Whether it’s you, a relative, or pretty much anyone for that matter, we have all experienced a dirty shower. Those pesky shower stains that build up over the course of a few days or weeks can sometimes be very difficult to remove. In this post we have gathered a list of the best cleaning services in the industry to give us their input on the best ways to remove these stains.
Groovy Maid, LLC
Groovy Maid is a residential cleaning company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
-Spray the shower thoroughly with cleaner and wait 15 minutes before washing.
-Using proper cloth or sponges that will not scratch the surface, such
as melamine foam or more commonly known as magic erasers.
-Make a baking soda paste with baking soda powder and water. Use this
to remove hard stains.
Brighter Day Maids
Brighter Day Maids is a residential cleaning company based in Torrington, CT.
For general cleaning:
We like to use a mixture of baking soda & sea salt as a scouring powder. This scouring powder is great for use on tubs/shower floors and sinks. Use a scouring pad on smooth surfaces and a scouring brush on stone/tile surfaces, it gets rid of most stains, mildew & hair product residue.
For soap scum stains:
We use our DIY shower cleaner. It is a mixture of water, 12 ounces of white vinegar, 12 ounces of liquid blue Dawn dish soap and a good old scouring pad. Being careful not to use on stone surfaces because vinegar is very acidic and can etch stone surfaces.
Limescale stains:
For those tougher jobs where our natural products have no affect we will use Lime-A-Way cleaner to remove limescale from around the drains, this is what we do as a last resort.
For any remaining stubborn stains:
We finish up with a magic eraser. Sometimes no amount of scouring, even with a pad or powder will remove those stubborn dirt stains you see at the bottom of your tub/shower. The magic eraser definitely does wonders removing these. That’s about it we keep it pretty simple using minimal products.
Maid In Spokane
Maid In Spokane is a residential cleaning company based in Spokane, WA.
Steam! Looking for a way to make that shower glass door look brand new, but don’t want the toxic chemicals in your home or to spend hours scrubbing away at it? Steam is the way to go. There are a variety of steamers on the market that are sold with attachments that allow you do everything from cleaning the oven to cleaning tile and grout, but back to the shower.
- Prepare a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar
- Fill steamer with distilled water and turn it on. (Allow steamer about 10 minutes to warm up)
- While waiting for steamer to warm, spray the areas you plan to clean with the vinegar and water mixture
- When the steamer is warm grab one of the sponge like attachments, and go after the stains
- Squeegee the surface dry and admire your work!
Drill Brush Attachment! These are life savers in our line of work. These little attachments can be purchased on amazon or even bought locally at some hardware stores.
- Spray down your target area with vinegar and water (for really tough stains use CLR)
- Let sit for 10 minutes
- Attack the area with the drill brush and watch the hard water stains disappear
Razor Blade. A razor blade is a great last resort for really stubborn stains
- Simply spay the stained area with a vinegar, water, Dawn dish soap mixture (only a drop of Dawn)
- Be sure to keep the surface wet to reduce chance of scratching it
- Keeping the razor at a 45 degree angle, work at the stain in only one direction. Taking the razor back and forth will damage the glass surface
- Dry the glass and clean with vinegar water mixture
HostClean
HostClean is a residential cleaning company based in Glasgow, Scotland.
Vinegar
- Mix a spray bottle with 50% water and 50% vinegar
- Spray the solution in your tub and shower
- Wait a couple of minutes before wiping clean
Lemon juice
- Using a spray bottle, spray lemon juice onto the surface
- Rinse with water after 10-15 minutes
- Wipe dry straight after
Baking soda and vinegar
- Mix both ingredients together and wait for the reaction to settle
- With the remaining mixture, smear the surface of the stain
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes
- Scrub and rinse with water
- Wipe dry straight after
Clean Corp
Clean Corp is a residential cleaning company based in Atlanta, GA.
The Atlanta cleaning experts at Clean Corp know firsthand how frustrating it can be to remove shower stains. To effectively remove the stains the cleaners create a paste consisting of half white vinegar and half baking soda. Next spread the paste on the shower surface and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Next scrub the surface and rinse. After rinsing the surface, wipe the surface with a dry cloth to prevent new water stains from developing.
