Glass shower doors are a great way to give your bathroom an elegant look that’s both modern and contemporary. However, they can be hard to keep clean. Soap scum builds up on the glass almost as soon as you step out of the shower, leaving unsightly streaks and stains behind.
Maintaining a pleasant-looking shower door can be tough. You may find yourself scrubbing away at stains and grime, to no avail. Add the hard water stains to the mix, and it looks like you never clean your shower door at all. It can be frustrating and time-consuming, not to mention a little backbreaking work!
Shower Door Cleaning Hacks
When it comes to cleaning the shower, what works for some people doesn’t always work for others. Everyone has their own preference when it comes to products and processes. After all, you want it to look as clean as possible without having to spend hours doing it. Some of the most popular shower door cleaners are also the most expensive. This includes store-bought cleaners and glass cleaners. But what if you could clean your shower doors with items that you already have in your home?
With just a few steps and some household items, you’ll be able to have your glass shower door looking like new in no time.
Vinegar Solution
A simple solution of vinegar and water is easy to make and use. Vinegar is the most common and effective cleaning ingredient that can be used regularly to clean your shower door. The vinegar properties can kill around 99% of bacteria and germs that make your doors look dull and dirty. The acid in this solution breaks down any soapy or oily residue and leaves you with a squeaky clean glass surface.
Step 1: Use a spray bottle to apply vinegar to the surface of your shower door.
Step 2: Let it settle for about 15 minutes so that the acid can break down the stains.
Step 3: Scrub the affected areas with a scouring sponge or a brush.
Step 4: Rinse off with warm water.
You may have to repeat this process several times if there is caked-on soap scum or hard water stains. The smell of vinegar will dissipate once the door dries completely.
Baking Soda Scrub
Baking soda is one of the most versatile substances you will ever have in your kitchen. It is perfect for cleaning and whitening teeth, making a paste to clean stubborn stains on pots and pans, and even cleaning your shower doors.
Baking soda can be mixed with water to make a paste that is abrasive enough to cut through dirt and grime while also being gentle enough to not scratch glass or metal doors. This makes it an ideal cleaner for shower doors, whether they are framed glass, frameless glass, or metal sliding doors. Make a thick paste with baking soda and water. Apply this paste to the surface of the door in small sections at a time. Leave the paste on for about 20 minutes before scrubbing clean and rinsing off with hot water.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a popular, green cleaning solution that can be used all around the house. You can use it to polish chrome fixtures, clean windows, and cut through soap scum on your shower door.
You can wipe down your shower door with a lemon half (or lime half, if you prefer). This is the quickest and easiest way to clean your shower door. The acidity in lemons cuts through soap scum and dirt with ease — all you need to do is rub the fruit on the glass, then rinse it off with water. You might need to give the glass a final wipe-down with vinegar solution if the soap scum is stubborn. If you want something more powerful than lemon juice, squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a spray bottle, then add some baking soda and warm water. Shake vigorously until you have a bubbly mixture, then spray it all over your shower doors.
Vinegar+ Baking Soda Combo For Hard Water Stains
Hard water stains on the glass shower doors can make them look ugly. It is easy to eliminate these water stains by using white vinegar and baking soda. To clean the hard water stains off your glass shower doors, mix these two ingredients in a bowl and spray the solution on the affected area. Let it rest for a few minutes and then wipe it off with a microfiber cloth or towel. Another effective way of removing hard water stains from your glass shower door is by using lemon juice. The citric acid in lemon juice helps remove hard water spots with ease.
Squeegee For Show Doors Soap Scum
Soap scum is basically a film left behind by body washes, shampoos, and conditioners. The best way to prevent soap scum from building up on your glass shower door is with a squeegee. Use it after every time you shower and the water will run off in sheets, leaving no trace of soap scum behind.
Hydrogen Peroxide
While using vinegar and baking soda has been the most popular hack, another option is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is an affordable, readily available item that can be used around the house for a variety of cleaning purposes, including shoe soles, cutting boards, and even for whitening teeth.
When it comes to cleaning shower doors, hydrogen peroxide can be used as a stand-alone cleaner or combined with vinegar for a cheap, yet effective cleaner that will leave your shower doors looking brand new!
To use hydrogen peroxide as a bathroom cleaner:
- Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle (either 3 percent or 6 percent strength will work).
- Add a few drops of dish soap to a spray bottle filled with hydrogen peroxide.
- Spray on dirty areas including soap scum buildup on glass shower doors, tile walls, bathtubs, and other surfaces in the bathroom. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes then wipe down.
- Rinse off the cleaner with hot water, then dry with a microfiber cloth.
Takeaway
Shower doors are a great design element that many people take for granted, but they can really add to the appearance of your bathroom. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable ways to clean your shower doors and keep them looking as good as the day they were installed. The next time your bathroom needs a little sprucing up, consider trying out these hacks first. You’ll be surprised at how well they work.
