After years of struggling, I've finally found the best way to clean my glass shower doors.
I can remove stubborn soap scum and hard water deposits in minutes, leaving behind crystal clear and clean glass.
Without bleach or harsh chemicals.
Several weeks ago, I shared a few updates I'd made to our master bathroom. I was so excited to showcase our new, light, bright updated decor.
However.
What people really wanted to know was how did I keep the grout so white and the shower doors so crystal clear and streak free.
Hmph. Really?
Oh well. I take it as a compliment, since clean glass doors are my pet peeve.
I hate smudges, hard water stains, the hazy film on the glass and that awful white soapy film that builds up and makes the shower doors look dirty.
Terrible, all of it is just icky.
For a long time, this job was a real struggle. I'm not a fan of harsh chemicals, toxic cleaning agents or even a Magic Eraser, which can burn skin.
But now I have a simple routine to keep them shiny without a lot of effort or nasty fumes.
*Ps- If you have tough stains, hard water deposits and mineral buildup, or streaks on the surface of any other glass in your home you can try these ways to clean cloudy glass.
The Easiest Way To Clean Shower Door Glass
I'm all about easy cleaning hacks and this one is the best ways I've found for keeping my shower doors super clean without a lot of effort.And yes, I do use a commercial product, but it's honestly very gentle. I have terrible allergies and asthma and it doesn't bother me at all.
Supplies:
- White vinegar
- THIS SQUEEGEE - it's not dollar store cheap, but I love it. It virtually disappears when you hang it up
- THESE NON SCRATCH PADS
- CERAMA BRYTE CLEANER - this is the magic
- Rag or microfiber cloth or paper towel
Step 1: Squeegee
First and foremost, I rely on my squeegee. I got one for about two bucks at Ikea.It worked great, but it didn't have a hook to hang it. And it wasn't pretty.
So I actually use this clear squeegee now.
It comes with a hanger and, best of all, after the doors are clean this clear squeegee just disappears.
People have been touting the tool forever when it comes to clean shower doors. And I ignored their advice for the better part of a decade.
Big mistake. It's essential.
Here's how to squeegee the shower. It's pretty self explanatory.
For best results, every time you're done showering, grab it and go over the doors quickly, by starting at the top and dragging the rubber part of the tool in a downward motion to the bottom of the doors.
Repeat until all the water is gone. It literally takes seconds.
Step 2: Clean With Vinegar and Water Mixture
Once a week I rinse the glass doors lightly with a little white vinegar and warm water.I put the mixture in spray bottle for easier use. And to be honest, I use it on all my glass surfaces, including the bathroom mirrors, and even toss it into my washing machine and use it to clean my hardwood floors.
It's my go to cleaning solution.
The vinegar cuts what little grime has gathered on the glass and gives it a nice shine. There's no scrubbing involved and I don't add liquid dishwashing soap, which can leave a film of its own.
I also spray some on a clean cloth and run it over the metal frame to clean the shower door tracks. It removes any random water marks and leaves them shiny, as well.
Step 3: Use A Gentle Cleaner To Remove Soap Scum
If we keep up with the regular maintenance, using the squeegee and my homemade glass cleaner religiously, we only need to use a cleanser about once every few months or so.
No kidding, the doors stay clean that long
Then I use Cerama Bryte. I've found that it's the best product for the task.
It's very similar to Bar Keepers Friend, but I actually like it much better.
It makes easy work of removing stains, residue from bar soap, liquid soap and those stubborn hard water spots, because while natural products are always my first choice, sometimes, you need a little more than baking soda for a job like this one.
Plus, this product isn't made with a bunch of scary, smelly chemicals, so it doesn't bother my lungs or my hands.
And it doesn't scratch the glass.
Can I Use RainX or Blue Dawn On Shower Doors?
Over the years people have mentioned other cleaners, like blue Dawn soap or RainX products to clean and keep water rolling off the glass...and I've tried them. However, both have very strong odors.
Immediately that's a no for me. Plus, RainX works for a bit but needs to be reapplied often and Dawn can leave a streaky film unless you rinse really, really, really well.
I haven't found either beneficial.
That's why I use it all over my house.
All I do is squirt a small amount onto my non-scratch pad, rub it on and then wipe it off.
I work in small sections and move in a circular motion.
When I'm done, I grab the shower head wand and rinse the doors to remove any residue, and then I squeegee it away.
And voila! The doors are dazzling.
Almost invisible.
And isn't that the way glass is supposed to be?
Especially in the shower.
🛁
How To Clean Shower Doors
Estimated cost: $5
Here's the best way to clean glass shower doors and the best shower door cleaner. It makes easy work of a tough job.
materials:
- Vinegar
- Water
- Cerama Bryte Cleaner
tools:
- Squeegee
- Spray Bottle
- Paper Towels or Rag
steps:
How To Clean Shower Doors
- Use a squeegee to remove excess water from glass
- In a spray bottle mix white vinegar and warm water
- Spray it on shower door glass and wipe it away
- Once a month, use Cerama Bryte to clean away any soap scum or hard water stains
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Your doors look so sparkly clean. I hated when I had glass doors. We had hard water too which was even worse on the doors. Wish I had known these tips. If you have glass doors this is great. Happy Saturday.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Kris
Thanks Kris! Once every few years my husband takes the entire shower apart and gives it a solid scrub outside...even the metal frame. During the in-between we do this. It's taken me years to get it down to a science, but the shower curtain in the other bathroom, is really so much easier!!
