Tips and Tricks Tuesday #6- Clean your Shower and your microwave for LESS!

Well, hello everyone!  Did you all enjoy the long weekend?  It was a quiet Memorial Day for us.  Mr. Lewisville had to work and the kids and I hung out for most of the day playing board games and discovering what's growing in our back yard.  Now, we're back to our normal schedule, but this is our last week of school and I the kids can not wait for Summer to officially begin!  EEEK!

It's Tuesday and that means I have another Tips and Tricks post.  I'm continuing on with my natural/ green cleaning recipes.  I talked about why I use my own home made version of laundry detergent last week.  You can read all about my hormones and laundry and get the recipe HERE.  I've been using my own natural and home made recipes for cleaning for the last couple of years.  Mary Hunt from Debt Proof Living showed me the light with all these cleaners.  I was looking for ways to cut cost on groceries and when I read that you can make better cleaners and non toxic cleaners for less than store bought brands, I said, "Yes, Please!"

So today, I'll be giving you my recipe for the BEST shower cleaner you'll ever use!  Simple, easy, and wow does it work wonderfully.  As a bonus, you'll get your microwave clean too!  I know most "Green" people don't have microwaves.  I do though; I'm not that "Green" I know.

Here's the cast of characters needed to play:
1 Cup of warm vinegar
1 Cup of Original Blue Dawn dish soap


Measure 1 cup of vinegar and warm it up for 2 minutes in the microwave.  I use vinegar for a lot of natural cleaning around Lewisville, so this big container from Costco for about $3 comes in handy.

Here's where cleaning the microwave happens.  As the vinegar heats up, it softens all that crusty food in your microwave. 

You don't have to "scrub" it away.  Just wipe it off with a clean paper towel.

Nice and clean!

And now back to our program- Pour your warm vinegar into a spray bottle

Measure and add 1 cup of Dawn

 Mix well

Add your own home made label.  Scissors, paper, pen- you know the drill!

Do you want to see how it works?  YUUUP!

I spray the cleaner all over the bathtub/ shower and let it sit for 15 minutes.

I use the scrub side of a sponge and work lightly through the tub surface.  Rinse and admire the shine!  That's it-REALLY!
(NOTE: I've had everyone and their mama make a comment about how this is not the same bathtub. Well, my dear detective, you are indeed correct. Like many households, I have the privilege of cleaning two bathtubs. The picture below was cleaned by the same solution, but the lighting was better. Plain and simple, the stuff works.)

So clean, you can see the reflection of me taking a picture.

I use this cleaner and only this cleaner, for my bathtub and shower walls.  It removes soap scum and all those little "what in the world is that" sitting in your showers.  The best part is that it cost so much less than store bought cleaners (less than 50cents) and it's non toxic.  Other cleaners have a half life of years and years.  HALF LIFE?  It means residual chemicals stay on the surface for so many years.  Those chemicals enter your skin through pores and then a whole mess of health issues arise.  No Bueno!

1 cup of each and mix; sure, I can do that!  Hope you like the results as much as I do.  See you later this week.  I have a paint project I'm excited to show you!!! hehehehe. smiley face.

Blessings,
Lisa
   I link all my projects with some wonderful blogs.  To visit them, go to the {Link Party Love} page found at the top of this page on the {Home} bar.
Also linking to:
Between Naps on the Porch
Savvy Southern Style
No Minimalist Here
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Saved by Love Creations 
Miss Mustard Seed
Funky Junk Interiors
Coastal Charm 
Tip Junkie 
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Comments

  1. thanks Lisa, I just got my family making the laundry soap, didn't know this one. I will give it a try. Always trying to save money

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    Replies
    1. I liked the idea until I noticed the "shiny" "after" picture is not even the same faucet as the dreary "before" picture. I may try anyway.

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    2. Bahama I didn't notice this until you mentioned it. Well I'm fixing to try it!

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    3. Wow! Good point..what's up with the different pics? :(

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    4. Lol yes it is are you blind.

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    5. You might want to take a closer look. They are exactly the same. Happy cleaning.

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    6. Its a different angle....

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    7. It IS the same faucet. It's just different lighting and a different angle. But it's the same one - I examined it well after I read your comment.

