How to clean shower tiles?

Abby
by Abby

How to clean shower tiles? What's the best shower tile cleaner?


  45 answers
  • Laurie S Laurie S on Oct 17, 2018

    I use a mixture of white vinegar and blue Dawn. This mix works amazingly well! If the vinegar smell bothers you (the odor dissipates after just a few minutes) you can add to the mix, essential oils or lemon juice.

    Here is the combination:

    • 1 part Dawn liquid (1 cup)
    • 1 part white vinegar (1 cup)
    • 1 sprayer

    Shake well. I usually spray this mixture on the walls, floor, fixtures, and glass doors and leave it sit for about 5-10 min. Then I'll run a scrub brush over it, then rinse.

    If you're having issues with more difficult hard water buildup, sprinkle baking soda over the area, then spray.

    Best of Luck and I hope this helps!

    Laurie

  • Toni @ Girl, Just DIY! Toni @ Girl, Just DIY! on Aug 09, 2019

    Oh my gosh, it's the worst challenge to get rid of soap scum, isn't it. Besides a daily shower spray you can try the Dawn and vinegar spray. I never mix mine 1-to-1 as that's too strong smelling for me. I usually use 2 cups of a 1-to-1 water vinegar with about 1/4 c. of Dawn. Spray it on and let it sit a bit, then wipe it with a washcloth or scrubby (that won't hurt the surface) and rinse.

  • Susan Susan on Jun 26, 2017

    2 cups white vinegar and 1cup blue dawn - put in spray bottle. Spray on tiles, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse

  • Ken Ken on Jun 26, 2017

    Baking soda and vinegar certainly qualify as chemicals but it is likely the answer you are seeking. As a daily maintenance shower cleaner after you get it clean try using 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tablespoon dishwasher rinse aid, and 1 teaspoon hand dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle and fill with water. Spray after every shower and you will not have to worry about using "chemicals" on your shower again. Rarely have I found a home remedy that works so well.

  • Oliva Oliva on Sep 28, 2018

    If your water isn't too "hard", try vinegar and follow with a scrubbing with Bon Ami or Bar Keeper's Friend cleanser. Rinse, dry, and apply a good quality car wax to the tiles (avoid getting wax on the grout).

    In the future, squeegee the walls after showers, and finish drying with a microfiber cloth.

  • DesertRose DesertRose on Oct 03, 2018

    The easiest way is to use a Hurricane Turbo cleaner. They are magnificent for MANY tough jobs around the home and yard. You can get them now at Walmart.They are an investment of $40 but they save all the hard work for many jobs in the shower, hard to reach areas like behind a commode, tires on the car, stoves, anything difficult to clean! We use our usual cleaner for everything, a non-toxic cleaner called Simple Green and it gets the job done with the Turbo Hurricane Scrubber!

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 22, 2017

    For hard water stains, make a mixture of water, white vinegar, and a dab of blue dawn dish soap. Spray down and wipe off with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Once the marks are gone use a squeegee on a regular basis.

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Jan 22, 2017

    If you have a steam mop, you can use that on your shower walls as well. I keep one of those scrubber sponges that you can fill the handle and a squeegee in my shower. Fill the handle with Dawn and vinegar mix and scrub the wall before you get out, rinse with handheld shower head (I install one of these wherever I move, its awesome for cleaning. I throw stuff in my tub all the time to hose down and clean) After rinsing, squeegee then hop out of tub. Takes longer to type the instructions then the actual act itself and has become a habit.

  • Laurie O'Neil Short Laurie O'Neil Short on Aug 28, 2016
    I use bleach......equal parts bleach and water.....spray on mold and scrub with an old toothbrush....then rinse.......do this twice a month and it keeps the mold from coming back. Be sure and have proper ventilation if you have breathing problems due to the fumes of the bleach.
  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Jan 23, 2017

    I also use the vinegar-water-detergent solution to remove hard water stains. It works amazingly well. We use it all over our house!

  • Hay5432831 Hay5432831 on Jan 23, 2017

    LYSOL TOILET BOWL CLEANER !! The blue stuff.. no joke just put on n wipe off no water :)

  • Linda Linda on Jan 24, 2017

    White vinegar...and wipe down after every shower

  • Kim Kim on Jan 28, 2017

    The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner! We have well water and it's the only think that works on my tiles. Wear rubber gloves (I recommend and wear safety glasses) and soak a scrubby pad Wth it. Working quickly, give the tiles all a quick wash, keep the scrubby pad really wet with the cleaner until all the tiles are washed. Rinse well with water. Repeat if needed, if you have a huge amount of mineral buildup. It's an amazing de-mineralizer!


