Need tips on how to clean the glass shower doors. Thanks!

SANDRA K
by SANDRA K
  28 answers
  • I have seen this same question asked several times. When I did a search it appears that no one really answered them. Well if your issue is hard water stains. A lot of people here use vinegar and hot water to remove the hardness. We use in our house CLR in our house. We spray it on the glass several times and using a stiff scrub brush and elbow grease the glass comes out clean. To keep our cleaning of the doors to a minimum we also have used a shower rod and shower curtain on the inside so the door does not get wet with the water and soap scum. When we have visitors we simply remove the curtain and clean glass shows up!
  • Amy aldridge Amy aldridge on Aug 02, 2012
    I use Mr. Clean eraser. The are Awsome and take it from me I"m a cleaning freak:)
  • SANDRA K SANDRA K on Aug 06, 2012
    Thanks Amy. I will try the Mr. Clean eraser!
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Aug 08, 2012
    It depends on how dirty they are first. Regular cleaning is simple. Warm the shower first I run hot water for a few minutes this helps the cleaner work. I then spray the cleaner and use a sponge to spread it eventually all over the shower. I let it set for at least three minutes. It takes time for it to work. Then I scrubb it down I also use magic erasers. Then I use a bucket to rinse everything off or I use the shower if it is disconnected it is important to get all the cleaner off or it will build up and ,ake the problem worse. If there is a lot of build up on the shower door I use a cleaner that dissolves lime build up or hard water build up. I spray it and spred it again I make sure the door is warmed with water and I let it set. If you have metal on your door be very careful because some cleaners with damage metal. I use not only a magic erasers I also use a razor to chip it off. Then I rinse the heck out of it. I keep respraying it with cleaner and repeating this process until I get it clean. If a door is etched because of hard water build up you might not ever be able to get it all clean. The easiest way to keep hard water build up from happening is to simply dry your shower after you get out. If you get the hard water off even if it is etched simply dry it after each use. This will help prevent lime or hard water from rebuilding. It is not perfect if you have build up but it will look much better. I have had a cleaning business for many many years.. Simple steps can keep everything clean such as turning on the fan in the bathroom helps prevent moisture. drying the bath tub or shower after each use saves a lot of work later. Yes I know it's a pain.
  • Anna M Anna M on Aug 08, 2012
    I Sandra! I wrote a post about this last year asking my readers to help me find the answer to this question. If you read the comments at the end of this post you'll find LOTS of great tips! http://askannamoseley.com/2011/04/how-to-clean-shower-door-soap-scum-please-help-me/
  • Sarah for 20 State Sarah for 20 State on Aug 11, 2012
    Vinager is good but vinager and Dawn (50/50 mix) warmed in the microwave and sprayed onto the glass, left for 30 minutes and rinsed is awsome...and cheap!
  • Bernadette M Bernadette M on Aug 30, 2012
    Hmmm...guess I'll try the Mr. Clean eraser too. There has to be a magic tool/cleaner of some sort that the pros use. I used to have a housekeeper (twice a month) and should have asked her how she got it so sparkly.
  • Donna Donna on Aug 30, 2012
    Clorox Green is good as well....I use this since I have oil rubbed bronze finishes/trim and it will not harm the finish. I have also used equal parts water and alcohol with a drop or 2 of Dawn. AFTER YOU GET THEM CLEAN: i use RainX (for windshields can be bought at Walmart, Car Quest) which helps the water sheet off. And remember to squeegee or dry doors after every shower. I don't have to really clean my doors and apply RainX but about once a quarter using this method....just a rinse and dry will do it.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Aug 31, 2012
