When you’re cleaning your bathroom, it can get very frustrating when there are places that you can’t seem to clear up no matter what.
One such place is the glass of your shower door. Even if the rest of the bathroom is as sparkling as a bubbling spring, a dirty shower door can easily ruin the appearance of your bathroom.
Of course, the dirt on the glass hardly affects the door’s functionality. But, the grime and smudges of fingerprints can make it appear hazy and neglected.
Gone is the pristine appearance, and now your door looks like something out of a horror movie.
Soap scum and hard water stains only add to the obscurity, and the annoying thing is that these things can persist and build up if your cleaning is not done the right way.
Not knowing how to properly get rid of scum and grime can also affect the door’s performance if those things should gather in some other places.
You need to be able to efficiently remove them from the working parts like the hinges or the tracks. And so, let’s dive right into the best ways to clean glass shower doors.
Step One: Gather Your Cleaning Supplies
To effectively clean your glass shower door, you will need:
● Glass cleaner: Usually vinegar solution, but you can use other things like Windex, rubbing alcohol, or ammonia solution. Lemon juice also has acidic properties that are useful for cleaning glass.
● A soft sponge or any other non-abrasive scrubber
● Water
● Microfiber or lint-free cloth
● Squeegee
● Baking soda
● An old toothbrush
● Bucket or spray bottle
● Protective gloves
Step Two: Prepare Your Space
Some of the chemicals used in this cleaning process can be very harsh. It’s important, then, to make sure that there is proper ventilation so that you don’t breathe in excessive fumes.
Open the windows and door so that the fumes don’t concentrate in the bathroom. If there are any fans, make sure to turn them on
Also, you need to declutter the shower area. Remove items that you won’t need in the cleaning so that they don’t get doused in chemicals or impair your movement.
Cover any other fixtures around you so that damage isn’t done to them either. The last thing you’d want is to ruin your other bathroom fixtures while trying to clean one.
At this stage, it helps to check for damages to any part of the shower door. Identifying problems now will allow you to repair them or at least make plans to fix them.
Using a dry cloth, dust the shower area and remove any loose debris. It also helps to check for and remove anything that could clog up the drainage.
Finally, put on your safety gloves. You may think you don’t need it, but if you’re going to be diluting strong cleaning solutions, it’s advisable to wear them.
The entire point of this stage is to create a safe and distraction-free environment so that you can focus on the task at hand.
Step Three: Apply Cleaning Solutions
When choosing cleaning solutions, it’s best to pick something that is made specifically for use on glass surfaces.
Whether you’re using a commercial cleanser or a DIY version, applying it correctly can make a huge difference in how effective it is at removing scum and grime. Again, ensure that you have proper ventilation in the space that you’re working in.
The important thing is to make sure that the cleaning agent is evenly spread across the surface you’re wiping. Most manufacturers include this in the instructions, so this step should be hard to miss.
If you’re unsure of the product that you’re using, you can test it against an unnoticeable part of the glass. Wait for a few minutes to see how it works, and if there are no problems, proceed to spray it with confidence.
After spraying it, allow the cleaning solution to stay on the glass so that it can break down the grime and hard water stains. This will make the wiping off more easy.
After wiping it down with a microfiber cloth, you can address the more persistent stains by spraying the cleaning solution directly onto them and waiting. If this doesn’t work, try applying a bit of vinegar or baking soda.
Using Vinegar
White vinegar is a splendid DIY alternative to commercial cleaning solutions, so you can just start using it if you’re looking to save cash.
When using vinegar, mix it with an equal amount of water and shake thoroughly. You also need to spray it evenly, except when addressing stubborn stains, such as hard water stains.
Other good DIY cleaning solutions include Isopropyl alcohol, more commonly known as rubbing alcohol. Another one is ammonia solution, which should only be used in well-ventilated areas and should be handled with extreme caution. Lemon juice works just as well and even leaves a nice scent behind.
If you’re using a commercial cleaning solution, however, make sure to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.
Step Four: Attack Soap Scum And Hard Water Stains
When cleaning glass, or practically any other bathroom fixture, soap scum and hard water stains can prove quite challenging.
Nevertheless, some techniques can be used to efficiently get rid of them. And they aren’t difficult methods either; all you need is a soft sponge and perhaps a razor blade for particularly hard stains.
As stated in the previous step, you’ll need to apply the cleaning agent again, focusing on those tough areas. Apply a generous amount and allow it to sit there.
Then, take your soft sponge and begin to rub an area with smooth, circular motions. It’s best to use a sponge that is not abrasive (and using a cloth will not offer enough friction to rub off the hard stains). Do this until the stain is thoroughly removed, and then move on to the next one.
For stains that still resist, try a concentrated mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Mix them into a paste and apply directly onto the area. It takes a drastic method to make a stubborn stain yield.