  • Claude Claude on Mar 13, 2017

    Your tiles are porcelain, strong cleaners can etch if you let them sit too long. I put 1/4 c white vinegar in a at of water with a drop of dawn and spray down shower after use. If you have glass add a small amt of alcohol to the mix.

  • Bonnie Nobbe Bonnie Nobbe on Aug 28, 2016
    Use peroxide, it is the only thing that really kills mold. It does bleach out colors on material , so don't get it on other stuff.
  • Linda Meyer Linda Meyer on Aug 28, 2016
    Try Kaboom with bleach
  • Linda kelley Linda kelley on Aug 28, 2016
    Rustoleum Krud Kutter Mold and Mildew will clean your surfaces spotless. It is earth friendly...non toxic. I have used this product on my birdbaths to clean the mildew.
  • Cindy Cindy on Dec 24, 2019

    In our last house we had very hard water. It left my shower doors look cloudy. I tried several different products with average results. Then I tried a product called CLR. It was the best product that worked for me. I found that it worked best when you spray it on and walk away. Give it 15 or 20 mins and then come back and wipe it off. I learned that by accident when I answered my phone and had a conversation for about 20 mins. lol. Good luck and happy holidays.

  • If your tiles are natural stone, do NOT use vinegar. It damages them. This is how I safely clean shower tile https://chemistrycachet.com/how-to-clean-shower-tile/

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Dec 24, 2019

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4V1eejI0gQ use a gentler cleaner not Tilex for shower doors or walls. I would use Mr Clean Magic Erasers they have no chemicals in them and uses water to clean. They work miracles. In fact I use the Magic Eraser to remove soap scum and hard water stains off my shower doors - I cleaned houses for 32 yrs and this is the best and safest thing I have ever used



  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Sep 25, 2017

    I love scrubbing bubbles. If you want to go less chemical, try baking soda and vinegar. A scrub brush with a handle will save your back. I like to clean it while the shower is wet from a shower, since it seems to clean easier.

  • Sharon Depatie Sharon Depatie on Dec 09, 2018

    Go to your local dollar store & buy cheap WHITE toothpaste (not coloured or gel). Dampen your enclosure (glass doors included) & smear T. Paste lightly where you need cleaned & let it sit about 5 - 10 min. Then rinse & wipe off. I do this about once a month & the front of my shower enclosure is floor-to-ceiling glass - about 8 ft. across. The secret to keeping your tiles clean is to squeegee after every shower - takes a few minutes, but saves a ton of scrubbing. The T. Paste won’t harm your tiles or grout.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 18, 2019

    White cleaning vinegar to remove residue. Then use Wet & forget shower weekly for a no scrub product that works over time.

    Lysol Power scrub in the blue trigger spray bottle is also good for scrubbing away, I use a hurricane spin scrubber with it.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 12, 2019

    Lysol Lime & Rust Remover Toilet Bowl cleaner, comes in a black squirt bottle. Scrub with Scrub Daddy or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If stubborn, use a scouring stick to scrub.

  • We've found spraying a mix of 1 cup warm vinegar and 1 cup dish soap and allowing it to sit for at least an hour works best. I can then literally wipe the tiles down instead of scrubbing. Good luck!

  • Christel Christel on Mar 25, 2018

    I like CLR (Calcium, Lime Rust) for tiles in the shower.

  • Cin21825342 Cin21825342 on Jun 26, 2017

    I use Blue Dawn and Hot vinegar. If you add a little baking soda it becomes more of a gel and will adhere to the tile better as you scrub.

  • Beverly Beverly on Aug 05, 2019

    I spray my ceramic tiles with a spray that has a bleach in it to clean black mold off of them. Afterwards, I scrub it clean, I follow up with a bottle of peroxide and water mixture and spray it again. I heard the Clorox only gets the black off but the peroxide kills the mold. I'm not sure, so I do both.

    • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Aug 05, 2019

      if you dilute either the bleach or peroxide it does nothing... best to just use straight vinegar the higher the acidity the better depending on how much mold there is. The mold should not be returning/constant you need to increase air flow in bathroom & decrease humidity if it is still there you need to contact pro. mold removal company Mold is Toxic

  • Janet Janet on Aug 05, 2019

    Toilet bowl cleaner the gel kind. Clorox clean up toilet bowl cleaner works very well.

