Shower Glass Doors

Question

Can you share your tips for cleaning glass shower doors?  What products work best to clean away grime?

Attiser · Answer

Mixture of baking soda and dilute white distilled vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes then scrub with warm water. Hope it works.

Matthew Gingerella · Answer

Hi Kitty, glass shower doors can be the worst - especially if they are non-textured CLEAR shower doors. What type do you have? And, how bad is the buildup of hard water deposits and soap scum?

I help my friends with their glass shower doors - which is crazy - I know; but everyone has their vices - right?!

If you have significant build-up - which I define as the fact that you can SEE and FEEL the build-up; then you have your work cut out for you.

Here is how I go about it:
1. Get Lime-Away (R) - the Gel is preferred - but I often can only get the liquid at my grocery store. Also get a non-abrasive scrub pad for cleaning glass stove tops.
2. Open windows - make sure you have good ventilation - bring in a fan if you don't have good ventilation because the fumes are TERRIBLE! Work on one side of the door at a time to reduce the amount of fumes.
3. Spray on the Lime-Away and make sure you totally soak the door Good, then get out of the bathroom!...Then do other stuff for at least a few hours or overnight. Let the Lime-Away dry.
4. When the coast is clear then use the non-abrasive scrub pad to scrub off all of the dried Lime-Away residue.
5. Then rinse the door well with water and dry it off. You can't tell if the deposits are gone when it is wet.
6. If there is still some buildup that you can feel, then do Steps 3-5 again.
7. After that the buildup should be gone, but there may be some hazy residue left. This needs to be removed by - polishing with a SLIGHTLY abrasive paste or glass polish. I would Attiser's suggestion of the baking soda and hot white distilled vinegar.
Tip: My friend Sherrie on the Hometalk Forum suggests Heating up the Shower Door or Sink, etc. with hot water before cleaning to help the cleaners work better.

Respond back and tell us what you tried and what the results are so that we can all learn together.

Take care, Matthew

Kitty · Answer

Thanks, Mathew.  I tried Vim this weekend which wasn't too bad at cleaning the doors which are clear glass.  I rinsed them well and squeegee dried.    Not as  bad as I thought but the glass doors still have grime.  I did forget to use the non-abrasive scrub pad.   I will pick them up --Thanks.  Of your suggestion I have used a similar product when I had serious hard water stains on my shower and it worked great.  Very toxic, had to wear gloves or face burning fingertips.  I remember that I had to be so be so careful simply because the fumes were so overpowering.  I will take your suggestions and add the baking soda and hot distilled vinegar, and then let you know.   Thank you kindly for the tips!!!  It's almost clean now, just a bit more should do it.

Matthew Gingerella · Answer

Glad to be of service Kitty! You can read more of my cleaning tips for tough bathroom problems at www.selfcleen.com/page/cleaning_tips

Tile By Gregory · Answer

Don't know the best way to clean glass doors, but to keep them free of buildup once they are clean use Rain X on a regular basis. Keeps soap scum from clinging to glass.

Total Home Tile & Grout Repair and Remodels · Answer

I just found a great cleaning agent for just about everything in your house.Can use for your kitchen counters, tile, stove, refrigerator, toasters, coffee pot. etc.
It's called the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!
I love it when I clean my showers!
It cleans the soap scum off the walls and shower doors! The soap scum just rolls right off!
I tell everyone I know about this tip!

Columbia1 · Answer

I agree with the Mr. Clean Eraser. It even worked on removing the smoke stains on our fireplace stone. I have used shower spray for years (various kinds). After showering, but while I am still in it, I spray it on and use a 'squeegee' to swipe it off. It makes cleaning day a breeze.

Kitty · Answer

I'm glad you have both commented on the Mr Clean eraser because I've seen them and always wondered a) did they work and b) were they safe to use on surfaces.  I guess I thought one day I'd try them on my plastic patio chairs as a safe start but truly worried about other surfaces.

Matthew Gingerella · Answer

Dear Kitty and Gregory, I would strongly CAUTION you about the use of Rain-X or Car Wax in the Shower or Tube areas. These materials can leach onto the floor to make it SLIPPERY - creating a real SAFETY HAZARD!

There is a new product out that is specifically designed for non-slip use on Shower/Tub Floors, Glass, TIle, metal frames, chrome fixtures, etc. It's called Self-Cleen ST3 and it prevents the buildup of scale and soap scum for up to 6-months at at time, and it resists mold and mildew for a total solution. It's so safe that I use it on my daughter's tub floor.
It costs more - but you have to ask yourself - how much is safety worth to you?