Razor blades, or glass scrappers can be used to scrape away at hard water stains, but take care with them. A wrong move can end up scratching the glass and ruining it.
After rubbing away at the stains, rinse the glass thoroughly and then check for any residue or stains. When you’re sure that there are none left, use a squeegee or any clean, dry cloth to wipe the glass.
Step Five: Wipe Down The Glass
Squeegees are the absolute best tools you could use for this job. Using a high-quality squeegee will make this part of the work a lot easier than if you should use any other tool, as they will remove water and other moisture without leaving streaks.
When using a squeegee, start from the top so that the water flows downward, and apply even pressure. Apply the squeegee in overlapping motions so that you don’t miss any spots.
Clean the squeegee blade with a clean and dry cloth after each pass to remove the residue water on it.
This is so that the water residue doesn’t get transferred to other parts of the glass that you’re cleaning.
If there are still water spots and streaks on the glass, repeat the process. Make sure to wipe the edges and corners of the glass too. Before moving on to the next step, check the glass for leftover streaks and water spots.
Step Six: Frame and Tracks
It doesn’t make sense to just have a gleaming glass encircled by a stained frame. So, of course, you’d have to clean the frame too.
Dirt and mold can also accumulate in the tracks, impairing how smoothly it’s supposed to work. Keeping these areas clean will make the entire shower stall look uniformly neat and shimmering.
The process is simple and uses the same technique as cleaning the glass. Wipe the track and frame clean of any debris.
Mix some soap with water and dip a toothbrush in it, then use it to gently rub and scrub the frame and tracks. Pay attention to corners and use circular motions to effectively remove the dirt and scum.
In really tight corners, you may want to use a cotton swab dipped in soapy water. After that, rinse the frame and tracks then dry them thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth.
Make sure to be meticulous with this part because it prevents mold from growing due to accumulating moisture.
After that, lubricate the tracks with a silicon-based lubricant to reduce friction. With this, your frame and tracks should be squeaky clean.
Step Seven: Dry and Polish
The squeegee will easily do most of the drying, but using a microfiber cloth after will add this shine to the shower door. Polish the door with circular motions and make sure to get into those corners for a uniform polish.
You could also use a glass polish to get an extra amount of shine. Put a little on the microfiber cloth and apply to the glass using circular motions.
It’s recommended that you keep your bathroom dry so that moisture doesn’t accumulate on the glass. Leaving your windows open after baths will help with this.
Maintenance Tips
To prevent the build-up of grime, scum, and dirt, it’s best to make some practices a habit. These tips will take some time investment, but will be worth it in the long run and will make you spend less time and energy cleaning the door all at once.
Here are some maintenance tips to keep your shower door in pristine condition:
● Wipe down the glass shower door after each use: It may seem like a bothersome practice, but it prevents water spots.
● Make use of a daily shower cleaner: which is essentially just vinegar mixed with water. Spray the glass with it before wiping it down.
● Address spills and splashes promptly. Doing so reduces the chances that they’ll leave stubborn stains.
● Don’t forget to clean the seals and water stripping.
● Avoid using harsh cleaners.
● Maintain adequate ventilation in the bathroom.
● Consider investing in a water-repellent coating: These make it more difficult for soap and hard water residue to stick to the surface of the glass.
● Keep an eye out for mold and mildew and address them immediately.
If you want to maintain an immaculate glass shower door, consistency is clean. And going through all these steps is well worth it.
What Do Hotels Use To Clean Glass Shower Doors?
Hotels usually make use of the best available cleaning products, things that they can trust. A lot of them have guests who expect excellent bathroom conditions, so they can’t afford to compromise on the quality of their cleaning. Here are some of the things hotels use to clean glass shower doors:
● Commercial Glass Cleaners: like Windex or Glass Plus. They are designed specifically for this task and leave a streak-free finish.
● Diluted White Vinegar: Believe it or not, this solution is so effective that hotels will bank on it.
● Microfiber Clothes and Squeegees
● Detailing Brushes: These are used to reach into tight corners and have soft bristles that won’t scratch the glass or frame.
As you can see, the tools and methods used by hotels are the same as what you’d use. So, you can be confident that you’re getting the best results possible.
Click to learn: Types of shower doors
Safety Tips
A lot of safety tips have been given throughout this article, but it’s worth it to list them out and add some extra information.
● Ensure proper ventilation
● Wear proper gear
● Read product labels. Different products have specific safety instructions.
● Wear non-slip footwear to avoid falls.
● Handle the glass with care.
● Do not mix multiple cleaning products. Some of them can react to produce toxic fumes.
● Store cleaning products safely.
Cleaning a glass shower door can be a stressful, yet fulfilling task. As you look at the spotless glass reflecting the light, you’ll be glad that you decided to embark on this task.
If you are a DIY person, you can read our article on how to install a shower door. Hope it can bring you some fun and inspiration.