    For people that have horrible hard water build up and nothing to loose....and this is a very end of the rope solution.....use toilet bowl cleaner the thick kind. If you get this on any metal it will etch it and discolor it. Dab it on a little at a time and wipe off and then rinse. Do this over and over. I only use this on the very worse cases when nothing else works. The problem with this is it will and can discolor any metal if you aren't careful. Wear gloves. Once it has reached the point of using something like this is the doors or shower walls are etched. And if you don't dry each time after you shower it will just build back up.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Aug 31, 2012
    It is a acid a strong acid which is why it works.
  • Angie G Angie G on Aug 31, 2012
    I am a 16 yr veteran of private home cleaning. I use a glass scraper razor blade. Then I use magic eraser. If for some reason it is not yet off I then go for the light dusting with a nice clean brillo pad. (This usually is not needed. But helpful.)
  • Tamyra Tamyra on Sep 02, 2012
    Angie's way of cleaning it also works fantastic on hard water build up on your fish tanks as well~just a note* :)
  • Beatrice Abfalter Beatrice Abfalter on Sep 07, 2012
    with a squeegie and lemon juice after every shower!
  • Redfly Creations Redfly Creations on Sep 20, 2012
    I tried the dawn/vinegar thing and it took me forever to get all the soap from it rinsed off the door. Are you supposed to add any water to it?
  • Wanda Wanda on Sep 20, 2012
    I will be trying the magic eraser! My glass shower looks awful,
  • Kim G Kim G on Sep 20, 2012
    I got a free container of En dust for electronics but it was all dry up. So, I fill the container with a cup or two of rubbing alcohol. Swipe most of the hard water off the shower doors glass.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Sep 26, 2012
    Sandra, had quite the problem with our glass shower. I tried scrubbing bubbles, http://www.scrubbingbubbles.com/Products/Pages/mega-shower-foamer.aspxI just spray it on, wait a couple of minutes then just brush it down with a nylon poof, rinse and squeegee after and after every shower. This works great on grout as well. My friends have tried it too and find it is the most effortless way to clean shower glass.
  • Anna M Anna M on Sep 29, 2012
    There are TONS of great tips in the comments of this post! I learned a lot from reading them all. http://askannamoseley.com/2011/04/how-to-clean-shower-door-soap-scum-please-help-me/
  • Dolores DeLuise Dolores DeLuise on Feb 03, 2014
    I recently used Rain-X, a product for car windshields. It's a little elbow grease, but lasts through many ordinary cleanings and the shower looks great. It's on Amazon.
  • Doris Kammer Doris Kammer on Feb 03, 2014
    I also use scrubbing bubbles the same way Gail does. It works perfectly.
  • Kay Clifton Kay Clifton on Oct 18, 2015
    small bottle blue dawn, one cup vinegar you can heat it the first time, and put it in a squirt bottle. It's cheap, good, and environmentally safe.
  • Michelle Klein Michelle Klein on Jan 08, 2016
    I use the Mr Clean magic eraser..it works wonders.
  • Wet & Forget Wet & Forget on Jan 12, 2016
    Hi Sandra, a product to look into is Wet & Forget weekly shower cleaner. It helps to clean and prevent build up of soap scum, grime and oils. It is easy to use too! Here is a link to learn more about the product: http://www.wetandforget.com/product_wet_and_forget_shower.html
  • Kle2910684 Kle2910684 on Jan 20, 2016
    I just use a squeezy every time, the one with the rubber strip, no chemicals ever needed then.
  • Fran McCarty Fran McCarty on Jan 22, 2016
    Old English oil WITH lemon. Works wonders. No elbow grease needed. To remove the oily residue, use white vinegar.
  • Capernius Capernius on Jan 26, 2016
    I am a very strong believer in Natural cleaners... like vinegar, lemon juice, etc. for this project, I would combine vinegar with lemon juice, in a spray bottle. spray it on, let it sit for a minute or 2, then wipe it off. 90% of the time, it's a 1 shot deal. seldom have I ever needed a 2nd application.
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Jun 12, 2023

    Get rid of grime on the interior of your glass shower door by following these simple steps:

    1. Mix one part vinegar with two parts distilled water in an empty spray bottle and shake well.
    2. Spray the surface of the shower door with the solution and let it work its magic for 10 minutes.
    3. Use a microfiber sponge to wipe away the grime. If you see streaks once the door has dried, use your microfiber cloth to buff them out in a circular motion.