer. For very tough areas like around the drain, sprinkle some baking soda directly on the soil, then saturate it with vinegar and scrub it away. Rinse the shower stall thoroughly with hot water after cleaning to prevent a slippery floor.

Cleaning the Shower Head

• To remove buildup on your shower head, fill a plastic sandwich bag part way with undiluted white vinegar. Place the bag over the shower head so that the shower head is submerged, then fasten the bag to the hose or fixture with a twist-tie. Leave the bag on for several hours or overnight. After you remove the bag, scrub the shower head with a brush. If the nozzles are clogged, insert a toothpick into each to remove the residue, then run water through the shower head to rinse the nozzles.

Cleaning the Shower Curtain

• To clean your shower curtain, set your washing machine for a full, hot-water load. Add 1 cup of white vinegar and your regular laundry detergent. Place the curtain in the washer with towels or other items that will cause friction as the washer agitates. Run the curtain and towels through the entire wash, rinse and spin cycles. This vinegar wash will also remove mildew if your curtain is a vinyl one.