DeleteThank you for sharing this! I have tried everything and it hasn’t worked! I am definitely going to try this :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope it works for you, Christina!!
DeleteI appreciate your tips on keeping those glass doors sparkly clean! In our previous house, I spent hours cleaning the doors, and always came away with unhappy results and sore muscles. We now have a remodeled shower with a special coating on the glass, but it always get squee-geed! I have found using Tilex Mold & Mildew Stain Remover that comes in a spray bottle works great on tile grout! Let it sit about 10 minutes, then scrub away with a toothbrush. Also, on the caulking where it gets discolored, squirt some toilet bowl cleaner that contains bleach (be sure it has the bleach) and let it sit for half an hour or more, then scrub away with a toothbrush works like a charm! Hope these tips help!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy!! I really don’t love cleaning that grout. We need to put some Rain-X or something on the glass doors. I know a lot of people swear by those kinds of products. I didn’t listen about the squeegee soon enough. You’d think I would’ve learned by now to take the hints! Stay safe!
DeleteThanks for the info, i don't have that much trouble with my door but, that tile is another story,hope someone knows something spectacular to use. Have a blessed day.
ReplyDeleteGrout is my nemesis, Marlene. SO far there seem to be a lot of very good tips here. Drying the tiles after use seems to be the easiest...and yet the hardest one all at the same time! 😉I'm going to TRY to give it a try!
Deletethank you for the great tip! I don't have glass doors. but I don't know why I never thought of using Cerama Bryte on other glass!
ReplyDeleteand as for grout and tile... I was given the most valuable tip of my early housekeeping life ever... by Bob's uncle Ray.
Ray was wonderful. a Navy Man through and through. he told me the secret of keeping a shower looking clean!
after each shower just always "towel down the tiles!" it's as simple as that.
and like you say ~ after while even every family member does it. it's so simple. the grout stays white
the tiles stay shiny. and I can't wait to squeegee first and then towel the grout. it's also a great little exercise for upper arms! lol.
then you can clean them every so often with your favorite cleaner or whatever.
but day to day your shower looks SO CLEAN! and never nasty dark stains on the grout because of dampness and bacteria growing there. it's sanitary as well as clean because it's dry! xoxo
Tammy, you are so right!! I have heard this tip before, from a plumber who installed bathrooms all the time and he said if you want to keep the tiles clean, just dry them off. I haven't ever done it and I SHOULD!! And yes, besides being ugly it is unsanitary and not healthy...when the steam bubbles up and mixes with that icky mess in the grout, it just can't be good for the lungs. Ok, so I'm going to try the towel trick. I don't know if it'll take, but if we can learn to squeegee, we can learn to dry!! xoxo
DeleteI had to have our 60 yr old tub repainted and using bleach on it is a no no. That's ok cause forever I've only used baking soda and cheap shampoo to clean it. The walls are glazed ceramic tiles from mid 70's and in excellent condition but caulking was a bit tough to keep w/o mildew/mold until I started drying after the last daily use. Once the new tub was glazed using bleach was a no no on the caulking so it HAD to be dried to avoid the mold. Now, 25+ yrs later 3 boys and a daughter who are all moved out, I am going to replace the caulking for the first time. Just proof that drying the caulking around the tub makes a HUGE difference! and ps....the finish on the tub looks just as good now as it did then. Use baking soda and not expensive abrasive cleaners!!
DeleteOh yes, I love baking soda and we use that on our grout, too. I can't deal with strong odors, so it works for me. I need to dry for sure...thanks!!
DeleteWe have glass doors too. We also use vinegar.
ReplyDeleteYour bathroom is lovely. I like the bright look.
Carla
Vinegar is awesome, Carla! I'm a huge fan...and thanks!!
DeleteI use the cook top cleaner to keep my oven clean and shiny. It also works on appliances, Toasters, stainless steel, electric tea kettle and the outside of pots and pans. Don't use it on the inside of pots and pans. I've even used it on my granite counter tops. All the glass top stove cleaners I've tried seem to work double duty like this.
ReplyDeleteYes! I totally agree with you. I don't have granite so I haven't tried that one, but I wish I would've known that when we did. It was hard to find something that didn't dull it. Great tip!!
DeleteI love the squeegee tip... we have a bathtub in our bathroom, so no shower doors for us, but I have had shower doors in the past that were such a pain to clean. I like using Mr. Clean erasers for my bathtub, they seem to get rid of the buildup. You might try that for your grout... that is if you haven't already, lol. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marilyn! You know, I haven’t tried it on the grout and I do have one stashed away. Maybe this weekend I’ll give it a try. Thanks for the tip!!
DeleteYES, I've never met anyone that loves the squeegee for shower doors as much as we do! We have been doing it for years and swear by using it everyday.
