How To Remove Mildew From Shower

Finding mildew in your shower can be off-putting; mildew is a sure sign of an abundance of moisture and a need for a clean.

Luckily, mildew doesn’t have to stop your showers.

If you’re in this situation, you probably have wondered how to remove mildew from the shower.

We’ve done the research, and removing mildew from your shower is easy if you follow these simple steps below.

What You’ll Need

You will need a few household cleaning supplies to remove mildew from your shower effectively.

Now that you have the materials you need, read on to learn how to remove mildew from your shower.

1. Spray Affected Area With White Vinegar

Mildew can be dangerous for your health, especially in large quantities, because mildew is a type of mold.

As soon as you notice mildew in your shower, fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and liberally spray the affected areas.

I recommend Calyptus 45% Pure Super Concentrated Vinegar for all your cleaning projects.

Calyptus is super concentrated and can make up to 9 gallons worth of cleaning solution in one bottle, plus it gets excellent reviews on Amazon.

2. Allow Affected Area To Sit

Let the vinegar sit for 1-2 hours.

3. Scrub Area With A Damp Cloth Or Scrub Brush

Once the vinegar has sat on the affected surfaces for a few hours, use a damp microfiber cloth to scrub away the mildew.

While the microfiber cloth is excellent for flat surfaces, you should use a scrub brush or a stiff-bristled toothbrush to scrub the mildew out of the edges and corners of your shower.

I recommend the Amazer Scrub Brush Comfort Grip & Flexible Stiff Bristles Heavy Duty for Bathroom.

It’s great for soft or stiff scrubbing jobs and gets wonderful reviews on Amazon.

Pro tip: Don’t dilute your vinegar.

Vinegar is a natural, non-toxic mold killer, and it works best when it is not diluted with water.

To help the smell dissipate, open a window or turn on the fan.

4. Apply a Baking Soda Paste

If the vinegar does not get rid of all the mildew in your shower, you’ll need to go to the next level.

Mix three parts baking soda with one part water.

This will make a paste.

Spread the paste on all affected areas and then respray it with vinegar.

Scrub the mildew again using your microfiber cloth and scrub brush.

Once all the mildew has been scrubbed off, rinse the affected areas to remove any mildew or baking soda paste traces.

You may have to apply the baking soda paste a couple of times, depending on the severity of the mildew in your shower.

5. Spray the Affected Area with a Bleach Mixture

If the mildew in your shower is particularly difficult to remove, you may need to use bleach.

However, do not use straight, undiluted bleach.

Although bleach is great against mildew and other forms of mold, it’s too strong in its undiluted form and could damage the finish of your shower.

Instead, mix a mixture of 1 parts bleach to 3 parts water in a clean spray bottle and spray the affected areas of your shower.

Allow the bleach and water mixture to sit on the mildew for about 10 minutes, and then scrub the mildew off with your scrub brush.

Once all the mildew is gone, rinse the area thoroughly to remove any leftover traces of bleach, especially if children or pets frequent the site.

Pro tip: If you choose to clean your shower with this bleach and water mixture, make sure to wear protective gloves and keep the bathroom well ventilated.

I recommend these Reusable Kitchen Cleaning Gloves With Latex Free, Cotton Lining.

They are made from eco-friendly materials soft PVC and cotton and get excellent reviews on Amazon.

Bleach is effective against mildew, but it can also be dangerous to people.

Also, please don’t mix the bleach with anything other than water, and avoid getting it in your eyes or on your skin.

The following video demonstrates how to effectively remove mildew from your shower in the extreme scenarios where you would use bleach.

0:20 seconds: Spray the mildew with bleach.
0:35 seconds: Allow the bleach to sit for 10 minutes.
0:50 seconds: Scrub the affected areas with a scrub brush.
1:35 seconds: Rinse and dry the area completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does mildew take hold in my shower?

Even though you use various soaps in your bathroom, your shower is an ideal location for mildew to settle and grow.

Mildew grows in warm, wet, and dark environments, and unless you are vigilant against it, mildew will settle into the corners and edges of your shower.

How do I prevent mildew in my shower?

You can add a few simple things to your cleaning regimen to prevent mildew from taking hold in your shower.

The first thing you should do is limit the amount of standing water in your bathroom.

Next, mop up any excess water on the floor, especially if it sits in the corners or seals of your shower.

Speaking of water on the floor, if you have a problem with mildew in your tile grout, check out our article dedicated to teaching you how to clean mildew from grout.

These areas are naturally difficult to keep dry, but you can deprive mildew of the water it needs to grow if you are vigilant.

You should also dry your toiletries (such as your shampoo, soap, and loofa) and store them in a dry place.

While it may seem easier to leave these things in the shower after you are done, the water left on and under your toiletries can encourage mildew growth.

In addition, you should also maintain healthy humidity in your house.

Use your air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep your home at less than 50 percent humidity; this will also prevent mildew.

As well as water, mildew needs darkness to thrive.

So, if you have a window, keep your blinds open when you are not in the bathroom.

Sunlight naturally fights mildew, so exposing your shower to as much sunlight as possible will limit the opportunities for mildew to settle.

If you do not have a window, try leaving your lights on for 10-15 minutes longer than you do now.

Even artificial light will prohibit mildew growth.

You can also prevent mildew by increasing the air circulation in your bathroom.

If your window opens, allow the air to circulate through the open window.

If your window does not open, or you don’t have a window, you can also utilize the ventilation fan.

Allow it to run for 30 minutes after your shower to remove all the excess moisture from the air and prevent mildew from settling into your shower.