Last Updated: May 2, 2024
Even the cleanest of bathrooms will look dirty when stains and soap scum are displayed on the shower door glass.
Learning how to clean glass shower doors can transform the look and feel of your bathroom and the rest of your home. While cleaning isn’t as straightforward as taking a soapy sponge to the doors, hard water spots and scum can be targeted with a few simple tricks. These tips will help your bathroom shower door glass sparkle.
How to Clean Glass Shower Doors
As you learn how to clean glass shower doors, it’s important to take your time. You’ll improve your efficiency with a little practice.
First, get your cleaning supplies ready. Choose the best shower glass cleaner for your needs. You don’t need to spend a lot on cleaning supplies to get this chore done right. There are many store-bought cleaners to choose from, but white vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and water also makes an effective cleaning solution that will help your shower doors shine. If you’re feeling adventurous, experiment with a variety of different cleansers to find the ones you prefer.
Your supply setup should include the following:
- Spray bottle
- Scrub sponge
- Cleaner of your choice (e.g., baking soda, white vinegar, cleaning solution)
- Gloves (depending on the cleaner’s ingredients and the amount of scum)
- Cloth or towel
Start by using the shower sprayer to wet the glass doors and walls. You can also use water from a bucket. Then fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and completely saturate the glass. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes—longer if there’s serious buildup. Next, dip a scrubbing sponge into baking soda and scrub the glass.
To finish up, give the doors and walls a rinse with fresh water, and shine the glass using a microfiber cloth and your favorite glass cleaner.
How to Clean Glass Shower Doors With Hard Water Stains
If you have hard water, it can be especially difficult to figure out how to clean shower glass doors. Hard water stains are tough to remove, especially after they have been sitting for a while.
White vinegar can be helpful, but stubborn stains may require a stronger cleaning agent. Thankfully, you probably don’t have to look further than your kitchen for the right tools to do the job. Try cutting a lemon in half and dipping it in salt. Use it to scrub away at especially stubborn hard water stains. You can also try spraying your doors with lemon juice to keep future stains at bay.
Hard water spots appear on your glass when water drops dry there. The best way to keep your shower door glass clean is by preventing water from drying on it in the first place. Check out these preventative measures you can take:
- Keep a squeegee in the shower to wipe down the glass doors after a shower.
- Apply a hydrophobic coating to keep water spots off the glass.
- Install a water softener. This is a more expensive solution, but it will solve many other problems by reducing mineral buildup on your shower glass and the insides of your pipes, faucets, dishwasher, showerheads, and more.
How to Clean Soap Scum Off Glass Shower Doors
When soap combines with water, it becomes scum instead of just washing down the drain. It sticks to hair, clothes, skin, and shower door glass.
When trying to figure out how to clean glass shower doors with soap scum problems, you'll find many products that target this issue. You can also make your own solution. Some people like to use a combination of water and ammonia to combat soap scum, but there are less toxic options that are also effective.
Try mixing equal parts dish soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply to shower door glass and let sit for about 30 minutes. Then wipe down the doors. You will be amazed at how clean they look. Or, you can make a paste using water and baking soda. Apply the paste to a damp sponge, scrub the glass, rinse, and dry. You’ll be free of soap scum in no time!
