Clean a Shower

You've been at work all day and are extremely tired, sweaty, and grungy. You need a shower! But what are you supposed to do if your shower is dirtier than you are? Why, clean it of course...

Steps

 * 1)  Empty it out.  Remove your shampoo bottles, loofahs, razor, and other items. You don't want to get cleaning products on these things. Dump them into a bucket or just put them on your counter for now. Be sure to grab the bath mat or non-stick floor stickers, if you use them.  Take this opportunity to throw out any empty containers and wash or discard anything moldy or unused.
 * 2)  Begin with a rinse. Using some type of bucket, cup, watering can, or pitcher, rinse the walls and floor of your shower with hot water. If you have a shower extension that would work best. You don't need to be perfect with this step, you just want to get all the hair, dirt, and other particles down the drain and out of your way.
 * 3)  Remove mildew. You can pick up a mildew spray at any dollar store or department store. Spray the walls of your shower with it, let it sit, and wipe or rinse. Follow the directions on the spray bottle carefully.
 * 4) * A homemade shower-cleaning mixture: You'll need 1 cup of vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup ammonia, and a gallon and a half of hot water. Put rubber gloves on and apply to the walls of your shower. Use a sponge to scrub well and rinse with hot water. Be sure to wipe the walls dry to prevent new mildew from forming.
 * 5)  Remove hard water spots. Mix equal parts hot water and vinegar together in a bucket. Scrub the hard-water spots well. This works great for shining the lever and knobs in your shower.
 * 6)  Clean your shower door or curtain. Glass shower doors are usually cleaned best with white vinegar, but there are many other options. For more information, see Clean Soap Scum from Glass Shower Doors or take a look at Prevent and Clean Mold on Plastic Shower Curtains.
 * 7)  Scrub shower tiles. Run very hot shower water to create steam. This will help loosen the dirt clinging to the tiles. Scrub well with a mixture of ammonia, vinegar, and baking soda (try the above recipe). Use an old toothbrush for between the tiles.
 * 8)  Rinse the shower head.  It's hard to get clean if your shower head is spewing nastiness at you. Remove your shower head from the wall. Fill a bowl with straight vinegar and let the shower head soak in it for a few hours. Leave overnight if it's especially bad. Then scrub the holes with a toothbrush. If the holes are still clogged or green, use a toothpick or pin to clean them out. Rinse well and put the shower head back where it belongs.
 * 9)  Clean out the drain. This is quite possibly the worst part of the process, especially if you have long hair. Grab a garbage can or a plastic bag. Then unscrew the cap on your drain or just reach in, depending on the style of your drain. Using a large crochet hook or clip clothespin or (if you must) your fingers, yank the hair out and quickly throw it away. Yuck! Keep pulling the hair out until the drain is clear. Better yet buy a Zip-It drain cleaning tool. Zip-It is a long plastic strip with teeth that get hairs stuck deep in the drain out. You may want to wear rubber gloves for this part, particularly if you share the shower with other people. There are just some hairs you don't want to touch!
 * 10)  Tough water build up. If you've neglected your shower for a long time and it has heavy buildup consider using a paint scraper gently to loosen it.

Tips

 * To prevent more mildew from forming: Leave your shower door open after your showers, to allow air to circulate and dry the walls. Pull your shower curtain closed (so it's spread open) for the same reason. Use a fan during and after your showers to dry out the bathroom. Light also helps to discourage mildew.
 * Make this chore part of your daily--or weekly--routine. Keep a sponge and a small spray bottle in the shower itself. When finishing up your shower, give the walls a quick scrub down. Then rinse your own body and go on with your day. You won't have to make a production out of cleaning the shower anymore!
 * Another way to help maintain your clean shower is to keep a squeegee in your shower. After you're clean simply squeegee your shower walls and glass shower door. This will help keep your shower nice and cut down on having to scrub when it's time to clean your shower.
 * Start the shower after you've finished to make sure there aren't any clogs-just to make sure you cleaned well.

Warnings

 * Never use abrasive steel wool pads in your shower.
 * When working with chemicals it's always smart to keep the door to the bathroom open. Keep the area well-ventilated. If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, leave the room immediately and get some fresh air.
 * Shower chemicals designed to work on hard water or soap scum are usually very strong acids. Wear gloves and handle with care.
 * Most mildew-fighting chemicals are bleach based.
 * Never mix household chemicals, especially bleach and ammonia. If you will use multiple chemicals to clean your shower, rinse very thoroughly and allow plenty of time--and even a shower or two--in between.

Things You'll Need

 * Rubber gloves
 * Cleaning chemicals, either homemade or store bought
 * Sponge
 * Toothbrush

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Clean a Bathroom
 * How to Prevent and Clean Mold on Plastic Shower Curtains
 * How to Fix a Leaking Shower Head
 * How to Clean Soap Scum from Glass Shower Doors
 * How to Unclog a Slow Running Bathroom Sink Drain]]
 * How to Clean Parquet Floors