If you don’t have baking soda but you do have vinegar or vice versa, you can use either product by itself and get great results. When using vinegar, spray it on the surface and let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub and rinse with hot water. The technique when using baking soda is similar. Sprinkle the surface with the baking soda and wet the scrub brush. Scrub the surface and rinse clean with hot water.
Finally, the pumice stone is one of our favorite cleaning techniques. The most important thing to remember is to make sure the stone stays wet, otherwise it can damage the surface. Scrub the surface with the pumice stone until the stain is gone. Rinse and dry the surface to complete the cleaning.
The Cleaning Executives:
The Cleaning Executives is a residential cleaning company based in Nashville, TN.
How to Clean Shower Head Build Up:
4. Remove and wipe off excess debris.
How to Clean Tile & Grout:
5. Use a clean cotton cloth and wipe residue away.
Sparkly House Cleaning
Sparkly House Cleaning is a residential cleaning company based in Milwaukee, WI.
Depending on the age of the shower and how much time has passed since the last professional cleaning, there are a few different methods we use to address hard water stains and soap/scum buildup in showers.
We prefer to keep our products and solutions as green as possible, so we often start with one of the following methods…
1. Vinegar & water dilution – spray and leave on for a few minutes, scrub with a scratchless sponge, rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth. Vinegar and water is a great solution for glass shower doors as well.
2. Baking soda & vinegar – make a paste and spread it around the trouble areas, let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a scratchless sponge, rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
3. Barkeepers Friend, we like to purchase the spray kind since it is easy and convenient to apply and helps cover more areas than the powder or the paste. Spray throughout tub/shower, let it sit for 15 minutes or so, rinse with water and dry with a microfiber.
At times, for tougher stains, a toilet bowl cleaner and a sponge can help break down buildup.
Eco Clean Cleaning Service
Eco Clean is a residential cleaning company based in New Orleans, LA.
When removing shower stains, there is a question that needs to be answered first: What material is the shower made of?
If your shower happens to be made of marble or granite, use only a ph-neutral cleaning agent (nothing too acidic). Acids such as white vinegar (my go-to cleaner) etch marble and cause discoloration of granite. So on these stone surfaces, use instead a teaspoon of castile soap added to a water-filled spray bottle (add a few drops an essential oil of your preference, if you like) and a wet rag or non abrasive sponge and wipe/rub until the stains disappear. If the stains are being stubborn, use Bon Ami (my favorite eco-friendly powder cleanser – made of egg shells!!). Sprinkle a bit over the stains, spray with the cleaning mixture that you made and rub with a wet rag or sponge.
For tile showers, my favorite stain remedy is white vinegar! White vinegar is the most magical substance that I’ve found for cleaning pretty-much anything (minus marble). I fill a spray bottle with half water and half white vinegar, add about six drops of an essential oil that I like and shake to mix. Spray the tile with this mixture and wipe/rub with a wet rag. I also use an eco-friendly scouring pad if the stain is stubborn. If you need a little more friction to remove the stain, a few sprinkles of Bon Ami works great.
For fiberglass, you can follow the same recipe as used for tile minus the scouring pad. The scouring pad will scratch the fiberglass.
Beyond Cleaning Group
Beyond Cleaning Group is a residential cleaning company based in Gold Coast, Australia.
Here in Australia, all you need for a sparkling new shower is:
Selleys Rapid Mold Killer, Oates Grout Brush, Mr Clean Steel Scrubs, dish soap and a little known product called Magic Kleen.
1. First up, tackle the mold. I’ve tried just about every mold removal product available and by far the most effective and the easiest on the lungs and eyes is Selley’s Rapid Mold Killer. Spray it on, wait 2 minutes and then hit any remaining areas with your grout brush. This will remove 99% mold stains.
2. ‘Efflorescence’ is the name of incredibly tough white stains on some floor tiles, generally occurring around grout joints due to its porous nature. For professional house cleaners that carry a limited kit, the best way to remove this type of stain is with Mr Clean Steel Scrubs or steel wool. Gently scourer the area and watch it disappear before your eyes. No need for harsh and expensive chemicals.
