How to Clean Your Bathtub & Shower with Natural Cleaners

The first step in making cleaning your shower easier with natural products is prevention. Mildew can grow when extra moisture is left on the walls of the shower. To help prevent this, keep a squeegee in the shower and have everyone in your family use it to quickly wipe down the walls and shower door when they are done showering. If you take baths rather than showers rinse out the bathtub with clean water after you drain it to help get rid of any leftover soap or dirt on the sides of the tub while it is still fresh.

The type of soap that you use can greatly effect how much soap scum you have to contend with. Try switching from regular soap to castile soap. Castile soap is vegetable oil based soap rather than animal fat based soap like most bar soap. It's great for your skin since it is olive oil based and won't leave soap scum like regular soap.

When it comes time to clean your shower try cleaning it right after you finish showering. The water and steam from a shower can help greatly to loosen soap scum, mildew and dirt which can make cleaning a lot easier.

For tackling mildew use vinegar and water. Mix equal parts in a spray bottle and then spray on the walls of the shower or anywhere mildew has formed. Allow it to soak for a few minutes and then scrub it with a scrub brush. To make reaching easier the top of the shower and corners easier try using a long-handled scrub brush. Rinse with clear water when you are done scrubbing.

Soap scum can be dealt with using borax and water. Sprinkle borax on a wet sponge and then scrub the soap scum away. For tough soap scum make a paste of borax and water and use it with a scrub brush to scrub the soap scum away.

Porcelain bathtubs can be cleaned with baking soda and water. The baking soda acts as a mile abrasive and helps to lift away dirt and grime.

For tile grout mix equal parts of borax and baking soda and then add enough water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the grout and use a toothbrush to scrub it and remove stains. Rinse with clear water to remove any leftover borax and baking soda.

Treat and prevent mold using tea tree oil. Mix a teaspoon or two of tea tree oil with a couple of cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray any moldy areas and leave it without rinsing. Tea tree oil has a strong odor but it should wear off within a day or two. If you can't find tea tree oil you can always use vinegar to treat mold as well. Again, spray the vinegar/water solution onto moldy areas and leave it to dry without rinsing.

For chrome fixtures and if you have metal frame around your shower door you can clean them in a couple of different ways. Lemon juice usually works well for cleaning metal. Just apply it to a rag or sponge and scrub away any residue, spots or soap scum.

If the metal on your shower door and fixtures is chrome you can use a piece of aluminum foil to clean it. Use the shiny side of the foil and a small amount of water to easily remove water spots and soap scum from chrome. Wipe clean with a damp cloth when you are done. Test the foil method on an inconspicuous spot first to be sure that it won't scratch the surface.

If you have a shower curtain prevent mildew from growing on it by spraying it with vinegar and water each time you finish showering. Nylon and some plastic shower curtains can be washed in the washing machine with lemon juice or vinegar to remove mildew. Don't dry the shower curtain in the dryer since the heat can melt it - instead hang it back in the shower to dry.