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  2. I looooove white vinegar, I use it for almost everything!

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  3. Hi Lisa! Love these tip! I might even try your homage laundry soap too! I've never done that before!! Love your blog!

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  4. and another use for Dawn!! Ok *runs off to buy dawn* no seriously need to get some of this stuff!! I was just spraying vingear/water solution to get rid of some mold in the shower (worked beautifully btw) I'm guessing this would work great for that purpose and of course soap scum! I love vinegar... I hate the smell of vinegar!

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  5. Seriously? Our shouwer is disgusting and I plan on giving this one a try! Thanks so much for the tip!

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  6. Thanks for the tip!

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  7. What a great tip. I will definitely have to try this. :)

    Jess
    http://thedelightfulcrafter.blogspot.com

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  8. Oh my Geez! I'm going to try this one. Why can't I come up with clever ideas? I just heard about original blue dawn and peroxide for stains. Thanks, you're awesome

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  9. I will definitely be trying this! Thank you so much!

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  10. I would like to know if you can store this and use as needed or whether it is a "one session only" spray. Excited to try this out!

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    1. I mix it up and store it. You do have to shake the bottle before each use, but it works great everytime!

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    2. Does this work on tile, grout and glass??

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  11. I'm definitely going to try this. I get so tired of smelling the bleach smell when my hubby cleans his shower. Thanks for the tip!

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  12. I use this and it is AWESOME!!!!!

    makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com

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  13. I'll have to try this. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. I remembered seeing somewhere a soap scum remover similar to this a looong time ago and for the life of me couldn't remember what it was. So glad I stumbled on you. Thanks. I am going to mix some up this week.

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  15. This is awesome! I'm definitely going to give this a try. So glad you linked up at Etcetorize this week~

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  16. Fabulous!! Pinning and making for sure! Thanks so much the great tip :)

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  17. Thanks for sharing Lisa! I surely need to try this as my shower needs some love!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  18. I'm going to give this a try! Thanks for the tip.

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  19. Awesome!! vinegar and Dawn have so many amazing uses!! Thanks for sharing. Mixing some up now!
    *hugs*deb

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  20. Wow! This looks great! Thanks! I’d love for you to share this on Tuesday’s Tidbits @ Naptime Delights: http://naptimedelights.blogspot.ca/2012/06/tuesdays-tidbits-4.html
    Thanks so much!
    Sarah
    {http://naptimedelights.blogspot.com}

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  21. I really need to try this...thanks :) Laurel

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  22. I have got to go buy some white vinegar since I am out and try this. I hate paying for those other cleaners.

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  23. Love this idea. I'm going to try it. I know vinegar is so good in cleaning. Gail (@1-Minute Bible Love Notes)

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  24. Will this cleaner work if I use a different soap instead of dawn, like using Palmolive ?

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    1. I don't know if Palmolive will work. I found the recipe a few years ago and have only used Dawn. There's something about that dish soap. I use it in a few cleaning recipes.

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    2. I tried it with original Palmolive and it did not work. I am planning on trying it with the Dawn as it says and see how that works. The Palmolive cleaned a little, but not enough for me to recommend it.

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  25. Great idea! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  26. Just FYI, there is an original formula Dawn and Ultra Concentrated Dawn. The two are not the same when you get to the store. The text says you used original blue Dawn, but the photos show the Ultra Concentrated stuff. You may want to clarify this.

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    1. Good point, Heather. I actually have used both but prefer original blue Dawn. Thanks.

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    2. Does it have to be the blue dawn or can it be any of the Dawn colors?

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    3. Blue Dawn only! I don't know what it is, but the original blue Dawn formula works over their newer/colored versions. A few people have tried the others but it's just not the same.

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  27. This sounds great! I will have to give it a try. But what about mildew? I have a problem with mold and mildew in my shower, since I live in a humid climate, and only bleach-based products seem to touch it! also, do you get used to the vinegar smell??

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    1. Wow, busy mom of TEN!?! I applaud you! I've never used this on mold but it does do well with mildew. You may have to clean it a few time to get rid of it all at first, and I would definitely be spraying it at least once a week. I hate the vinegar smell too, but it does evaporate pretty quickly.
      Blessings!