3. Believe it or not, dish soap is a must have for cleaning showers. Not only is it great for shower screens (professional window cleaners use dish soap), it is also perfect for the grime that accumulates on the bottom half of the shower. A lot of the grime is made up of dirt and oils from your body, so you will find it is fairly resistant to bleaches. Dish soap is perfect for oils because it’s molecule is both hydrophilic (loves water) and hydrophobic (hates water). The long hydrophobic tail of dish soap molecules attaches to oil and dirt molecules, trapping them in a water loving capsule, allowing the oil to be washed away with water. Put a little dish soap on your soft scourer and gently scrub the bottom tiles. Rinse, dry and they’re good as new!
Bonus: How to Remove Shower Screen Fog
Five years in the field gave me the time to test everything I could think of to remove shower screen fog. The only product I have found that stood up to its claims is Magic-Kleen, produced by a chemist in Mackay, Queensland, which happens to be home to some of the countries hardest water. Magic-Kleen is a non-abrasive powder. Simply wet a non-scratch scourer and dip it in the powder, then scrub the glass. The glass will become smoother as the scale lifts. My love for this product has prompted me to become a distributor. Magic Kleen will be available from beyondcleaninggroup.com from September 2018. Contact us and reference this article for a special BookingKoala discount.
BusiBee Cleaning
BusiBee Cleaning is a residential cleaning company based in Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Clean Eraser: for mold stains, water stains and tough dirt.
How to- An eraser is great for tackling stubborn spots, marks and more. It wipes effortlessly and makes effective results. It can be used for dirt rings, water leaks and rough areas that won’t let up.
Mini Grout Brush: for hard to reach mold, dirt and grime.
How to- A grout brush is good for several things than just grout. It can be used to clean out tight spaces and small cracks where a sponge can’t get. Getting different sized brushes can come in handy for different jobs!
Microfiber Cloths: to wipe water stains, shine fixtures and glass.
How to- A microfiber cloth reigns best for multiple uses. We use the clothes to shine fixtures and make it spotless. They’re also great for drying out surfaces and scrubbing away any stagnant dirt that needs extra wiping.
Sophia’s Cleaning Service
Sophia’s Cleaning Service is a residential cleaning company based in Brookfield, IL.
#1 Distilled white vinegar is an incredible household cleaner for many cleaning tasks, especially your shower. First, put the vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the stain. Then let the heavily soaked stain sit for about 15-20 minutes and the acidity of the vinegar will begin to break down the stain. Afterwards, simply scrub the stain off with a soft-bristled brush, sponge or even an old toothbrush for any small areas or corners.
#2 For tougher stains, try sprinkling the stain with some baking soda and scrubbing the stain with a vinegar-soaked cloth. For an even stronger result, lay a vinegar-soaked cloth over the stain after sprinkling the baking soda and allow it to set for 10 minutes then remove the cloth and scrub it.
#3 Lemons are a good alternative as well to removing shower stains including soap scum and rust. Just rub half a lemon directly onto the stain and let it set for about 30-60 seconds and it should begin to come off. You can also squeeze lemon juice directly onto a sponge and then scrub the stain. Dry off the lemon juice with a clean cloth.
Mya Cleaning Services
Mya Cleaning Services is a residential cleaning company based in Los Angeles, CA.
Have a Regular Bathroom Cleaning Habit
Like any habit, once you do it a few times, doing it each time will get easier and quicker to do. Always keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar and water solution handy, if you are wanting an eco-friendly cleanser. After each bath or shower, be sure to quickly spray your solution and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse and wipe down. The vinegar will prevent mildew and hard water stains to build up. If you want it looking like new, be sure to do this each time you are done using the shower.
