How to Clean Shower Glass: Quickly and Effectively

Our showers are something we use everyday and while they keep us clean, we’re not always the best at keeping them clean. One part of the shower that can often get neglected is the glass in the doors or side of the shower.

No matter the glass type, if you have a glass shower door installed, you must have witnessed a yellowish-white deposit grow on it over time. This deposit is a layer of calcium and other minerals found in hard water. Continuous use of hard water in the shower causes the glass to stain with limescale and if not cleaned in time, the mineral build-up will permanently damage the glass spoiling the overall look of your bathroom.

Another reason for a cloudy shower screen is soap scum which appears on glass, tiles, and ceramics when paraffin wax from soap reacts with hard water. Just like limescale, it too needs immediate treatment to protect the shower screen.

Battling the glass shower door stains may sound daunting but it is a lot easier when taken the right care. Don’t worry, you have come to the right place! We have gathered for you the best cleaning tips and easiest cleaning methods to help your get that glass looking spotless in no time, carry on reading to learn how-to-clean a shower glass now.

An easy step-by-step guide to clean glass shower doors

The most inexpensive and practical solution to clean your shower enclosure easily found in every household is distilled white vinegar. With its anti-bacterial and degreasing properties, vinegar has uses in many cleaning and disinfecting methods. To keep your glass shower doors shiny and fresh, here is how you can eliminate water stains and etching in easy steps

Prepare a spray bottle

For your cleaning solution to reach every corner, use a spray bottle. Fill the bottle with 1 cup of warm distilled water, 1/4 part of liquid dish soap, and half cup of undiluted white vinegar. Shake the bottle to mix well.

Spread the solution

Once the soap-water-vinegar solution is mixed well, spray it all over on both sides of the glass shower door, especially reaching the bottoms and corners. Let the solution rest on the door for at least half an hour so that vinegar’s acidic properties can break down the grime build-up.

Scrub the glass door

Make use of a soft non-bristled brush or sponge to remove any remaining stains and scrub off the limescale.

Rinse the solution

Rinse off the solution from the glass door using the fresh water shower spray. Make sure to reach every corner and rinse thoroughly to get rid of the vinegar smell. Use a squeegee to wipe down the water.

Wipe the glass

Once you are satisfied with the glass clean, further wipe the water droplets using dry microfibre cloths. If available, spray a commercial glass cleaner and wipe it clean to give an edgy shine for a majestic look!

Vinegar solution is one of the handiest bathroom cleaning products, especially efficient if you have to cover large surfaces. You may also use it for overall bathroom sanitizing including tiles, sanitary wares, hangers, etc.

What household alternatives are available for cleaning shower glass doors?

Household products that possess cleaning properties not only save you from expenses and supermarket run but also are safe solutions against particular commercial cleaners.

Homemade solutions allow you to clean your glass shower doors promptly and are always available on hand. Alongside white vinegar, below are a few solutions you could use to give your glass shower doors a cleaning therapy.

Baking soda

Take baking soda in a quantity depending on the area of your shower enclosure. Ideally, use half a cup for the shower door and mix warm water to create a thick paste. You may also make a paste using vinegar with baking soda. Apply it all over the shower glass with a sponge or soft cloth. Let it sit for 30 minutes to react on the soap scum and scrub using a damp sponge and rinse off using water. Follow the similar steps to wipe off water and dry it.

Borax also does the same job as baking soda and a thick paste of it with water will give the same results.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a fragrant alternative to vinegar but is advised to use with not-so-tough stains. If your glass door has developed soapy buildup or water stains, dip the cut side of lemon in baking soda and scrub it all over the shower glass door reaching every corner. Once done, rinse it off using distilled water to get fragrantly cleaned bathroom shower doors.

Ammonia

You may employ ammonia to clean the glass space when stains and buildup are tougher to get rid of. Combine three parts of water with one part of ammonia in a spray bottle and spray the mixture all over the heavy scum areas. Scrub the surface with a brush for removing soap scum and buildup and rinse thoroughly using plain water.

It is advised to take safety measures such as using gloves while employing any cleaning method. However, with ammonia, you need extra care. Avoid using ammonia with any bleaching agent and leave the shower door open before using it. Wear rubber gloves and goggles for protection.

Dry Sheets

Employed for laundry purposes, dry sheets are found in many households. Better than throwing them away after laundry use, repurpose them as glass cleaner. Dampen the dry sheet with water and wipe the shower door, add a few drops of vinegar if needed. Once the cloudy shower glass is cleansed, rinse with water.

What keeps hotel glass shower doors squeaky clean?

Ever walked into a hotel bathroom and wondered how they keep glass shower doors as fresh as a daisy? Well, the secret is, they clean the bathroom regularly.

In a busy schedule and work runs, we don’t have the time to allot to the bathroom daily. However, if you wish to maintain the sparkle, you need to spare some time for weekly cleaning to get the results you admire.

Pro tip: Regular cleaning is the key! You may be able to remove accumulated soap scum and hard water buildup from your glass door, but you may not be able to remove the etching caused by them. To avoid this, always clean your bathroom surfaces promptly.

How to keep glass shower doors sparkle for longer?

Do you think that glass door loses its shine in some time even if you take good care? Well, there are some solutions to give them a long healthy duration, and here is how you can

Install a water softener

This solution is especially for people who live in an area with hard water. Continuous usage of hard water not only causes damage to sanitary ware, pipes, or glass doors but also to human skin and hair.

A water softener is an expensive yet useful long-term investment that removes hard minerals from your tap water preventing your belongings from quick damage while giving you healthy hair and skin.

Invest in essential oil

Oils have the property to not let the water absorb on surfaces resulting in stains and scum clouds. To prevent buildup and freshen up your bathroom. Use essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, baby oil, lemon oil, etc. to wipe off your glass door. Dampen a microfibre cloth with oil, spread it across the glass, and leave it. You may also use rubbing alcohol for the same purpose.

Using oil as a protective layer prevents soap scum and limescale from building up and gives you more time between the necessary cleaning. Maintaining your bathroom goes a long way.

Use a squeegee after every shower

For a streak-free shine after a shower or post-cleaning, buy a squeegee. Not only hard water, but even soft water has certain minerals, which when left on a glass surface, cause the glass to stain or cloud. To get rid of glass clouds, use a squeegee to remove any water or soap particles from the glass screen. Keep the squeegee handy and make cleaning shower glass a habit. Quickly wipe it down as soon as you are done using the shower.

Takeaway

Do a quick cleaning after every use with fresh water and squeegee. You may also use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off the water if a squeegee is not available.
Spare time for deep cleaning every week
Use homemade solutions for healthy cleaning to avoid toxic chemicals
Diligently rinse the bathroom thoroughly if an oily product is used.
Use products with light formulas like liquid soap or body wash as bar soap formula contains harsh chemicals that can damage sanitary ware and glass.
Ventilate the area door open, windows, or exhaust fans to allow airflow to avoid soap scum.

And there you go, you should now have everything you need to know to get your shower clean quickly and easily, and keep it clean for even longer.