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  28. Sounds like a great idea worth trying! Thanks so much for sharing!
    CAS

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  29. Thanks so much for this recipe. I saw a similar mix using blue Dawn and Hydrogen Peroxide. I bought the ingredients but haven't mixed them up yet. Have you tried the hydrogen peroxide mix? Just curious, now, to which one I'd rather use.

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    1. Sonya,
      I use the peroxide and Dawn combo as a laundry stain remover. I have a post about it that you can find on my "Cleaning" page on my Home bar. I've never used it as a bathroom cleaner though. If it works, let me know!
      Blessing.

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  30. Thanks for posting on the Sundae Scoop. I can't wait to try this. I have been slowly switching out our chemical cleaners for more natural ones that work. Can't wait to try this one!

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  31. This is awesome! I think you are more "green" than you know! I love things that are good for the Earth and easy on the wallet :)

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  32. Great tutorial! I featured this in my weekly Crafty Thursday post (with links to you of course!). I'm going to try to make this cleaner myself, but I have to wait to I use up my store-bought cleaner first...
    -Viva recently posted Cash-Only Challenge Part I: The Accidental Players

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  33. This stuff is miracle juice! Just after I read this recipe and bought a monster size jug of Dawn and 2 gallons of white vinegar, I found a similar recipe for, get this, cleaning the upholstery in the car (giddy!). My shower gets gross, but my minivan is even worse. I sprayed a mist of this over the nearly black seat, waited a few minutes, then wiped it with a damp cloth. The seat is beige again! It worked on the carpet in the van as well. Even my 10-year-old was excited. Just a note for the car - I would use a little less Dawn so that you don't get a soapy residue. However, I don't even notice the vinegar smell, and didn't in the shower, either.

    Make this. Use this. Be happy.
    Shelly

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  34. I ve been using this for years, but I use castille soap instead of the Dawn. No chemicals.

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  35. I just wondered over from Pinterest and wanted to let you know that I used this today for the first time, and OH MY WOW! The gross of my shower came clean so much easier than with anything else I've ever used. It's not perfect, but I can already tell that using this is going to continue making a BIG difference. I used it around my bathroom sink too, and was amazed at how much cleaner it looked. You just blew my mind when it comes to cleaning the bathroom now! Thanks for making the less desirable chores a bit easier to tackle!

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  39. This is awesome!! I had outstanding results!! it works on hard water spots, mildew and soap scum!!! We have well water and I have tried every product I can think of. This works and it's green!!! Thanks for sharing!

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  40. Did you mean to show us pictures from two different showers? I mean damn if it works that well it will make my shower brand spankin' new then I'll get right on that recipe.

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  43. I was just researching the best shower cleaners and foudn your blog. Thank you!! I put off scrubbing the shower because the bleach gives me asthma every time no matter how well I ventilate and take breaks. It's not a good routine, but I thought a necessary evil. I know vinegar is the best way to wash windows, but I didn't think it could tackle shower scum. I will try the Dawn/vinegar recipe today.

    THANKS!!

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  44. I did try this mixture to clean my shower. While the shower does come out clean, it created so many suds that I ended up with suds-lock in that drain and came close to havng a flooded bathroom floor. I have since diluted the mixture with water several times but it still creates so many suds I spent more time rinsing then I do cleaning.

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear that. I've never had that problem with Dawn. I hope diluting it helps.

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    2. Maybe you have really soft water and that's why it is so sudsy.

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    3. Try mixing some Downy Fabric softener with water. Close up the tub drain and pour the mixture on the suds. It should cut the suds. May need need to let is set for a bit--not long--to do it's job.

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  45. Why did you use a different shower for the before and after picture?