Prevent Hard Water Stains
While following step one above, if you haven’t had your bathroom professionally cleaned, you can help maintain your shower in between cleanings. If you already have excess hard water stains, you will find that using lemon can help remove these tough stains. You can use fresh lemon juice in a spray bottle, especially the shower head and faucets, as this is where most of the grime and water scale can build up. You can then brush and clean using a soft bristle brush using circular motions to get rid of the stains. Afterwards, you can rinse and wipe the area clean. Another great way to keep the shower head from clogging with grime or water scale is putting a small plastic bag filled with vinegar, dipping the shower head in, and let it sit in the solution for a few minutes until you see the water spraying evenly. Be sure to wipe it down clean.
Prevent Mold and Mildew
If you haven’t guessed it yet, vinegar is your best friend when it comes to preventing stains and maintaining your shower clean. If for some reason your shower is full of mold and mildew, you can clean the areas affected using a paste of vinegar and baking soda. Depending on how bad the mildew is, make enough paste to use in the entire area. Apply the paste evenly and let it sit for about 15 minutes and scrub the area in circular motions. Rinse and clean dry. Another great way to prevent and clean up mold is using a paste consisting of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Applying and using the same method as with the baking soda and vinegar paste, this too can help remove and prevent mold.
If using eco-friendly products isn’t as important, one cleanser that is mostly used in homes is bleach. Since it kills both mold and mildew, many families use this cleanser. If you check commercial bathroom cleaners you will find that most of them contain bleach for this reason. However, you can use straight bleach with water to destroy mold, mildew, bacteria and many stains on your shower.
Eloise Cleaning Services
Eloise Cleaning Services is a residential home cleaning company based in Wilmington, NC.
Gel Scrub
Gel Scrub is a highly-acidic product that can be purchased at any commercial cleaning supply company. It is great for removing stains from the bottom of the tub, but is best at removing all hard water stains on tubs, tile, and glass. All you need to do is spray the product on the stained area, agitate, wait 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly. No elbow grease required.
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
The key to this method is: dwell time. Let the baking soda do the work. Heat up the water and let the shower run for 5 minutes. Apply a thick layer of baking soda on the desired areas to clean and agitate it into a paste. Let the paste sit overnight, scrub, and rinse.
Soft-bristle Pad + Elbow Grease
When worse comes to worse and nothing else is working, then roll up your sleeves and use some good, old-fashioned elbow grease. The right tool can go a long way. A bristle pad paired with the proper cleaning chemicals will get the job done in a pinch.
Soul Maids
Soul Maids is a residential cleaning company based in Brooklyn, NY.
Squirt several drops of liquid dish soap on the shower floor. Smooth the
soap over the floor with a cloth. Allow the soap to set overnight.
Dust the shower floor with a thin layer of baking soda, then wet a cloth
with white vinegar. Scrub the stain with the cloth. If the stain doesn’t
come off easily, lay the vinegar-soaked cloth over the mark. Let it set
for a few minutes, then remove the cloth and rinse the floor with water.
Combine 1 gallon of water with 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking
soda and 1 cup ammonia if the stain remains. Put on rubber gloves and
open a window for ventilation, if possible. Pour some of the mixture
over the stain, then scrub it in with a soft-bristle brush or sponge.
Rinse with clean water.
Tips:
To ward off mold and mildew, keep the shower curtain or door open after
bathing. This lets the shower dry out faster.
To clean porcelain fixtures, make a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide
and 1 part cream of tartar. Smooth the paste over the surface and let it
set for 30 minutes before rinsing.
Warnings:
If your shower floor is made of marble, brown stains might be caused by
rust. Some marble may contain iron deposits. If water leaches into the
tile, it can cause the iron to rust. If you suspect this, check the
grout for cracks and have them filled before trying to remove the stain.
Never mix ammonia with bleach — when these two substances combine,
toxic fumes form.
Ingenious Cleaning
Ingenious Cleaning is a residential cleaning company based in Philadelphia, PA.
1. Avoid abrasive chemical cleaners. When cleaning an acrylic bathtub, stay away from harsh astringent powders such as Comet and Ajax, as well as harsh chemicals like bleach. Acrylic is a soft material and is therefore easily damaged.
2. Distilled white vinegar makes an excellent natural cleaning solution, especially on smooth surfaces like acrylic that release stains easily. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and keep it on hand for routine bathroom cleaning tasks.
