It is common knowledge that after taking a shower, we should squeegee the shower doors and walls to prevent scum buildup. But how many of us actually do that? Truth be told, many of us loathe household cleaning chores.
They’re time consuming and exhausting.
That’s the same reason some people opt for shower curtains instead of glass doors. That way, they don’t have to squeegee the door every time after use. So, using curtains is a cheaper but easy and perfect alternative solution. But if you have an expensive beauty, this article is certainly going to teach you how to clean shower glass doors effectively.
Cleaning shower doors have been made easy with commercial shower glass door cleaning products. They are overtaking in the competition with home-made glass cleaning solutions. Because you follow a lot of “add this… to that” steps in order to create a home-made solution. Whereas, commercial cleaners are a ready-made and expert tested shower glass cleaner that already contains what it requires.
Not clear yet!!!
Okay, just stick to me and I will show you both ways of cleaning your shower glass doors. In this post, I will show you some comprehensive methods that are actionable. They are easier and more effective than squeegeeing, and they consume much less time.
But first…
Why Cleaning Your Bathroom Glass Doors Is Essential?
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When you take a shower, water, and soap splashes to the shower door and walls. That might seem harmless at first, but that is until you start seeing dirt trails and dots on surfaces that won’t come off with simple wiping.
You also notice a cloudy look on the glass door that grows more resilient with time. What’s usually happening here? Something called hard water and soap scum buildup. If this buildup is left to accumulate, it can cause permanent staining that will be difficult to get rid of without hurting the glass.
What’s more, it can etch the glass – that means corroding it.
The best way to fight such a scenario is to play preventive defense. Wiping down the shower glass door following every use with a microfiber towel or a squeegee is quite crucial. But it works and they can prolong the glittering look of the glass surfaces.
A Squeegees or a Microfiber Towel?
Squeegees:
Squeegees are more likely your car’s windshield wipers. They’re made of a flat and long rubber blade attached to a handle. You just grab the handle and run the rubber blade on the surface to remove dirt. There are many styles of squeegees out there, such as different colors, but they all work in the same manner.
They come handy and very useful as maintenance tools. But some experts suggest that a microfiber towel is the better option. A towel is easier to operate than a squeegee.
Microfiber Towel:
You just hold in your hands and wipe the surface with a lot more freedom. It is also easier to access the corners and other hard-to-reach spaces with a towel than a squeegee. The reason why the towel should be microfiber is so that the glass surface is not scratched. Microfiber is a lot gentler than most other fabrics. After wiping down the surface with the towel, wring the towel to get rid of the water and hang it somewhere. Each towel should be laundered at least once a week.
Note: wiping with a towel works, but it will not suffice if it’s the only thing you do all the time. At least after every day or so, you should use a product that fights stains.
I would strongly suggest you the Method Daily Cleaner shower spray once in two days. This will prepare the shower glass for water repellants and protect them from hard water stains. When done, wipe the shower door with the microfiber towel or with a shower squeegee. And if you maintain a regular routine this way, hard water stains won’t get a chance to accumulate for long. Therefore, when you clean, it won’t require any extensive scrubbing to tear them off.
That’s one example I gave you, but there are many such products on the market. You might check this shower glass door cleaner reviews for a detailed guideline.
An Alternative to Store-bought Products
If you don’t want to purchase products for cleaning shower doors, there’s another route you can go – making your own shower cleaning formula at home. Here’s DIY Expert Beverly Leestma’s formula for making a chemical-free shower door cleaning spray. If you want to go green and save money, you will find it very useful.
Steps for making a natural shower door cleaner at home:
- Put 100ml of rubbing alcohol in a container. Rubbing alcohol has natural degreasing properties.
- Add 100ml of hydrogen peroxide.
- Add a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap.
- Beat the solution thoroughly to mix the ingredients. Add a little water while mixing the solution to dilute it and bring it to a consistency that is easy to spray.
- Next, transfer the solution to a spray bottle and cap.
There you go. That’s one formula you’re going to find effective for cleaning glass shower doors. The only difference is that you cannot spray this one and leave it on. You have to wipe it down after application. After application, give the solution a few minutes, like 10 or so, to act, then wipe down with a towel. Whenever you’re using it, shake the bottle well to combine the ingredients before spraying. Be sure to keep this homemade shower door cleaner away from heat sources (including sunlight).
Got scum already settled on your shower glass doors? Don’t fret. In the next section, I am going to show you 3 different methods for dealing with these using natural products.
How to Clean Shower Glass Doors? |
1. Cleaning Shower Doors with Lemon
Life has handed you lemons? Don’t use them all to make lemonade. Leave some for cleaning your bathroom glass doors. Lemons contain a chemical called citric acid, which contains great cleaning power. And there’s an extra perk – the nice smell of lemons.
