There is nothing that completes the look of a spotless bathroom that has recently undergone a thorough cleaning more than a glistening glass shower door.
It’s not difficult to keep the clarity and shine of your windshield by using a squeegee after each shower, but it’s easy to get out of the habit.
Unfortunately, neglecting to wipe off an object on a regular basis paves the way for soap suds buildups, and hard water deposits.
Because this film can etch and harm the glass in a way that is irreversible, it is imperative that you keep the shower door clean as soon as you detect a fog beginning to appear on it.
There are a lot of solutions available for purchase that make the claim that they can make the shower door clean in a short amount of time.
But removing soap scum from your shower can be done just as efficiently with a few basic items, most of which you probably already have in your home.
The following is a do-it-yourself guide that will show you the process of cleaning glass shower doors so that they gleam like new again.
How Frequently A Shower Door Needs Cleaning
You need to either perform a small amount of maintenance on a daily basis or find yourself with a significant project after a few months if you ignore the fact that a glass shower door is an important element in your home that will truly turn on you if you neglect it.
Squeegeeing the glass shower door post for each and every use can help you avoid streaks and will avoid soap scum from gathering on the surface.
If you are diligent about performing maintenance, you just need to perform a thorough cleaning once or twice a month at most.
If, on the other hand, you find that you are neglecting to wipe away water each day, you should make it a point to clean the shower door minimum of once every week in order to prevent buildup.
In the event that your regular cleaning products are unable to remove any residual soap scum, you are free to address the issue whenever it arises.
Difference Between Hard And Soft Water
First things first, let’s figure out what’s causing those unsightly stains to show up on the glass door of the shower area. The primary challenge is most certainly the hard water.
Hard water, as opposed to soft water, is rich in dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium, in addition to chalk and lime. Soft water does not contain these minerals.
Sadly, the majority of water in the United States, particularly in urban areas, has high mineral content. As it travels into the ground, it absorbs various minerals and therefore becomes more rigid.
When these minerals come into touch with soap remains, they cause stains to appear all over your shower doors. These stains can be quite unsightly.
You must clean the glass doors of your shower stall on the most regular basis possible to avoid having to deal with this annoyance.
About Soap Scum
Calcium stearate, soap particles, and minerals from hard water are all components of soap scum, which has a waxy consistency.
They interact with each other, and as a consequence, the glass shower door develops stains that are resistant to being removed by water and that remain visible for an extended period of time.
NO! A brand new shower door installation is not necessary at this time. There is an alternative that is both more convenient and cheaper to consider.
To begin, you need to get rid of all of the soap scum that is already built up. After you get out of the shower, you should make an effort to take a couple of minutes to clean the glass doors.
You will avoid the additional accumulation of dust and grime in the future if you do it in this manner.
Preventive Methods For Soap Scum
The requirement of a speedy final rinse following cleaning is the most significant drawback shared by the majority of cleaners. Why? As was mentioned earlier, the majority of us are from areas that have water that is naturally hard.
Therefore, after the last rinse, the shower screen will still have watermarks, soap scum, and little particles of limescale on it after it has dried.
Utilize a squeegee to solve this problem; it’s that easy. It’s likely that you use it to clean the windshield of your car.
In that case, you can pick up this rather inexpensive piece of gear at your local hardware or home improvement store.
After cleaning the shower door, you should dry it off with your squeegee to eliminate any excess water.
How To Clean Glass Shower Doors – Complete Process
The heat and humidity created by a hot shower will make it much easier to remove soap scum off surfaces if you start cleaning right after you get out of the shower.
In any other case, let the warm water run so that there is sufficient steam produced in the shower stall. Spray the glass with the cleaner of your choice after first pouring it into a bottle designed for that purpose.
One more option is to moisten a sponge with the same cleaning solution and then use it to scrub the shower door. After shaking the bottle to combine the cleaning solution, spray it on the glass door of the shower.
To wipe the glass door, use a sponge, but exercise caution if you plan to use any store-bought cleaning products. In that situation, you won’t be able to use the restroom unless it has adequate ventilation.
When cleaning doors, one should always begin on the exterior and work their way inwards to the interior. It is important to properly spray the areas where the shower doors overlap.
Pay attention to such areas. Ten to thirty minutes ought to be spent allowing the solution to sit. Then, using clean water and a fresh sponge, thoroughly scrub the glass door until all of the cleaning solutions are removed.
To dry the doors, you might make use of a squeegee, a cloth, a microfiber towel, or a paper towel. It is imperative that you remember to clean the metal door tracks, the shower head, and a shower caddy if you have one.
Also, make sure to give every piece of used equipment a good scrub, particularly if it came into contact with any hazardous substances.
Last but not least, you can finish by applying lemon oil or baby oil to the shower door using a clean towel. In this method, you can avoid the additional buildup of soap scum that might otherwise occur.
