Never Scrub Your Shower Again
I just love cleaning my shower, don’t you? There’s nothing quite as satisfying as breaking out some cleaning products to attack mold, mildew, and soap scum, right?
HA.
Back when I did our hallway bath reveal last year, I did a post answering some questions where I mentioned that I was trying a new method of keeping the shower clean that didn’t involve any chemicals, sprays, or scrubbing. It only takes one minute of the day, is totally eco-friendly, and only uses one towel that can be washed.
The extra bonus is that I always have a clean and fresh shower, because it never gets dirty. I’ve been doing this for a year now, and I can report that it really works.
So what is this method?
It’s so simple, I can’t believe I haven’t been doing this all along.
I just dry out the shower when I’m done.
I hope that wasn’t a total let down. But here’s the thing. At first you might be thinking that doesn’t disinfect, it doesn’t kill mold or mildew, and doesn’t the towel get dirty really fast?
That’s true, it doesn’t disinfect, but it also isn’t really necessary. The reason showers and other wet places get so full of bacteria is because they are wet. And I do use hot water and soap when I shower…so you know, it’s good enough to clean me, it’s good enough for the shower I’m standing in. When I dry it out, it keeps bacteria that like wet areas from being able to grow.
It doesn’t kill mold or mildew, because like bacteria, it needs water to grow. So if the shower is dry, mold and mildew don’t grow.
The towel doesn’t really get that dirty because the shower isn’t that dirty. I use a quick drying towel and wash it regularly.
At first I was worried I would grow tired of drying it out every day, that it would seem like a chore at the end of my shower. It is a chore – a very quick chore – but I just remind myself I’d rather do this than having to use yucky chemicals to clean it and scrub it. Plus, when it comes to bathrooms, why not clean up after use? I’m used to cleaning up after dinner every night, putting the dishes away, and food back in the pantry. I put my clothes in the hamper every day. I wipe up spills and other messes right away. So why wouldn’t I clean up the shower, arguably one of the dirtiest, germ filled places in the home if left unattended, every day after use?
I don’t do it right after showering. It’s the last thing I do after getting ready so I can give some of the water extra time to drain, so maybe 15 or 20 minutes after showering. I bought a quick drying towel to use from Bed Bath and Beyond that I can’t find online anymore, but it was only around $5.
I will admit I’ve hit up the shower a couple of times with a few sprays of bleach shower cleaner. I can’t fully let go of the old ways, just in case there is some lurking mildew or bacteria in little crevices. I haven’t seen any signs of mildew or soap scum, so this is purely for my germaphobic ways. I do this in the same way that I will occasionally do a more extensive scrub of the kitchen and floors than my daily upkeep – it’s more of a sporadic deep cleaning than a regular item.
When I say I’ve only cleaned it with a little bleach few times in the past year, I really mean it. And it was just a spray and rinse for my mental peace. Done.
Another bonus is that cleaning solutions – even vinegar – are very harsh on the grout and caulk. Drying out the shower daily instead of using these things regularly should hopefully keep the shower looking newer for much longer.
So, I totally just admitted to the world I’ve all but stopped cleaning my shower, but I’ve never felt like I had a cleaner shower.
Like this post? Check out more of my tips. For the long hair ladies and gents, consider reading how to prevent shower drain clogs.
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