Cleaning Your Shower in 10 Minutes a Month
posted by Andrea | 01/10/2012
Cleaning has never been a “chore” for me. I know I’m weird, but I honestly do enjoy MOST of the cleaning jobs I do around the house. I really like to vacuum and sweep the floors, I love making my bed every day, and in general, I enjoy the process of cleaning just as much as the end results.
However, one thing I do not like to clean is the shower. I guess it’s just one of those things I’m always willing to procrastinate on 
Several years ago, {after not cleaning my shower for a few months} I decided I had to come up with some type of system for cleaning my shower so I wouldn’t put it off for so long ever again.
From then on, I’ve been cleaning my showers the same way every month and it only takes me about 10 minutes total!
Here’s what I do…
Step 1: Gather My Supplies:
I actually don’t use many supplies to clean our showers — just a sponge, a small bristle brush, and my cleaner of choice.
Currently, I’ve been using Scrubbing Bubbles and have very happy with the results. I have tried using homemade cleaning products {which I do use for the rest of our bathroom} but I decided I liked the “stronger” stuff for our showers.
If you have rust, soap scum, or lime build-up, I’d suggest using Lime Away {I had much success with that product in our old house}. Also, just a little tip — Dial soap / body wash leaves a lot more soap scum than most other soaps!
Step 2: Create the “Optimum” Conditions
Whenever I clean the shower, I ALWAYS do it while I’m taking a shower. That way, it’s already steamy inside {which helps to loosen the dirt and grime} and I don’t have to awkwardly try to clean it without getting wet.
If you’ve never tried cleaning the shower while taking a shower… you will be amazed at how much easier and faster the process is!!
Step 3: Clean the Shower
I always spray the shower with my Scrubbing Bubbles about 10 minutes before I get into the shower. By the time I get in the shower, the bubbles have already “gone to work” and I start scrubing with my sponge from the top down.
I use my bristle brush to scrub in the corners, between the tiles, and any other small spaces that I can’t get with my sponge.
Finally, I scrub around the drain and then move the shower head to wash down the walls.
Step 4: Daily Maintenance
One thing Dave and I do every single time we take a shower is to use a squeegee to wipe down the walls. We even use the squeegee to direct water on the floor into the drain.
This might sound a bit obsessive to some of you, but it drastically cuts down on soap-scum buildup, water spots, mold, mildew, etc. — which means I don’t need to clean our showers nearly as often.
We keep the squeegee hanging in the shower so we have absolutely no excuse not to use it!
I’ve timed myself many time {I know, I’m weird} and I can easily clean any shower in our house in less than 10 minutes… and it doesn’t even seem like a chore because it’s simply an excuse for me to take an extra long steamy-hot shower!
And in case you’re thinking about making some changes in your own bathroom this year, I’ve got lots of inspiration for you! I’ve teamed up with four other bloggers today, and we’re all talking about bathrooms! Go check them out for some great ideas!
Christine from I Dream of Clean is revealing her method for speed cleaning a bathroom.
Lauren from Mama’s Laundry Talk is sharing advice on how often to wash your bathmats and towels.
Jami from An Oregon Cottage is sharing her lovely decorating expertise with an ultra-cool project. She’s making a new shower curtain by stenciling on drop cloth!
Nony from A Slob Comes Clean is organizing her bathroom cabinets according to how her family really lives!
What are your best bathroom cleaning tips?
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Filed under: Cleaning • Living Simply
Beth Miller
10/01/2012Hi Andrea,
Great article today! I completely agree with you as I used to feel the same way. Now, when I tell people I clean my shower once a month, I feel like they look at me like I’m not a clean person. Actually at the one month mark- it is still pretty sparkling clean. I don’t use scrubbing bubbles anymore, as the fumes from the chemicals would about kill me, and I didn’t want the chemicals remaining in the tub (I have 2 small children who take baths). I also clean for a living and the most amazing product I have found that works better on soap scum, dirt, rust spots (shaving cream rings) and adhesive, then any chemical cleaner is Melaleucas’ Tub and Tile cleaner. I use it as you do, Spray it on, wait about 10 mins- get IN the shower, clean, and rinse. It is amazing AND I can breathe freely the whole time. I also use Melaleucas’ Daily No Work after my shower, but I am the only family member that does and even after 2 years of using this, I am always amazed at how sparkling my tub and shower look each time I get in. So I always say that i clean the shower once a month whether it needs it or not. lol
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Rebecca
10/01/2012I clean my bathroom weekly. I clean the shower, floors, sink, cabinets, etc. I try to deep clean it (removing the blinds and washing them, cleaning off the plunger, etc) once a month. It’s probably overkill, but my kids bathe in the tub and my Newfoundland sleeps in the tub. Those two factors make me feel like i have to clean it more often! I doubt I can get my husband to squeegee. I’m thinking of making some cleaner I found online that you spray after every shower. We shower each morning so I could just spray before I go to work. Maybe that would cut down on the soap scum and at least then I could only worry about cleaning the actual tub part, which is easy!
