Social media is full of cleaning hacks. While experts say many of these tricks aren’t as useful as they seem—for instance, you shouldn’t put vinegar in your washing machine or put aluminum foil in your dishwasher to polish silver—others really do work. Case in point: the "lazy" shower cleaning trick that’s all over Reddit.
This clever hack isn’t a substitute for deep-cleaning the shower, but it can keep things fresh. In addition to following this trick, you can also keep your shower clean and mildew-free by keeping the door open when you shower and ensuring you close the shower curtain when you’re done.
One important thing to note: This hack involves dish soap, but you shouldn’t use anything stronger (like bleach or vinegar) to clean the shower while you’re in it. You should also be cautious when using dish soap, as it can be slippery!
Keep reading for the expert take on this popular Reddit tip that leaves you with a clean shower and silky hair. If you’re looking to have a sparkling clean bathroom, read up on the bathroom spots almost everyone forgets to clean and an expert guide to removing hard water stains from glass shower doors, tile, and faucets.
The Simple Shower-Cleaning Hack
After one Reddit user took to r/CleaningTips with a request for homeowners' best "lazy cleaning hacks," people were ready to share the most useful ways they work smarter, not harder around the house.
"I have dish soap in the shower," wrote @BBrea101. "On days when I'm deep conditioning my hair, I wash the walls off with dish soap and rinse with the shower head. When the shower is turned off, I squeegee the walls and tub to help remove soap scum from the walls. The dish soap works great to help break down soap scum, and I have silky hair."
The best tool? A soap brush scrubber pre-filled with dishwashing liquid.
What Other Reddit Users Have to Say
Apparently, tons of other homeowners have come to the same solution, claiming dishwashing liquid works wonders on all surfaces. Others took to the thread to express their gratitude for sharing the simple trick.
"This is genius and I am incorporating this into my life immediately," wrote one user.
Another even shared a different tool she uses: "I keep a magic eraser in the shower for the same reason. If it's going to be an extra long shower, I might as well wash it down too."
"I do this too and actually do clean my shower MUCH more frequently because of it," wrote another.
Beyond Reddit, plenty of TikTok creators have gotten in on the hack. While most people are in support, there are a few users who are a bit more skeptical.
"I wish I could, but showers are my time to just... enjoy the water. It’s like a ritual and cleaning doesn’t fit that," wrote one TikTok user.
"I tried this but I’m literally too lazy," wrote another.
The Verdict
If you have a shower routine that involves deep conditioning or hair masks, you might be a prime candidate for the dish soap shower hack. Why not put those five or 10 free minutes to use and get the chore done?
That being said, fully deep cleaning the shower will probably take a little more effort. Our cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab recommend squeegeeing glass shower doors on a daily basis and applying a vinegar solution once a week.
Still, users on Reddit and TikTok swear by the quick trick. So be honest: Would you bring dishwashing liquid into the shower?
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