Here’s what you need:
- Two large lemons (or 4 small ones) – the larger the lemon, the more the juice
- Distilled water
- A cup
- A spray can
- Microfiber towels
Procedure:
- Cut the lemons in quarters.
- Squeeze the juice from the quarters into a cup. You need three to four tablespoons of the juice.
- Fill up the cup with distilled water. Around 50 to 100ml of distilled water should be enough.
- Transfer the liquid to the spray bottle and cap it.
- Shake the spray bottle well to mix the liquid.
- Spray the liquid onto the glass door.
- Give the application 5 to 10 minutes to act and loosen the dirt.
- Use the microfiber towels to wipe down the surface. Move-in a downward motion to avoid returning the removed dirt.
- Use a fresh and dry microfiber towel to buff the surface and remove any streaks.
2. Cleaning Glass Shower Doors with Vinegar
One thing is for real – vinegar’s smell is not that great. However, the effectiveness is equal to that of lemon. And luckily, this ingredient is likely already in your pantry.
What you need:
- Distilled water
- White vinegar
- Microfiber towels
- A bowl (needs to be microwave-safe)
- A spray can
Procedure:
- Put 30ml of white vinegar in the bowl.
- Add 100ml of the distilled water. The idea is to mix three parts of water with one part of vinegar.
- Put the solution in the microwave for 1 minute.
- Remove the solution from the microwave and transfer it to the spray can.
- Spray the solution onto the doors. Let the application rest there for 5 to 10 minutes.
- After that, use the microfiber towels to wipe down the surface. While at it, move in an up to bottom fashion to avoid returning the grime once you have removed it.
- Once you’re done, use a dry microfiber towel to wipe away the moisture along with any streaks that may have formed on the surface.
3. Cleaning Shower Doors using Ammonia
Ammonia is yet another product that you can use to clean surfaces. Many people (and perhaps even you), already know about the cleaning power of ammonia. Ammonia is used in many households to clean glass tabletops and leave a streak-free shine. What many folks don’t realize is that the same product can be used to clean glass shower doors.
What you need:
- 3 tablespoons of ammonia
- A spray can
- Distilled water
- Microfiber towels
Procedure:
- Heat the distilled water. You need it warm, not hot.
- Put 50 oz of the warm distilled water in a container.
- Add 3 tablespoons of ammonia.
- Stir the solution to mix well.
- Put some of the solutions is a spray bottle and mist the glass door.
- Allow the solution to rest for around 5 minutes.
- Wipe down with a microfiber towel, moving in an up to down motion.
- Buff the surface with a dry towel to remove the streaks.
Safety Considerations When Cleaning Glass Shower Doors
As you already know, your glass shower door needs periodic cleaning to remove stains and other contaminants. That way, it stays clean and beautiful.
While cleaning a shower door involves minimal risks, there are certain precautions you should take to ensure your safety and that of the door. This is especially important owing to the fact that you are, sometimes, working with relatively dangerous chemicals.
Below, we’ll explore some of the essential safety considerations to keep in mind while cleaning glass shower doors:
- Clean it as soon as possible – the longer you wait to remove those stains, the harder it becomes for you. As I mentioned before, it’s crucial to wipe away the water drops every time after showering.
- Wear protective gear – you may not have to wear safety glasses and all that stuff, but hand gloves are important. If you’re working with a harsh chemical like bleach, hand gloves are a must.
- Ventilate the space – before embarking on any cleaning exercise in the bathroom, the first thing you want to do is create a free flow of air. Open the windows and doors. This is particularly crucial when dealing with bleach and other harsh cleaners.
- Use harsh chemicals as a last resort – there are numerous solutions for cleaning glass shower doors, from simple household ingredients like lemons and vinegar to strong store-bought chemicals like ammonia. Try safe cleaners like lemons and vinegar first before using the harsh chemicals.
- Do a spot test before using harsh cleaners – before you use bleach, ammonia, and other harsh chemicals, perform a spot test. Apply the cleaning solution to a hidden spot on the glass and see how it reacts. If there are bad effects like etching or cracks, you got to pass on that cleaner.
- Don’t support your weight with the door – bathroom glass doors are not meant for support or security. So, at no point should you support your weight with the glass. It can break and cause injury and losses. If you cannot reach the upper parts, get a strong and stable chair and use it.
Final Word
One thing you have to remember is that stains from hard water accumulate over time. With each time you don’t clean the doors after showering, you leave little parts of the stains that will come to haunt you later once they’ve grown enough.
That is why it is recommended to wipe down the doors with a towel each time you come from the shower. Fortunately, you don’t need to do a deep cleaning every time or even every day. Deep cleaning with lemon, vinegar, and the other products we have talked about is not an everyday affair.
You can do it twice a week or so. As you have learned, there are two types of cleaning products – store-bought products such as Method Daily (which are more convenient) or homemade formulas using items such as rubbing alcohol and dishwashing soap. It’s up to you to see what method works for you. I hope my research has been helpful.