Are you a Pinterest junkie? Have you tried cleaning tip after tip to save money?
I’ve tried dozens of Pinterest tips. I have to say that sometimes it’s worth it to spend a few bucks for the “real” thing. (Baking soda and vinegar does not work for my oven). But amid all the time-consuming homemaking ideas, there are a few gems that I am thankful I discovered–like this DIY soap scum remover.
If it wasn’t for Pinterest I would never have discovered my love for vinegar.
Seriously. It’s awesome. The only thing I love more than vinegar is hot vinegar mixed with an equal amount of blue Dawn (the real blue Dawn) and poured in a spray bottle.
I can’t attribute this recipe to any one site because I’ve seen it everywhere. I “discovered” this recipe long before I started blogging and paying attention to things like “source.” This is just my way of saying that this stuff works. This recipe is what started me on my DIY homemaking journey. It’s the gateway drug of the homemade cleaner DIY world.
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The Best Homemade Tub and Tile Cleaner Ever
DIY Soap Scum Cleaner Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- Glass Measuring Cup
- 1/2 cup original Dawn
- Plastic Spray Bottle
Directions:
I heat a 1/2 cup of white vinegar for 2 minutes in the microwave.
Stir in the Dawn.
Let cool for about 2 minutes.
Then pour the mixture into a spray bottle and add 1/2 cup Blue Dawn. Shake gently to mix and it’s ready to use. I don’t know why but only the original formula of blue Dawn works for me. I have seen other bloggers say that other brands work for them. Not for me.
I even tried my new grease cutting favorite liquid dish detergent, Lemishine Dish Soap, and it didn’t work as well. (But it does an AMAZING job on dirty range hood vents. I’m waiting for mine to get really dirty again so I can show you all!)
This easy recipe makes the most effective shower, tub, tile soap scum cleaner that I have ever tried. Cleaning our bathrooms is a breeze! I don't recommend a scrub brush! I use a the scouring side of a sponge or a bathroom scrubber. The Best Soap Scum Cleaner for Tubs and Tile!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
Notes
This was the first DIY cleaner recipe I ever tried and it made me a believer! It works better than anything else I’ve bought. The kids started calling it “Blue Magic” so I made this DIY Peel and Stick Label .
You can also get this ultra adorable label on Etsy.
The dirtier the bath is the longer I let it sit.
(The first time I did it I let it sit about an hour now 5-10 minutes.)
Then I use the scrub pad thing (not a brush) to wipe it off. You can see the scum come off with a simple wipe. No elbow grease required.
I even spray it on the tile walls while the kids are bathing and hand them rags. They gleefully wipe the walls clean and “make them so so shiny!”
This recipe cleans soap scum and hard water stains off of cloudy shower doors with no elbow grease or leftover spots. I’ve used it on grimy plastic outdoor chairs that have sat outside all winter. I use it on the bathroom sinks too.
My only complaint is that this stuff doesn’t clean mildew as well as bleach. I still use a little bit of Tilex for that. I’ve also recently begun to add a few drops of tea tree oil to my Blue Magic to help with the mildew.
If you don’t like having the bleach mist in the air, another great option for mildew in grout is the Clorox Bleach Pen. I love this thing. The pen puts the bleach only where I need it to keep the fumes to the minimum. I’ll never say that I only use homemade cleaning solutions because I am a big believer in using what works the best.
But I no longer buy Clorox disinfecting bathroom cleaner each week. I religiously used it in the past as it tackled tough soap scum so easily. The Clorox Bathroom Cleaner does clean tub, tile, shower floors, and the glass doors of the shower. You spray it and let it sit. But, the Blue Magic works just as well, has less chemicals and is much less of a drain on our budget.
Karen says
Do be careful, this works wonderful but it is slippery as proverbial goose poop.
Herchel says
It is! I rinse it very well.
Angela says
OMG IT REALLY WORK THANKS YOU JUST SAVE ME MONEY:) 🙂
Can you tell me what is the purpose of the tea tree oil?
