The Easiest Way to Clean Glass Shower Doors

A glass shower door can look elegant and elevated, but with its beauty comes a little more upkeep. Unlike a shower curtain that can be tossed into a washing machine, a walk-in glass shower door requires a bit more maintenance to look its best. And no matter how beautiful they are, a dirty glass shower door is anything but chic.

Whether you installed a glass shower door yourself or it came with your home when you moved in, knowing how to clean it the right way is key to creating a luxurious bathroom. If you plan ahead and invest the time to keep your door—and your whole bathroom—clean, you won't need to spend hours scrubbing old residue or scum off the corners of your door.

Even if your door is already a mess, there's good news: you can return it to its crystal-clear glory in a few simple steps. Read on to see how!

How Often Should You Clean Your Shower Door?

A glass shower door is one of those items in your home that will really turn on you if you neglect it— you can either do a little maintenance every day or find yourself left with a big job after a few months. You should squeegee your glass shower door after every single use, as this will help avoid streaks and prevent the buildup of soap scum.

If you're keeping up with maintenance, you should only need to do a deep clean every month or so. But, if you find yourself forgetting to wipe down water every day, plan to clean your shower door at least every week to avoid buildup. Any lingering soap scum that your typical cleaning products aren't getting can be tackled as needed.

How to Clean Your Glass Shower Door

Things You'll Need

• Squeegee
• Microfiber rag or soft sponge
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Baking soda
• Glass cleaner (optional)

Step 1: Create Your Mixture

To tackle light soap scum, consider a natural cleaner such as vinegar. To create a cleaning spray, fill a bottle with 2 parts vinegar and 1 part dish soap and shake it up.

If you are worried about a strong vinegar spray, you can cut the mixture with 1 part of water, but we recommend a strong mixture for the tougher stains.

Step 2: Spray and Wait

Once you've created your spray, thoroughly cover the shower door with the mixture, making sure to catch any crack or crevice that may have a lot of scum buildup. Let the mixture sit on your door for about 30 or so minutes, or until you see it penetrate the soap scum.

Step 3: Scrub and Wipe

Once you've waited at least 30 minutes, scrub your doors down. This part may take longer, depending on how much buildup you have. Use a soft sponge or a microfiber cloth to remove all of the mixture from your doors, and clean any lingering residue left behind.

Step 4: Consider Baking Soda

If you've neglected your doors for a bit too long—it happens to the best of us—you may need to go through a few additional steps to get a clean door. If the vinegar mixture alone isn't cutting it, dip a sponge into baking soda and use it to penetrate through the scum.

The baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive that can cut through grime when vinegar alone doesn't work.

Step 5: Add Some Shine

Once you've removed all the lingering scum from the doors, it's time to add some shine. After all, the reason you picked a glass door over a shower curtain is for that extra-clean look and feel. Grab a bottle of commercial glass cleaner and spray your door down, focusing on any lingering streaks. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe it clean.

Tips to Keep Your Shower Door Clean Longer

The best way to avoid a deep clean with your shower doors is by ensuring you wipe them down after every shower. Using a squeegee and starting from the top corner, carefully wipe down the door to the bottom until you've removed all moisture from the glass.