10 Quick & Easy Bathtub and Shower Cleaning Hacks

Your bathroom should be a clean, inviting space to freshen up and prepare for the day. Unfortunately, maintaining an immaculate bathroom seems to take considerable time and effort. If you’re not careful, you’ll groan see spots of mildew on your shower curtain, soap scum on your tile walls, and discoloration around your drains. Who needs it?

Cleaning your bathroom doesn’t have to be a herculean task. Some simple shower and tub cleaning hacks can make the job a breeze. You’ll wipe away soap scum with less than half the effort. You’ll get rid of mold in shower grout and banish unpleasant odors with ease. 

Our 10 best easy bathroom cleaning tips

1. Fight mildew with baking soda and vinegar. 

Baking soda is a surprisingly effective mold remover. Apply some to a scrub brush or sponge and work it into your shower walls. A spare toothbrush is great for corners, grout, and other tight spaces. For more stubborn spots of mildew, let the baking soda sit for 20 minutes before wiping it away with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol.

2. Make a natural and nontoxic shower spray.

Keep mildew from growing in the first place limiting the humidity in your bathroom. Use your ventilation fan when taking a steamy shower, and open your bathroom window or door to promote airflow. You can also mix one part white vinegar with ten parts water in a spray bottle and apply this mixture to your shower walls and curtain every day. This makes it much harder for mildew to set in.

3. When life gives you lemons, clean your tub.

Here’s one of the more surprising bathroom cleaning hacks. Slice a lemon in half and coat it with kosher salt or sea salt. Use this as a kind of sponge to cut through soap scum. The acid and essential oils in the lemon breaks down the buildup, and the salt acts as an effective abrasive. And it smells good!

4. Use steam to your advantage.

Turn on a hot shower for a few minutes before you start cleaning your bathroom. The heat and steam will start to soften mold, scum, and other gunk in your shower, making much easier to scrub away.

5. Mind your shower curtain.

Shower curtains can get grungy fast. When you’re out of the shower, pull the curtain closed so water—and then mildew—can’t accumulate in the folds. Also consider washing your shower curtain every week or two. The detergent and hot water can eliminate early mold growths so they don’t get out of control. 

6. Make your showerhead as good as new.

If your water has a high mineral content, you’ve likely noticed the accumulation of minerals on your showerhead. Use some white vinegar to eliminate this build up. If you can remove your showerhead, submerge it in some vinegar overnight. If you can’t detach it, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and affix it to your showerhead with some strong tape.

7. Prevent tub rings with baby oil.

If your bathtub is prone to developing an unsightly ring, add a little bit of baby oil to the water whenever you draw a bath. The tub rings are caused by an accumulation of dirt, grime, skin cells, and soap scum. The oil helps to prevent these materials from clinging to the tub walls.

8. Keep your drains free and clear.

You don’t need to be a plumber to maintain your shower drains. Use a drain cover with smaller holes to keep hair and other materials from entering your pipes. Periodically pour some baking soda and vinegar down the drain to break down hidden buildup. If you notice a clog, use a drain snake or plunger before turning to chemical solutions.

9. Use cotton balls for hard-to-reach spaces.

Scrubbing away stains from a tight corner sometimes seems hopeless. Apply some baking soda and vinegar to a cotton ball, then wedge the cotton as tightly as you can in those troublesome spaces. Let it sit overnight, then rinse.

10. Use shaving cream on your glass shower.

Shaving cream is one of our favorite bathroom shower cleaning hacks. If you have a shower with glass panels, apply some shaving cream and buff it out with some paper towels. This keeps your glass from fogging up and becoming streaky.

For Problems You Can’t Hack, Call Liberty Home Guard

Some bathroom problems can’t be solved with a little bit of baking soda. When you’ve run out of tips for cleaning a bathroom or fixing a broken piece of home equipment, a home warranty can save the day. Liberty Home Guard has comprehensive plans to save you time and money on inevitable home repair. Get a quote through our website or call (866)-926-2610.