3. Use a bleach-free commercial cleaning spray. Products like Lysol All Purpose Cleaner, Kaboom, Shout! and Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner are good for eating away at tough stains without damaging delicate surfaces. Since most of these products contain a similar combination of ingredients.
Oranges & Lemons
Oranges & Lemons is a residential cleaning company based in Los Angeles, CA.
When cleaning showers, what we use is a combination of a Soft Scrub Solution and a Magic Eraser Sponge on the tile, porcelain and hardware. Just make sure the magic eraser is a little damp then apply a bit of the Soft Scrub to the sponge. It’s also great for removing limescale from the glass. This can be used on clear plastic shower curtains as well. We also apply a Rain-X treatment that keeps the shower glass steam free, as well as any mirrors in the bathrooms.
Best Cleaning NOLA
Best Cleaning NOLA is a residential cleaning company based in New Orleans, LA.
For a green solution: Mix in a bottle: lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda and water. Spray throughout and wait for 5 minutes. Scrub with white Clorox sponge while pouring more baking soda on the surface. Rinse well with hot water and repeat the process if necessary.
Conventional chemicals: Use a peroxide such as Lysol with peroxide and scrub with Bar Keepers. Rinse well with hot water and repeat the process if necessary.
Cleaning Studio
Cleaning Studio is a residential cleaning company based in New York City, NY.
Spray all-purpose cleaner and clean your shower tiles with a microfiber scrubbing cloth. Make sure to dry your shower walls to prevent mold, you can use a squeegee or microfiber cloth.
Clean your grout and tub with Soft Scrub. Apply the paste and scrub the grout with a thin brush or old toothbrush and clean your tub with a microfiber sponge to remove any stains or soap residue.
Remove any hard water stains from your shower head, handles, and shower spout with essential oils. Add a few drops to your microfiber cloth, then rub the chromed surface and with the dry side of your cloth, polish in circles until you leave it shiny.
Maid Smart
Maid Smart is a residential cleaning company based in Princeton, NJ.
At Maid Smart we focus on the long term well being of homes. Using harsh chemicals is only a last resort. This is because a lot of harsh chemicals can damage the surface of objects. Removing the protective layers and creating microscopic pits. This can also make your shower surfaces more susceptible to staining and can increase the amount of bacteria or mold.
Using green products with balanced pH before attempting to use harsh chemicals is highly recommended. We don’t recommend any specific brand as there are many that could work for you.
Below are 3 Methods you can use to help remove stains in your shower:
Green Method:
Clean your shower out with a good green general cleaner to remove any surface scum.
Apply vinegar and let it soak for about 10 minutes to help remove cleaner residue (Only do this step if the surface is not natural stone).
Rinse out the shower with cold water to remove the vinegar.
After you’ve rinsed out the shower sprinkle banking powder on the surface, then apply peroxide to the baking powder.
Scrub with a soft microfiber cloth.
Rinse the shower out with cold water and repeat steps if stain persists.
Harsh Chemical Method 1:
Clean your shower out with a good green general cleaner to remove any surface scum.
Apply vinegar and let it soak for about 10 minutes to help remove cleaner residue (Only do this step if the surface is not natural stone).
Rinse out the shower with cold water to remove the vinegar.
Try using a product like Bar Keepers Friend and letting it sit on the stains for the recommended time list on the container.
Scrub surfaces with a soft plastic brush.
Rinse the shower out with cold water and repeat steps if stain persists.
Harsh Chemical Method 2:
Clean your shower out with a good green general cleaner to remove any surface scum.
Apply vinegar and let it soak for about 10 minutes to help remove cleaner residue ( Only do this step if the surface is not natural stone).
Rinse out the shower with cold water to remove the vinegar.
Fill a spray bottle with a solution of ¼ Bleach and ¾ cold water. Spray the solution on the surface of the shower and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
Scrub surfaces with a soft plastic brush.
Rinse the shower out with cold water and repeat steps if stain persists.
The next time you are cleaning a dirty shower remember these tips and tricks to help you get rid of those stains. Whether you are making your own vinegar mix or using a magic eraser there are plenty of ways that can help you out in a moments notice.
