I tried the refillable dish wand shower cleaning hack and was not impressed – but there's another easy solution that works much better

I'm all for finding ways to make my cleaning schedule quicker and more convenient – from testing unusual hacks to trialing new, ingenious products.

So, when I heard about using a refillable dish wand to clean the shower while you're in it, saving heaps of time, I, of course, wanted to give it a go. After all, my refillable dish wand got me through my university days, so why not give it a whirl.

Spoiler alert: it didn't work despite all the social media videos raving about its effectiveness for shower cleaning. I won't be using this specific cleaning tip again so here's why, and what you can do instead for great results.

I tried cleaning my shower with a refillable dish wand

It's important to caveat this how much I truly love my Dishmatic Washing Up Brush available at Amazon for its intended purpose. It makes washing dishes a breeze, saves money on washing up liquid, and, as it is refillable and reusable, is a great way to be sustainable at home.

That being said, I completely appreciate that it wasn't invented to clean a shower. Just because the viral shower cleaning hack didn't work for me using this tool, doesn't mean that my feeds aren't filled with people who love this hack.

What is the refillable dish wand shower cleaning hack?

As simple as it sounds, you fill your dish wand with cleaning solution, and use it to give your shower a quick wipe down everyday, or every time you take a shower. If you're wondering how often you should clean your shower, it's not necessarily everyday, but the point of this hack is that it makes cleaning so quick that it prevents it building up and becoming a bigger job.

Sounds like a great idea, right? I thought so too. Armed with my dish wand, I filled it up with my shower cleaner. Now, admittedly, this could be where this all went wrong. I used a non-rinse product, such as the Clorox Plus Tilex Daily Shower Cleaner and Bathroom Spray available at Walmart, so I could use it to wipe down the outside of my shower screen glass, as well as the inside once inside.

I didn't want to get splashed with harsh chemicals, or even be in close proximity to them while taking a shower, so I opted for something a little more gentle.

Annoyingly, however, the sponge on the dish wand just caused the usually clear cleaning liquid to turn into a white foam. This then meant when it dried, there were blobs of product, detracting from the 'no rinse' aspect of the formula.

Then, the issues really started once I got into the shower, which was annoying as the time-saving and ease of this cleaning method is meant to be the whole point.

Firstly, my large showerhead meant the product was washed off almost as quickly as I swiped it on. Then, when I turned the water off, this was only magnified by the fact my shower screen is quite large, so actually took me a while to cover with the tiny sponge. Additionally, I can't get behind showering while splashing myself with chemicals or cleaning products, no matter how gentle they are.

The worst part was that even after using my squeegee, the OXO Good Grips All-Purpose Squeegee available at Amazon, much like when I used a potato to clean my shower, it was left streaky, with little dots of cleaning product where the sponge had caused it to foam uncharacteristically again.

That being said, it was a quick and easy way to get into the nooks and crannies of the actual shower space, to clean grout and tiles where grime and mold typically build up. While I didn't try to clean tile floors with it, I imagine this would be a quick and easy way to do so, with the shower turned off.

My verdict

My verdict on this method is mixed. In essence, it was convenient, I suppose, but certainly wasn't easier than just simply using my usual cleaning spray with a microfiber cloth, such as the HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloth available at Amazon, particularly as the liquid cleaner was leaking out the dish wand. It also wasn't quicker than spraying the shower and wiping it down, and left a far less desirable result.

Sometimes, it seems, cleaning hacks don't actually work to make the job any easier. For example, recently I tried the viral microwave makeup sponge cleaning hack and was once again left disappointed.

What to do instead

A better solution is to make a natural homemade cleaning spray using 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar and leave this solution and a sponge of your choice in the shower. Instead of cleaning the area when you're out of the shower, clean it when you're inside it and using it.

The natural cleaning spray solution means no harsh chemicals and vinegar is a great way to clean your home without harming the planet. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your homemade vinegar glass cleaner. It won't smear if you wipe with a microfiber cloth fully.

Alternatively, you can reduce the frequency of cleaning your shower needed by keeping a squeegee in your shower and wiping down walls and glass before getting out.

Head of Solved here at H&G, Punteha van Terheyden, swears by this. 'It's a shower cleaning rule I pinched from my in-laws and it's really effective. Not only does it mean your bathroom gets dry and the humidity lifts quicker, it stops as much limescale accumulating in your shower as you're scraping it off after every use.'

She adds that it only take a couple of minutes and is most effective when everyone in the household gets on board and completes this step consistently before stepping out of the shower.

Using something like the Method Eucalyptus Mint Daily Shower Cleaner Spray available at Target would also be a good option, as it's plant-based, biodegradable and cruelty free.

FAQs

Can you clean your shower with dish soap?

While there are things you shouldn't clean with soap, it is safe for use in the shower. It's effective at tackling soap scum and hard water marks, and an affordable alternative to commercial cleaning products.

Recently, I tried cleaning hard water stains on my faucets with toothpaste, and was blown away by the results.