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    1. I clean both bathrooms at the same time. The first two pictures of the shower are the kids' bathroom. The last is mine. Sometimes, pictures just get mixed up. Thanks for stopping by.
      Blessings,
      Lisa

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  46. For those who like to use a ecofriendly and household safe ready to use shower cleaner, there is a new "green" cleaning chemical manufacturer that has an excellent shower cleaner that dissolves soap scum. The company is BioWorx.us They are coming out with a full line of household cleaners. Their goal is to have green cleaners outperform the best non-green cleaners. I tried just about every shower cleaner known to mankind trying to remove nasty soap scum buildup in my kids shower. With this, a corn based product, the heavy layer of soap scum dissolved like butter. I now use it on a regular basis not because it works, but because I have had skin cancer a couple times and I hate the thought of showering with toxic residue from regular cleaning chemicals.

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  47. I tried this, and it didnt quite work out so well. wondering if I did something wrong. It was stuck in the squirt bottle and wouldnt come out. It was too thick. Any suggestions?

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  48. I am so grateful for this 'recipe'. I recently had an incident with a can of foam insulation, and my hand was covered in the stuff (note: ALWAYS wear protective clothing/gloves when working with strong chemicals!!). The material hardened on my hand and fingers and it would not come off!!! because it was my skin and not an inanimate surface, I was afraid to use stronger chemicals to remove it, and a razor blade was of course not an option. I soaked my hand in your vinegar-dawn mixture for 5 minutes, and was able to slowly peel the nastiness off my hand. although it probably should not be used for regular skin care, it really did save the day (and my skin!)! THANK YOU!!!

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  49. Hey,

    I live in Australia and we don't have Blue Dawn dish soap can I use any dish soap instead?

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    1. Hi MJ, I looked into it and Blue Dawn is sold as a dish soap called Fairy or Texol. Does that sound familiar? Hope that helps. Other dish soaps just don't do the trick, so I only use Dawn.
      Blessings,
      Lisa

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  50. Hi Lewisville,
    I have just been searching for info about this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far.

    wilson roy
    carpet cleaning

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  51. Hey Ladies!
    I'm in South Africa and was wondering if I could use Sunlight dishwasher? Is it the same like Dawn?
    Thanks
    Carole

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  52. This works great!!! Thank you for sharing.. & after the ital clean it smelled fresh in my bathroom ... Haven't had the so clean feeling in a while. Awesome.

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  53. I have been using this on our fiberglass shower for about a week and YEARS of dried on soap scum have literally melted away! I have tried so many foul smelling strong chemicals and so much elbow grease, and finally gave up. Nothing works any where near as good as this simple recipe. My shower actually SPARKLES! I go in there just to look at it. Thanks for this recipe, I will never waste any more money on useless harsh chemicals again!

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  54. Can u use apple cider vinegar instead of the white??

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  55. I will definitely try your cleaning solution to scrub the bathroom. I always experience problems having it perfectly clean although I clean it 2-3 times a week. I've tried almost anything, but I thing preparing the mixture you suggest might help.

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  56. Thanks Lisa, I clean houses for a living, and I know the commercial product has damage my vision with the fumes, I wish have known this tips before. Thank you.

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  57. I recently just installed a new shower and have always used scrubbing bubbles and today after cleaning I realized my new shower just wasnt new looking anymore. I found this mixture and decided to give it a try and am amazed of the dirt that came up even after I just cleaned it. Thanks for the tip.

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  58. If heating the vinegar is an important step then what do you once its mixed?

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  59. Great post! I have had some pesky mold and mildew growing on the tile walls of my shower for the longest time. Hopefully your advice can solve my problem. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

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  60. The tub photo with the reflection is not the same tub as the dirty one. Notice that the clean one has the knob on the faucet and the dirty one doesn't. Sooo did it really work or no?

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  61. I used Ajax Lemon Dish Soap Super Degreaser and it really worked! I'm cleaning as I type, hehehe.

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  62. Thanks for posting this kind of idea in cleaning, I really need this because I want to learn a lot of things on how to clean a home because in my Office we always hired this office and commercial cleaning in Melbourne because they are great in cleaning service.

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  63. Great tips and tricks for keeping the things clean.
    Thanks!!!

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  64. Note to self, don't use applecider vinegar in a pinch whoooeeee that is strong

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  65. I am having trouble wrapping my head around the whole "shiny faucet"when clearly it's not even the same FAUCET!! Why would you post something like this??

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  67. Loved it! It worked great on my bathroom

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  68. The information you shared is very informative.
    toilet cleaning

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