How to Clean Your Bathtub & Shower Without Harsh Chemicals: A Non-Toxic Guide

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Deep Cleaning Your Tub and Shower

Before you start scrubbing, take a moment to prep the space. Remove any personal items, bath mats, and shower curtains. It's a small step that makes a big difference—you'll have better access to every surface and a more thorough clean as a result. Now, let’s get to cleaning.

Step 1: Spray Non-Toxic Bathroom Cleaner

Generously spray your non-toxic bathroom cleaner over all wet surfaces—the tub basin, walls, faucets, and any areas with visible soap scum or grime buildup. Don't be shy. Good coverage means the cleaner can start working on every inch.

Step 2: Let It Sit

Walk away for 5 to 10 minutes. This is where the real work happens. Letting the cleaner dwell on the surface gives it time to break down soap scum and grime while you're doing something else, making scrubbing much easier later.

Step 3: Sprinkle Oxygen Bleach

Sprinkle two to three scoops of oxygen bleach directly over the treated surfaces. Oxygen bleach is a mineral-based cleaning booster that works by releasing hydrogen peroxide and active oxygen molecules when dissolved with water. Combined with your bathroom cleaner, it creates a seriously effective cleaning duo that lifts stains, brightens surfaces, and tackles buildup without the toxic fumes and health risks of traditional bleach.

Step 4: Scrub Thoroughly

Using a sponge or cloth, scrub the surfaces using firm pressure and circular motions. Work your way around the tub basin, walls, and fixtures. Take your time—this is where the grime actually lifts.

Pro Mom Move: If your tub or shower is tiled, this is the perfect moment to work on grout lines, too. Use your scrub brush to dislodge any stubborn grout stains, and sprinkle a bit more oxygen bleach directly onto the grout if needed.

Step 5: Rinse Clean

Once you've scrubbed every surface, give the entire shower and tub a thorough rinse to remove all remaining cleaner and residue.

Step 6: Admire Your Work

Step back and take it in. Your tub and shower should look visibly brighter, cleaner, and completely refreshed—and you did it without breathing in a single harsh chemical.

Maintenance & Pro Tips for Keeping Your Tub and Shower Sparkling

Even with the best cleaning routine, bathrooms are high-traffic spaces that accumulate soap scum, hard water deposits, and grime from daily use. The good news? If you follow this method consistently—even just every other month—you'll find that each subsequent clean gets easier, buildup has less time to set in, and your surfaces stay brighter for longer.

For Glass Shower Enclosures

After your main clean, finish glass panels with an ammonia-free glass cleaner. This simple task will give your glass a streak-free shine and protect the surface without the harsh fumes that come with conventional glass cleaners.

For Shower Curtains

With your shower freshly cleaned, it's the perfect time to launder your cloth curtain as well. If you use a plastic liner, consider replacing it—a fresh liner makes an already clean bathroom feel completely renewed.

Quick Maintenance Tips

• Squeegee glass enclosures after each shower to reduce hard water buildup between cleans
• Keep a small spray bottle of bathroom cleaner nearby for quick spot treatments throughout the week
• Run a damp sponge along the tub edges weekly to keep soap scum from setting in

Deep cleaning your tub and shower doesn't have to mean filling your bathroom with fumes and hoping your family stays out long enough for it to air out. With plant-based cleaners and oxygen bleach, you get a thorough, effective clean that's also safe for the people you care most about.

Follow this routine every month or two, and you'll never dread bathroom cleaning day again.