Glass shower doors are appealing because they make your bathroom look elegant and beautiful. But when glass shower doors become encrusted with hard water stains, soap scum, or mildew, your shower door can become smelly and unsightly. Try out these 5 tips to get your shower door looking its best!
Tip #1: Start with a Steamy Bathroom
The best time to clean your glass shower door is right after you’ve taken a hot shower, or run the shower on hot for a few minutes. Some stains and buildup on the glass shower door will be loosened through the heat and humidity in your bathroom, making your cleanup a lot easier.
Tip #2: Use the Right Supplies
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the right supplies will make or break your shower door cleaning success. If you really want that shower door to look its best, you should invest in the right supplies.
A spray bottle is the best tool for distributing your desired cleaning product (see tip #3 for our recommendations) evenly across the glass. Use a gentle sponge when cleaning the glass itself, as other materials may permanently scratch the door. Use a squeegee to wipe off excess water from the shower door after rinsing it. This is a great way to prevent the buildup of hard water stains. Dry the glass with a clean, microfiber towel.
Tip #3: Use the Best Cleaning Products
Just like supplies, all cleaners are not created equal. Before choosing a cleaning product, you need to identify the variety of crud you’re dealing with on your glass shower door.
Some of the most common stains on your glass door will be the result of hard water. Hard water is full of dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, chalk, and lime. When hard water and soap scum combine, they can leave ugly stains. You can remove hard water stains with a solution of equal parts dish soap and white vinegar. This is a natural, non-toxic, inexpensive solution to remove hard water stains and soap scum.
If the water in your local area is unusually hard, these natural cleaners may not be enough. If you’re dealing with especially hard water buildup, you should use a commercial cleaner with a pH of about 7 or 8. These tougher commercial cleaners can often help remove those particularly stubborn stains.
If your shower is growing mold or mildew, your best cleaning product will be vinegar and/or bleach. Using a solution of one cup of water and a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide is another, gentler option you could try for this problem. I’ve had the best luck with Clorox Tilex bleach solution.
Tip #4: Maintain Your Doors Daily
Your shower cleaning routine will be much easier if you take a little time to clean it every day. This is the best way to prevent mineral and soap deposits from building up at all. Keep a squeegee in the shower, and spray your shower after each use with a no-rinse spray cleaner. This will help prevent soap deposits and hard water stains.
Tip #5: Invest in a New Shower Door
Sometimes, a shower door is encrusted with so much grime and scratched beyond repair. Or, maybe your shower door is just out of style and you’re looking for something new. In cases such as these, it’s best to just replace the glass shower door entirely. This option will allow you to choose the best type of glass. Investing in a frameless, ultra-clear glass shower enclosure is a low maintenance option. These types of enclosures are low in iron content, which makes them look expensive and elegant, and they won’t be as susceptible to corrosion and staining as metal framed shower doors.
Shower time is your time. You deserve to spend it in luxury. Don’t let crud, corrosion, or scum detract from your shower experience! Try these tips and see if they make a difference.
