How to Clean Shower Doors

How to Clean Shower Doors With a Vinegar Solution

The acid in vinegar will help cut through soap scum on glass and acrylic doors, resulting in a sparkling shine.

1. Mix a Vinegar Cleaning Solution

   Pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into a microwaveable bowl and heat for 30 to 45 seconds. Pour the warm vinegar into a spray bottle, then add a few drops of dishwashing liquid.

2. Spray on the Solution

   Starting at the top of the shower door, mist the area heavily. Allow the solution to sit and work for at least five minutes.

3. Scrub, Rinse, and Wipe Down Doors

   Starting again at the top of the door, scrub with a sponge. Rinse the doors with water. The easiest way to rinse the doors is with a handheld shower head like the hai Smart Showerhead with adjustable water flow. Dry the doors with a microfiber cloth.

   Tips

   While you should never use a scouring pad or an abrasive brush on glass doors, dryer sheets provide a bit of gentle abrasion that can help remove tough spots of soap scum.

How to Clean Shower Doors With Lemon Juice

Lemons are not quite as acidic as vinegar, but they do smell nicer and will clean the glass if you add a bit more elbow grease. Again, do not use lemon juice if you have a natural stone shower floor.

1. Mix a Lemon Cleaning Solution

   Lemon juice isn’t as acidic as vinegar, but it smells better and still has cleaning power. For lighter cases of soap scum build-up, mix lemon juice and warm water together in a bowl.

2. Apply the Solution, Wait, Scrub, and Dry

   Starting at the top of the shower door, spray on the solution. Wait five minutes and then scrub with a sponge. No rinsing is needed. Dry and shine the door with a microfiber cloth.

How to Clean Shower Doors With Ammonia

Ammonia is often a leading ingredient in window cleaning products because it leaves a streak-free shine.

1. Mix an Ammonia Solution

   Combine one tablespoon of household ammonia with one quart of warm water in a spray bottle.

2. Spray, Wait, Scrub, and Dry

   Making sure you have very good ventilation in the room, spray on the warm ammonia solution. Wait five minutes and then scrub the doors with a sponge. Dry the door with a microfiber cloth.

How to Clean Shower Doors Daily

Once you have the soap scum removed from the doors, establishing a daily routine will make cleaning much easier.

1. Mix a Daily Cleaning Solution

   In a 32-ounce (one quart) spray bottle, add one-half cup rubbing alcohol, one-half cup hydrogen peroxide, one tablespoon liquid dishwasher rinse agent, one teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and three cups of water. Store the solution in the shower stall.       

2. Squeegee the Door

   Starting at the top of the door, use a squeegee to remove any lingering water drops.

3. Spray the Shower Door and Let Dry

   After using the squeegee, spray the cleaning solution on the door. Wipe dry using a microfiber cloth and, if possible, leave the door open or use a ventilation fan to help the door dry quickly. This will help prevent mildew growth.

How to Clean Shower Door Tracks

Unless you have a frameless door system, the shower door track can get pretty dirty and will also need to be cleaned. Soap scum and unsightly grime that accumulates in those metal tracks is easy to see but hard to reach. Let the acidic qualities of white vinegar make your task a bit easier.

1. Fill the Track With Vinegar

   Use a paper towel or old cloth to plug the drain hole or slits in the track. Pour in enough distilled white vinegar to fill the track and allow it to sit overnight.

2. Scrub With a Toothbrush

   After eight hours or so, unplug the track and use a toothbrush to scrub away stains and grime.

3. Rinse and Dry

   Rinse the area well with clean water and then dry with an old towel.

   Tip

   To keep the track clean, dry the area after every shower with an old towel after you have squeegeed the shower door.

Tips to Keep Shower Doors Clean Longer

• Squeegee water from doors after every use.
• Use a daily cleaning spray to prevent soap scum build-up.
• Coat the doors with a windshield rain repellent to help water slide off the doors. Never use the repellent on shower floors, because it will make them slippery and hazardous.
• If you live in a hard water area, add a water softening system to your home.
• If soap scum is a problem, switch from bar soap to a liquid body wash. Ingredients in bar soap are more reactive with minerals in water.