  • Ann Cherkas Halstead Ann Cherkas Halstead on Jul 01, 2018

    dow oven cleaner is great to melt soap scum. Use in a well ventilated area. Don’t make a habit of using it on the tile. It will eventually strip it.

  • I've used Scrubbing Bubbles with bleach with good results... make sure to let it sit for a little while (and open a window - it's strong stuff!).

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Jul 21, 2019

    Spray with Tilex, let it sit awhile, keep it wet by adding to it. In about an hour, scrub down with soft scrub and a scrub brush. Once cleaned and rinsed be sure to seal so you don't have to work so hard next time.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jul 22, 2019

    I use Dollar Tree Awesome Orange in the half gallon, and pour it down the sides, then use a brush after letting sit for 10 mins. And I do a lot of grimey tubs for cliients.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jul 22, 2019

    Lysol Power Scum cleaner in the blue trigger spray bottle with a Magic Eraser or a scrub brush.

    If that isn't strong enough try Lysol Lime & Rust Remover Toilet Bowl cleaner, comes in a black squirt bottle.


    Once you get it clean, wet & forget shower will help keep it clean.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Oct 09, 2019

    I use Lime Away from the dollar store, once a month. I use an old toothbrush in the corners and a nylon scrubbie everywhere else.

    Run the fan a lot, wear gloves and rinse well, and squeegee.

    I keep a squeegee in every shower and make sure that it’s squeegeed after every use.

  • Landsharkinnc Landsharkinnc on Aug 27, 2018

    if they are ceramic tiles, repeated scrubbing with abrasive cleansers -- Comet, etc. will damage the finish ( make little tiny tiny scratches that will make them look 'dull' and dingy even if they are clean ).

    • Landsharkinnc Landsharkinnc on Aug 27, 2018

      MAYBE ... just try plain bleach/water mix -- 1 part bleach to 10 parts water .... apply with a sponge and let air dry - don't rinse .... IF they come 'clean' --- use a good CAR WAX on them .... will help w/ soap scum and other 'crud' that accumulates -- you may have to apply 3-4 times a year

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Aug 19, 2019

    Start with vinegar and mist the tile with a spray bottle. Let it sit and then scrub with a mildly abrasive sponge (like the green and yellow 3M pads). If vinegar doesn't work, do a similar treatment with a stronger solution like CLR.

  • Suzanne Suzanne on May 22, 2018

    I’ve had good luck using paper towels soaked in hydrogen peroxide.. Push the wet towels tight against the moldy area and let it soak. I leave it several hours. Then remove paper towels and rinse the tile and caulking. If you have a stubborn spot just rewet the same towels with the hydrogen peroxide and wait a while longer.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on May 22, 2018

    I use vinegar to remove soap build-up on glass and tiles. To remove mold completely, you need to spray with straight bleach and scrub, leave it on about an hour, then rinse. Wear gloves, a mask, and protective eye wear. Use your exhaust fan or open the windows, or both.

  • Michael Crawford Michael Crawford on May 22, 2018

    bleach, but if you go to a pool store they sell chlorine which is three times stronger than bleach. Use a stiff brush for the grout and then you can apply a sealer to the grout.


  • Chas' Crazy Creations Chas' Crazy Creations on Dec 06, 2019

    I use vinegar water to clean my shower tile and grout, or you can also use dish soap and water. You can see my post about it here - https://chascrazycreations.com/clean-bathroom-natural-products/

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Oct 17, 2021

    In an 18 oz water bottle:

    4-5 oz blue dawn

    fill with white vinegar


    Replace cap and mix it up, cut slits in the cap and spritz all over the shower. Using a dedicated dollar store broom, clean the shower. Let set for 5-10 min and rinse with water.

  • Vinegar and Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Oct 18, 2021

    I love wet and forget shower. Second favorite is Lysol power scrub in the blue trigger spray bottle.

  • Deb K Deb K on Nov 03, 2021

    Hi Abby, hope these two recipes help you out, they are proven to work well,

    Our new-to-us house has a white tile entry and white tile in the kitchen.

    the same process to test each cleaner:


    Grout Cleaner #1

    Ingredients: 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap

    Directions: Mix together the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Spoon mixture onto grout, wait 5-10 minutes, scrub and rinse.

    Grout Cleaner #2

    Ingredients: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide

    Directions: Sprinkle baking soda onto grout until it is covered, spray with hydrogen peroxide until it is wet, wait 10 minutes, scrub, and wipe clean.