ReplyDeleteSome doubt me yet a cheap piece to buy and don't try. They're missing out in a big way, aren't they?
I obsessed for years with shower doors. My last resort was a squeegee. Best $3 I ever spent.
Cindy
Cindy, I waited far too long to buy and use one. It really was one of the best tools, I've used!
DeleteNothing better than clean a sparkly glass doors. When we remodeled our bathroom, we asked the company to apply a coating so water spot don't show. I use the foam window cleaner from Home Depot. For grout, I love the scrubbing tool I bought from Amazon. Homitt Electric Spin Scrubber Cordless Shower Scrubber Built-in 2 LG Batteries, 360 Power Bathroom Scrubber with 4 Replaceable Cleaning Brush Head and Adjustable Extension
ReplyDeleteOoh...Linda, I need to go check out that gadget right now!! Thank you!!
DeleteVinegar is the best! I use a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and Dawn dis soap to clean the tub and shower. It cuts through everything!
ReplyDeleteAh...Dawn soap is magic isn't it?? We use that for a lot of things, too.
DeleteKim, your shower is shining!!! When the kids were small I had glass shower doors and they were a bear! We moved to two houses during that time and I had to take a razor blade to scrape off the soap scum when we moved in, so I said I would never have another glass door so now there is a shower curtain with liner and I never looked back, but your's is just beautiful and there is nothing prettier than a gleaming glass door..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy! It's taken me a long, long time and a lot of different trials and errors before I found the fix that works for me. Finally!!
DeleteWe don't have glass shower doors, so no worries on that here! Our master bathroom only has a standing shower in the corner, but it just has a shower curtain. We definitely need a new shower - it's the original of the house - and the ones I see in the big box stores always look so pretty with the glass door. However, I know what a pain they are to keep clean and I know how dirty they get in the metal surround, too. So I think I'll stick with just a shower curtain.
ReplyDeleteWe have a shower curtain in our other bathroom, Melanie and I love the softness it brings to the room!
DeleteLike Tammy above, I towel off the tile and faucets after every shower, nothing easier once you develop the habit. Also, my tub and tile have been re-glazed (from sickly yellow to bright and cheery white) so I cannot scrub them - it will affect the finish.
ReplyDeleteI need to do this, Barbara! We've take the first step with the squeegee, now we need to dry them! Thanks!
DeleteThanks for the tips on how to keep the shower doors clean. We use the squeegee after each shower too.
ReplyDeleteThat squeegee is the key, Julie...I agree!
DeleteYou could leave a microfibre towel in the bathtub area, perhaps with the squeegee. The microfibre will dry off the grout so quickly. Throw it in the weekly wash. Works great!
ReplyDeleteVery good tip! Thank you...I will definitely give it a shot.
DeleteWould this work on windows also? I have so much trouble keeping, or even getting, my windows clean! I think they look good...then the sun shines!
ReplyDeleteI've tried it on our sliding glass door and it's magic Jeannie!
DeleteAfter using all homemade cleaners and bathroom shower gel, I have found what works and easy to use. It is ZAP!
ReplyDeleteOh...I'll have to check that out, thank you!
DeleteA squeegee is a must if you own glass shower doors. A quick squeegee each morning makes keeping your glass shower doors clean much easier. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's made all the difference. And thanks for the comment. I love when the pros weigh in!
DeleteHi We just found your tips. We tried everything on our shower doors from a previous owner and this is the only thing that did the job. We also are religious with the squeegee!! 😊 Thanks
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so happy you found the tips helpful!! The shower really is a bear to keep clean...love that squeegee though! Thanks for letting me know they worked for you!! You made my day!
DeleteThe solution i used to clean
Deletewhite grout between white floor tiles was baking soda and peroxide. Mix into paste brush on grout let set wipe and rinse. it was not easy but worth the effort. I did a 6x6 tile area a little at a time. I keep up by doing areas i think need attention. I also wash the bathroom floor with water with a portion of bleach which cleans and disinfects at the same time.
Thanks for sharing!! It's always great when people weigh in with their tips, since different methods work for different issues. I appreciate you taking the time to add yours!!
DeleteIt worked!! I had pretty bad hard water cloudiness on my door and now it’s mostly crystal clear! I just need to touch up some spots that I missed but this is the only thing that’s worked for me. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat's great!! I'm so glad you found this tip helpful, it's the only thing I've found, too and thanks for letting me know!!
DeleteThank you for the tip. We moved into a home that had seemed clean after we moved in the glass shower doors looked hard water stained and some soap scum. I tried a couple ways to clean but it didn't work. So I followed these steps but added a couple. I didn't have enough scrubbing power in my arms my solution - I got my husbands rechargeable hand drill he had some attachments like the scrubber shown Amazon has them. I wet the doors and put Creama Bryte on the scrubber as the drill worked some splatter occurred no big deal.Doors came out super clean. (a lot of rinsing).Here my tip I put a shower liner inside the shower on a rod. Then my husband waxes the shower walls with Turtle car wax. You will be amazed how easy it is to keep clean after all the steps. Done.
ReplyDelete