The Best Way to Clean Your Shower & Tub (And 3 Mistakes That Make It Worse)

You scrub the tub until your arms ache, and a day or two later the white film is back on the glass and the ring is back around the tub. Usually that's not about scrubbing harder. It's what you're scrubbing with. I'm Alma. I cleaned other people's houses for twenty five years. Here's the best way to clean a shower and tub, and the three mistakes that make it harder every time. WHAT THE WHITE FILM IS The USGS: "In hard water, soap reacts with the calcium (which is relatively high in hard water) to form 'soap scum'." And "Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, largely calcium and magnesium." MISTAKE ONE: SCRUBBING WITH SOMETHING ROUGH A major bathtub maker's care guide: acrylic, "Do not use abrasive cleaners." Enameled cast iron, "Do not use steel wool, wire brushes or abrasive sponge pads." Glass, "Never use bristle brushes, sharp instruments or abrasive sponges and cleaners on the glass panels." The Natural Stone Institute: "Scouring powders or creams often contain abrasives that may scratch certain stones." MISTAKE TWO: VINEGAR ON EVERYTHING The Natural Stone Institute: "Products containing lemon, vinegar, or other acids may dull or etch calcareous stones," which includes marble, travertine and limestone. The Tile Council of North America says grout "is alkaline based and is dissolved by acids." For its chrome and bronze faucet finishes, the bathtub maker says: "Never use cleaners containing ammonia, bleach or acid." MISTAKE THREE: MIXING PRODUCTS Washington State Department of Health: "Don't mix bleach with ammonia, acids, or other cleaners." "When chlorine bleach is mixed with an acid, chlorine gas is given off," and vinegar is an acid. "When bleach is mixed with ammonia, toxic gases called chloramines are produced." THE BEST WAY, IN ORDER 1. Know your surface, and "Always test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface." 2. The right cleaner: non-abrasive for tub, glass and tile. For stone, "a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water)," never near bleach 3. A soft cloth, top to bottom: "Use a soft, dampened sponge or cloth" 4. Rinse straight away: "Wipe surfaces clean and rinse completely with water immediately after applying cleaner." "Do not allow cleaner to soak." 5. Dry it: "Rinse thoroughly and use a soft cloth to wipe the product dry after each use" 6. The metal: "Blotting your faucet dry with a soft cloth after each use reduces water deposits." For a crusty shower head, first "rub your finger over the spray holes." Makers disagree on vinegar soaks, so check your manual. THE ONE-MINUTE HABIT "Use a shower squeegee to clean glass doors after showering to prevent water spots from accumulating." "Keep shower doors ajar after use to reduce mildew growth." And the EPA: "Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering." BLACK SPOTS IN THE CORNERS The EPA: "increasing ventilation (running a fan or opening a window) and cleaning more frequently will usually prevent mold from recurring." "Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely." "Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces." CHAPTERS 00:00 The film that keeps coming back 00:21 The strongest thing under the sink 00:46 Who I am 01:09 What the white film is: soap scum 01:33 And hard water 01:59 Two jobs, not one 02:19 Three mistakes first 02:30 Mistake 1: scrubbing with something rough 02:56 Glass and stone scratch too 03:21 Mistake 2: vinegar on everything 03:47 Grout, faucets and door frames 04:12 Mistake 3: the one that can hurt you 04:25 Never mix bleach 04:48 How it happens in a shower 05:13 The method, in order 05:23 Step 1: know your surface 05:51 Step 2: the right cleaner 06:18 Step 3: a cloth, not a scrubber 06:43 Step 4: rinse straight away 07:10 Step 5: dry it 07:34 Step 6: faucets and the shower head 08:01 Vinegar on shower heads? Check yours 08:27 The whole method 08:46 The one-minute habit 09:01 The squeegee 09:27 Leave the door open 09:48 Get the damp air out 10:12 Black spots in the corners 10:24 Mold that keeps coming back 10:54 Don't caulk over mold 11:19 The honest part 11:42 What to keep in the cupboard 12:07 All of it in one place SOURCES USGS, "Hardness of Water." KOHLER Care and Cleaning Guide (2014). Natural Stone Institute. Tile Council of North America. Washington State Department of Health. Delta Faucet. US EPA, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home." The touch test, top to bottom and re-caulking are my own practice. Left out because I couldn't source them: named cleaning products, the dish soap and vinegar trick, baking soda claims, how long to leave tub cleaners on, and how often to deep clean. #cleaningtips #bathroomcleaning #showercleaning #homemaintenance