I Tried Cleaning the Shower Naked, and I’m Never Going Back

There are certain chores I actually enjoy — folding laundry, making the bed, even vacuuming. But cleaning the shower? That’s always been my nemesis. It’s messy and awkward, and I inevitably end up soaked and needing to change clothes afterward.

So recently I had a thought: What if I just cleaned the shower while I was naked and about to hop in anyway? Wouldn’t that save me the hassle? I put my theory to the test — and now I’m never going back.

Before I grabbed my spray bottle, I checked in with Karen Larkin Jaser, owner of Belle Home Housecleaning, to find out if it’s actually safe to clean the shower naked. “I wouldn’t suggest cleaning a bathroom naked with any sprayed product, unless you are cleaning it with a product that you know is safe to get on your skin and possibly breathe in,” says Larkin Jaser.

That means skipping the harsh sprays — no bleach or chemical-based bathroom cleaners — and even avoiding any all-natural solutions that can be irritating. Luckily, my homemade cleaner is equal parts water and white vinegar (which makes it diluted) — two ingredients I already safely use in the kitchen and on my skin. With her advice in mind, I decided it was safe enough for my experiment.

Before stepping into the tub, I gathered my supplies: a folded washcloth and my water and vinegar spray. I also opened a window for ventilation.

Once I was in, I spritzed the shower walls, faucet, and handle with my solution, then wiped everything down with the washcloth. I cleared bottles off the ledges, scrubbed the ledges clean, and wiped down the bottles before putting them back. Finally, I crouched to tackle the soap scum and rusty ring around the drain.

When I was done, I rinsed my washcloth, hung it to dry, and used the showerhead to spray down the tub. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes, and when I turned the water back on I got the best reward: a shower in a freshly cleaned space.

Cleaning the shower naked turned out to be surprisingly efficient. Because I was about to shower anyway, getting wet or dirty didn’t matter. Plus, the built-in “reward” made the whole task feel easier. I’ll definitely keep this routine in my cleaning arsenal. 

Larkin Jaser also shared one final pro tip: Keep a shower squeegee handy and use it after each shower to prevent mineral buildup.