It's great for protecting bathroom remodels and tile work Gregory.
You can order it online at SelfCleen.com

Jfmdesigns · Answer

I use an almost dry Mr. Clean Eraser sponge and it takes the soap scum right off. If your shower door is heavily coated you might have windex first and do this several times. Once it's clean apply RainX and the soapy water will slide right off in the future.

Tami Wilson · Answer

Believe it or not, dryer sheets are a miracle cure for nasty shower door cleaning and buildup. I usually use a magic eraser to clean it if it has gotten bad, then rub it down with a dryer sheet. This will repel the soap etc. from building up. They are also fantastic to rub on your baseboards to repel dust and dirt that build up on baseboards!

Kitty · Answer

Thank you all so much for your suggestions and tips! I'll let you know what worked out best for me.

Kitty · Answer

Wow! Seriously, dryer sheets. I love that idea and the extra tip about putting it on your baseboards to repel dirt. Listen, once upon a time, my sister in law told me to use a toothbrush to clean the baseboards (which did work) because in her opinion they weren't clean enough. Nasty woman.

Accentuations! · Answer

White vinegar and a Mr. clean magic eraser. Open a window for fresh air .and saturate the sponge with the vinegar. I usually just stand inside the shower with vinegar and a bowl or bucket and then go to it. The vinegar will clean away the scum with just a little elbow grease. Rinse well. Dry with a soft cloth THEN...grab a fabric softener sheet (like Bounce or Snuggle) and wipe all over the glass. Sounds crazy but it actually helps keep the crud from sticking...much safer than Rain-ex. Hope this helps!

Kitty · Answer

@It certainly does help, and I can't wait to try your suggestion. Wish I had stopped to buy the magic eraser, but I'll get one this week and let you know.

Susan B · Answer

rain x made mine look like they had a film on them. dingy looking. yuck...

Gay Storm · Answer

I have used Bar Keeper's Friend on my shower door, which is clear, and we have very hard water. I use a squeegee every day after showering, to help prevent the build up and water spots. It helps a lot. The hardest part to clean is the inside of the metal rack that is on the inside of the shower. It is very hard to get to. I had no luck with Mr Clean Eraser - it hardly lasted at all and was fairly pricey. Good luck!

Lori T · Answer

Lime-away but you have to wash it off very quicly ,not right away as you need to give it time to work but as soon as you see the film go away then rinse or it will etch in to the glass. its very strong acid. Also it would be a good idea to wear rubber gloves.

Lori T · Answer

If you ever bneed to clean a toilet that has rust stains or hard water stains here's what my Mom taught me; flush the toilet then lay toilet paper around the bowl as high up as you can get it , them spray / oak it with lim,e away and let it sit there for a while then flush the paper down the drain.

Gayle J · Answer

fabric softener sheets work

Matthew Gingerella · Answer

Lori T - nice tip on using the toilet paper to help keep the lime-away soaking on the toilet ring. It adds more contact time - makes good sense. Thanks

Matthew Gingerella · Answer

Susan B - Thanks for the warning against the use of Rain-X on your shower doors. Beside it being able to cause a slipping hazard in the shower, It's a temporary coating that builds up and needs to be stripped - it's similar to using Pam Cooking Spray. There are better longer-term coating solutions available that do not discolor and do not need to be stripped off to prevent a hazy film.

Kitty · Answer

You guys are really terrific to keep posting your suggestions to this 'little' problem about keeping shower doors clean. With everyone sharing their tips and tricks, I've learned so much from all of you and your ideas! Thanks so much!!!

Kitty · Answer

Oh you betcha! I can laugh now too, but at the time I wanted to strangle her for her 'tips' about my housekeeping. As you can imagine.

Kitty · Answer

Hi Sallie: Thanks for letting me know, because they are a bit pricey here. Relatively speaking, I think I'd buy them if they only cost a buck. (Pun intended, our dollar stores are called 'a Buck or two'). I live close to Niagara Falls and Buffalo, NY...could you advise the name of a typical 'Dollar store' I could google it for an address close to me. Worth a try

Lori T · Answer

get Lime -away. but becareful its strong stuff.and a word of caution don't leave it on ANY surface for a long period it etches away at the surface. Even something as hard as porcelain

CJ Delman · Answer

I've learned several good tips thanks so much all of you!!!

Accentuations! · Answer

:)!

Sherry Clapp · Answer

I use Scrubbing Bubbles. Just spray a fine coat on the doors and shower walls. Wait a few minutes to give time to work...Then just wipe away. I find it takes out rust and hard water stains. And it works pretty easily too...No scrubbing... :)

Emma Carpenter · Answer

Thanks Lori for the toilet bowel cleaning suggestions. Will try it tomorrow morning.

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