DIY Homemade Glass Shower Door Cleaner
It is common knowledge that vinegar can be used as a useful tool around the house in a variety of different contexts.
Vinegar has a high acid substance that easily spoils mildew and soap scum, and it will also make it easy to get rid of filth that has accumulated in the shower.
The purchase of a huge amount of white vinegar may be done for a reasonable price and the vinegar won’t go bad even if it is stored for a number of years.
Vinegar-Based Cleaning Solution
While cleaning shower doors with vinegar and Dawn, first open a spray bottle and then pour the vinegar and the grease-fighting dish soap into the container, shaking the bottle to combine the two.
Close the lid and shake it properly to make sure that the distributions are even. After spraying the cleaner over the shower doors and the floor of the shower, wait at least two minutes for it to take effect.
Start removing the cleaner from the surface with warm water and continue doing so to remove it completely. To ensure that there is no moisture left on the door’s surface, utilize a paper towel to dry it off.
Lemon-Based Cleaning Solution
One further component that a lot of individuals like to make use of when they are cleaning their homes is lemon juice. It has a wonderful aroma, and also a very strong and vinegar-like acidity to it.
It is not difficult to transform this uncomplicated component into an effective soap scum remover by combining it with a powder of a finer consistency.
DIY Scrubber
After cutting a fresh lemon in half lengthwise, dip one of the halves, cut side down, into a basin containing baking soda. Rub the lemon ends on both sides of the shower doors.
This will cause the soda to react with the citric acid in the lemon juice, which will result in the formation of suds.
After the surface of the glass has been cleaned, remove any remaining residue with a clean, damp cloth, and then make the glass dry with a towel.
This is also one of the most effective recipes for cleaning fiberglass shower enclosures at home. Try applying some lemon oil onto a clean towel and rubbing it all over the shower doors to provide an additional layer of defense.
Because the oils are water-repellent, the soap won’t dry out on the surface, and your shower will continue to smell clean.
Bleach Cleaning Solution
Bleach may not be a natural product, but it has been demonstrated to be an effective tool for eliminating mold spores.
It is recommended that you bleach the hard surfaces in your bathroom once a month in order to eliminate any mold spores that can be hiding in areas of the room that are difficult to access.
In a large, clean bucket, combine three-quarters of a cup of bleach with a gallon of water. Always protect your hands by using rubber gloves when handling bleach, and soak an old rag in the solution.
After you have wiped down all of the surfaces in the bathroom, rinse them with a rag that is clean and damp. Let the surface air dry thoroughly before proceeding.
Harsh Film Remover
The chore of maintaining shower doors is not always straightforward. If you let too much time pass between cleaning the shower doors, there can be a film that covers the whole surface of the doors that is very difficult to remove.
This occurs when you let too many months pass between cleaning the doors. The addition of salt to your toolkit produces a mild scouring agent that is safe for use on glass and won’t scratch it.
Removing Limescale
Limescale is a typical issue that rapidly accumulates on plumbing fixtures like sink faucets and showerheads. If it is allowed to remain there for an excessive amount of time, it may potentially develop clogs that disrupt the flow of water.
Get some vinegar and pour it into a small plastic bag and wrap it in the shower head. Use a rubber band to secure the bag. In order to remove the limescale, let the vinegar sit out for a whole night.
If you want to clean a faucet, you need to soak a towel in vinegar until it drips and let it sit there overnight. Before using any of the fixtures again, you need to be sure that all of the vinegar has been removed.
Vinegar can also be used to eliminate water marks from glass surfaces. If you are overwhelmed with a lot of chemical solutions, it can be rewarding for you to find a natural solution that can work well or in the same way.
The result can vary from scenario to scenario because all situations are different. Experiment with a handful of these various suggestions and recipes to determine which one helps maintain your shower cleaner.
Why You Should Keep Your Bathroom Clean
Almost everyone who has a bathroom has encountered a dark ball of slime in the corner of the shower at some point. In addition to being ugly, these growths can pose a health risk when left untreated for a long length of time.
There is a good chance that mold and mildew will grow in your bathroom because of the ideal conditions. When left unchecked, these molds have a tendency to thrive and expand their colonies if there is a constant flow of water and steam.
Stampeded water might be even more problematic if you don’t have a working drain in your shower or bathtub. Molds like Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, Penicillium, and Cladosporium can all be hazardous to your health if they grow in your bathroom.
People with allergies or asthma may have irritation of the lungs as a result of exposure to certain molds. The most common remedy for a disease is to utilize over-the-counter medications, but the simplest method is to maintain the bathroom as clean.
Keep your bathroom clean once a week to prevent the formation of mold and mildew. Fast-acting daily cleansers can help you go longer between cleanings by allowing you to use less product.
Whichever DIY shower door cleaner you pick, you’ll feel better and be healthier as a result of utilizing it.