Jana Thompson says
Is it necessary to use that much dish soap or could I get away with using less?
Herchel says
If your tile and shower are especially grimy I would. I only had to use it “full gloopy” like that the first time I cleaned the tubs. Now I tend to eyeball it and make it much thinner with no issues. If you still notice soap scum, you can just spray it again and “scrub it.” I use the term scrub it lightly since I don’t put any elbow grease into it.
Heidi says
*heat
Heidi says
I do the same, though I don’t hear my vinegar. I also do a squirt bottle of vinegar with a healthy squirt of blue Dawn as a spot remover on the carpet and it works better than all the fancy cleaners I’ve purchased over the years.
Herchel says
I need to try that on the carpet! Thanks for that tip!
Marie says
I never heat the vinegar and use any kind of dishsoap….works great. Spray it in the tub or shower, let sit 10-15 minutes and rinse. No need to even wipe. Leaves everything shiny and clean for the next user. Use 1/2 and 1/2 water and cider vinegar.
kate says
Do you know if this is safe to use on grey grout?
Herchel says
I’ve never had any issue with my white grout. It doesn’t bleach anything. I would suggest testing it in a small area.
Nonie Neuerburg says
wondering why the Vinegar needs to be heated ?
Herchel says
To be honest I don’t know why it needs to be heated…but I can tell you that since I am lazy, I tried it without heating and it didn’t work as well.
Grace says
Its worked perfectly for me without heating! I spray it on and leave it for hours (even overnight accidentally) and then just brush it with hot water
Carrie says
I put a mixture of vinegar and dawn in a sponge wand and leave it in the shower on a little 3m shower hook. Then once a week, scrub it down while I’m in there and spray it off. Then I just wipe it down with a towel after. Perfection! ??
Herchel says
That’s so smart! I’m going to do that and have the kids “play” with the wand in the shower 😉
Resa says
Very awesome recipe, thank you for sharing. I use good ole 20 mule team for the mildew. Living in a very humid climate I have some experience with this! It not only kills the mold but prevents it from growing. Even after it’s rinsed clean. Happy Homemaking!
Lindsay says
I just made this and my tub is insanely clean, nearly cleaned myself with it with a slip in the tub as I was going to town scrubbing away, really enjoyed not cleaning with harsh chemicals and that it was safe to be in contact with and even better that I had all of this already waiting for me to use, xo
Herchel says
I’m glad you didn’t wipe out. I’ve sprayed the shower to let it sit for a bit and forgotten. Then went to shower and nearly killed myself. It really does a great job cleaning tubs and showers!
Sandy Sandmeyer says
This stuff is awesome! I use it for pretty much everything.
Sandy Sandmeyer recently posted…Home Depot $100 Gift Card Giveaway
Angela Tramontana says
Cup b.s. st an FYI im sure someone has already said the same comments but you can not use vinegar on Natural Stone so if your shower or your Tub has Natural Stone do not use a vinegar-based solution. but I do absolutely love this magic cleaner for all other juices in it in the tub I have a cleaning business and this works so well and if you have a jetted tub you can pour the solution I just vinegar 4 cups and 1 cup baking soda straight into a hot bath then add a dishwasher tablet or dishwasher detergent run your jets for 30 minutes and it will cleAn verything out. I take a rubber band and a coffee filter and wrap it around the intake for water so that when the water seeps through the system again if there’s any dirt or debris to it it doesn’t go back to your system
Jeni says
What do you suggest for stone?
Herchel Scruggs says
Some people substitute alcohol for vinegar with stone. I just leave out the vinegar and use Dawn on our stone tiles. I still use the vinegar/dawn mix on my bathtubs and sinks.
Herchel Scruggs says
Hi there, for stone I use rubbing alcohol or cheap vodka instead of vinegar.
Chantellr says
Tried this today but with another dish detergent and I am soooooo pleased with the results!
Thanks for sharing!!!