How To Clean Shower Doors

Glass shower doors can give your bathroom a sharp, modern look, but they also provide a huge, highly visible canvas for soap scum and hard water stains. If you want to keep your shower doors clean and streak-free, you’ll have to do some basic maintenance in addition to occasional deep cleaning. In this guide, we cover how to clean shower doors and tracks as well as what you need to do to keep them looking good.

Cleaning shower doors is much easier when you do it frequently, not allowing the grime to build up. If you need some help keeping up with your home cleaning routine, consider hiring a professional service like The Cleaning Authority to maintain a shining set of shower doors. However, if you’d rather clean your shower yourself, keep reading to learn the best methods to use.

---

What Makes Shower Doors Dirty?

Taking a shower consists of the same basic elements as cleaning a shower: water and soap. However, your shower doors get dirty at the same time as you get clean. The main culprits are hard water stains and soap scum.

What Causes Hard Water Stains?

Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. When hard water droplets dry on glass surfaces, they leave behind a film of these minerals, creating visible stains. While hard water isn’t harmful to your health, it can make cleaning more difficult and leave unsightly marks on your shower doors.

What Makes Soap Form Scum?

Soap scum is the result of a chemical reaction between soap and the minerals in hard water. This reaction creates a sticky, stubborn film that clings to surfaces, including your shower doors. Liquid soap and body wash form very little of this film, but bars of soap contain fatty acids and talc that cause scum. Over time, soap scum can build up, providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mold if left unchecked. 

---

Essential Tools and Materials for Shower Door Cleaning

To effectively clean your shower doors, you’ll need the right tools and materials.

Cleaning Solutions

• Ammonia 
• Baking soda
• Commercial glass cleaner
• Dish soap
• Distilled water
• Distilled white or cleaning vinegar
• Foaming bathroom cleanser

Scrubbing Tools

• Microfiber cloths
• Old toothbrush
• Paper towels
• Soft-bristled brush
• Soft (nonabrasive) sponges
• Spray bottle
• Squeegee

---

Step-by-Step Guide To Clean Glass Shower Doors

Follow these steps to restore the shine to your glass shower doors and eliminate stubborn stains.

Removing Hard Water Stains

You can, of course, simply spray a commercial glass cleaner such as Windex onto your shower doors and scrub. However, if you’d prefer to make your own cleaning solution out of household items, vinegar is acidic enough to loosen most alkaline mineral deposits. 

1. Mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar with 1 cup of distilled water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap.
2. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and mist the shower doors.
3. Let the mixture soak for 5–30 minutes, depending on the severity of the stains.
4. Scrub gently with a soft sponge or soft-bristled brush.
5. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

For tougher stains, create a thicker liquid by mixing equal parts warm vinegar and grease-cutting dish soap. Apply this mixture and let it sit for up to 30 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Tackling Stubborn Soap Scum

Once again, you can use commercial cleaners, and the vinegar solution should cut into the soap scum as well. If some remain, you can create a scrubbing paste. Remember, however, that this paste works as an abrasive, so it can scratch delicate glass. Test it out on a small, less visible area of glass first.

1. Mix 1 cup baking soda with about 1/4 cup distilled water to create a paste.
2. Apply the paste to soap scum-affected areas.
3. Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
4. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge.
5. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Eliminating Streaks for a Perfect Shine

After a good scrub, there may still be soap and water streaks on the glass. Commercial glass cleaner will eliminate streaks, but you can also remove them with an ammonia solution.

1. Mix 2 cups of distilled water with 2 tablespoons of ammonia in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the solution on the shower doors.
3. Let it sit for 3 minutes.
4. Buff away streaks with a dry microfiber cloth.

---

Cleaning Frameless vs. Framed Shower Doors

Different types of shower doors may require slightly different cleaning approaches.

Frameless Shower Doors

Frameless doors often have more exposed glass, making water spots more noticeable. Pay extra attention to the edges and corners where water can accumulate. Use a rubber-edged squeegee to avoid scratching the glass.

Framed Shower Doors

Framed doors have additional areas where soap scum and grime can build up. Use an old toothbrush to clean around the frame edges and in the corners. For metal frames, use a mild all-purpose cleaner to avoid damaging the finish.

---

How To Clean Shower Door Tracks

Shower door tracks can accumulate grime, mold, and mildew in hard-to-reach areas. When you need to give them a deep clean, do the following:

1. Plug the drain hole in the track.
2. Fill the track with distilled white vinegar.
3. Let it sit overnight to dissolve grime and mineral buildup.
4. The next day, unplug the drain holes.
5. Use paper towels to soak up any remaining vinegar.
6. Scrub debris with an old toothbrush.
7. For stubborn debris and stains, apply the baking soda paste from above, let it sit for 20–30 minutes, and scrub
8. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

For an alternative method, use a foaming bathroom cleaner such as Scrubbing Bubbles. Apply the foam to the tracks, let it sit for the recommended time, then scrub and rinse thoroughly.

---

How To Keep Shower Doors Clean

Maintaining clean shower doors is easier than deep cleaning them regularly. Implement these preventative measures to keep your doors sparkling.

Daily Habits To Adopt

1. Keep a squeegee in the shower and use it after each use to remove water droplets.
2. Use a daily shower spray to prevent buildup. Mix equal parts distilled water and vinegar in a spray bottle, or buy a daily cleaning spray.
3. Use a dry microfiber cloth to soak up any remaining water in the tracks.
4. Leave the bathroom door open after showering to improve ventilation and reduce moisture.

Long-Term Solutions

If preventative measures aren’t effective and you get tired of scrubbing, there are some changes you can make to reduce hard water stains and soap scum formation.

1. Switch from bar soap to liquid body wash.
2. Apply a water-repellent treatment such as Rain-X to your shower doors every few months.
3. Install a water softener to reduce the mineral content in your water.

---

When To Call a Professional Cleaner

If you notice etching on the glass, severe discoloration, or buildup that doesn’t respond to your cleaning efforts, it may be time to call in the experts. Professional cleaners have access to specialized tools and solutions that can tackle even the toughest stains.

---

Our Conclusion

Maintaining clean shower doors doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By implementing a regular cleaning routine and using the right techniques, you can keep your shower doors sparkling with minimal effort. Remember to address hard water stains and soap scum promptly, and consider adopting preventative measures to reduce buildup over time.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.