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Melissa Medendorp
10/01/2012What do you do if you have grout? I can’t seem to get that clean?
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monica
10/01/2012One thing that I think really helps with our oversized shower is hanging a “squeeghie” in the shower, and with regular use the shower stays much cleaner. Also, I have a steam cleaner that I use in the metal tracks to remove the grossness that seems to accumulate. Yuck, I can’t stand that.
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Stephanie
10/01/2012I just wanted to say I love the shower!!! I use a wash cloth and Totally Awesome (which you can get at the dollar store farely cheap) and it is seriously Awesome and not really strong smelling. I would recommend it for everything.
I use it on carpets and upholstery anytime theres a stain and it works great as well. For sure a must in a household!
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lisa
10/01/2012“I always spray the shower with my Scrubbing Bubbles about 10 minutes before I get into the shower.” Saw this and thought “she’s going to shower with all that gunk in there?” then realized you meant get into the shower to CLEAN it!
Good tips–with two teenagers our bathrooms need all the help they can get!
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Shanna
10/01/2012For people who don’t like to squeegee… At my old house I just turned the water on super hot at the end and sprayed with the handheld shower all around, you have to hop a bit at the end because your feet will start getting hot (or stand outside the shower)! The super hot water rinses everthing away before it can stick and it dries faster because it’s so hot. Of course my hot water is set way above the “legal” setting. This worked really well even in my damp climate.
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Livin In Duckville
10/01/2012Your post made me smile… One, because you said that you’d gone months before without cleaning your shower. Two, that you’ve timed yourself doing a chore…. both things that I thought I was weird in doing or not doing as case may be…. I’ve timed myself to prove to myself that a certain chore doesn’t take ‘like forehhhhhh-ver!’ … Just a little head game I played with myself.
Popping over from ‘A Slob Comes Clean’ Thanks for the tips!
[Reply]
Organizing the Bathroom According to How We Live
10/01/2012[...] Andrea from Simple Organized Living is giving instructions on how to clean your shower (and keep it clean) in only 10 minutes a month! [...]
DawnW
10/01/2012I fill a spray bottle with 1 cup water & 1/3 cup alcohol and spray it in the shower every day after I step out. (Found the recipe online somewhere.) Stays clean for a long time. Easy and cheap.
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Hayley Tule
10/01/2012I love this website!!! I’m actually a little addicted and have to set a timer when I get on here! I LOVE your shower cleaning tips! I read that this morning, hopped up and headed to the shower, sprayed some scrubbing bubbles, organized my closet a bit, came back and hopped in— what a great excuse for a half hour shower!! Also, we’ve had a squeegee hanging in our shower since we remodeled it last year, and I’ve never used it!!! Until today;) so thanks!!
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Jen R
11/01/2012Best bathroom cleaning tip…cheat…I have a cleaner once a fortnight do it for me
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Extra Bathroom Space « Truffles Magazine
11/02/2012[...] Photo Source [...]
Jordan Page
21/02/2012Shared this on my most popular post of 2011! Thanks for the great idea!
http://www.funcheaporfree.com/2011/12/youre-welcome-wednesday-tip-keep-your.html
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Space for Living Organizing | 4 Ways to Clean Without Trying
10/04/2012[...] haven’t quite mastered the art of cleaning a shower while I am in the shower, like Andrea at Simple Organized Living has, but I’m happy this new tip has helped me to make progress.Clean n’ PlayWith very young [...]
joy page
02/05/2012A friend told me the greatest tip ever for cleaning the shower….use a sponge mop on the large areas. What a timesaver. You will still have to use something along the crevices, but you just might take 3 minutes off of your 10 minute cleaning time. Have fun!!!
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