How to Clean
Glass Shower Doors

Shower doors add a decorative touch to your bathroom and keep water and soap residue where they belong—in the shower. While they protect your bathroom from water and provide privacy, glass shower doors take a beating. Mildew, soap scum, water stains, and other buildup can leave shower doors looking dingy and dull—and promote the growth of mold. 

This handy guide will teach you how to clean glass shower doors faster and with less work! If you haven’t cleaned them in a while, your shower doors may seem like a lost cause. But with the right cleaner and these helpful tips, you can get your shower doors looking their best—and keep it that way.

Cleaning Glass Shower Doors With Healthy Alternatives

Soap, shampoo, dead skin, hard water, and lingering moisture are the usual suspects that cause dirty buildup on shower doors. Removing buildup can be challenging, especially if you haven’t cleaned your shower in a while. Understanding how to clean glass shower doors and which cleaners to use can make the job more manageable.

Many commercial cleaners remove mold, mildew, and soap residue with harsh chemicals that can be unhealthy. However, eco-friendly and healthy solutions for cleaning glass shower doors can work as well—without harmful ingredients. Give natural, inexpensive DIY cleaning solutions a try and discover the joys of healthy cleaning.

Moist dryer sheets are ideal for light buildup on shower doors, and Mr. Clean® Magic Erasers also work well. Plus, Magic Erasers are handy for cleaning tile, porcelain, and other bathroom surfaces. But when you’re tackling heavy buildup, you’ll need more firepower. 

How to Clean Glass Shower Doors With Lemon Juice

Try lemon juice for an all-natural DIY shower glass cleaner to remove dirt, buildup, and germs. It may not have the acidic cutting power of vinegar, but it smells better and cleans well. Making a homemade shower door cleaner with lemon juice couldn’t be simpler.

• Combine three tablespoons of lemon juice and one cup of water in a spray bottle.
• Spray your glass shower doors and the frame thoroughly and let the mixture break down the scum and stains for five minutes.
• Wipe everything with a clean sponge, then dry and buff the glass and frame with a microfiber cloth.

How to Clean Shower Doors With Vinegar

Heavy buildup and stains may require more cleaning muscle. Boost your cleaning power by using distilled white vinegar instead of lemon juice. Powerful, safe, and budget-friendly, distilled white vinegar is a natural sanitizer, deodorizer, and shower glass cleaner.

• Heat a half-cup of distilled white vinegar in your microwave for 30 seconds.
• Pour the warm vinegar into a spray bottle.
• Spray the glass shower doors and frame thoroughly, allowing them to soak for five minutes.
• Wear rubber gloves and scrub the glass and frame with a non-abrasive soft bristle brush.
• Rinse everything with warm water.
• Dry and buff the glass and frame with a microfiber cloth.

If your shower walls or floor are made from natural stone, skip the vinegar. The acid in vinegar can stain and etch natural stone, causing permanent damage.

How to Clean Shower Glass With Baking Soda And White Vinegar

If you haven’t cleaned your glass shower doors in a while, baking soda’s slight abrasiveness and natural cleaning power can tackle layers of buildup. If the pungent odor of vinegar is too much for you, turn on the bathroom fan and open any windows. The aroma will disappear shortly, but a few drops of your favorite essential oil helps.

• Pour a half-cup of baking soda into a plastic container and pour in just enough white vinegar while mixing the ingredients to create a thick paste.
• You’ll immediately see fizzing; take a non-abrasive scrubber and scoop up some paste.
• Wipe the paste on the shower door glass and frame and let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Scrub everything thoroughly and rinse off the residue with warm water.
• Dry the glass and frame and buff them to a sparkling shine with a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning Glass Shower Doors With a Steam-Powered Squeegee!

One of the best ways to clean glass shower doors is using an inexpensive handheld steamer with a squeegee attachment. If you use distilled water and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, you can have brilliantly clear shower doors fast.

• Pre-treat the shower door with one of the natural cleaners from above while the steamer heaters up. Make sure you don’t let overspray get on materials around the glass, especially when using vinegar.
• Turn the shower to hot and let it flow for a few minutes with the shower door closed to warm the glass and soften the residue.
• When the steamer is hot enough, work from the top down and squeegee away the soap scum and other residue.
• Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the rubber blade for a streak-free finish.
• Use a razor blade scraper to remove stuck-on grime, being careful not to scratch the glass.
• Wipe down the shower door glass and frame with a dry microfiber cloth to give everything a shine.

An inexpensive handheld steam cleaner removes dingy residue on shower doors and minimizes germs. You can clean toilets, floors, mirrors, vanity tops, and the rest of the bathroom using a steamer, too. The high temperatures kill bacteria and viruses and loosen dirt, while the moisture naturally dissolves the grime.

How to Clean Glass Shower Door Tracks

The shower door tracks are designed to let water drain out, but the drain holes can clog if they’re not kept clean. The backed-up water is full of germs and soap residue—the perfect conditions for mold, mildew, and odors. Here’s how to clean a glass shower door track and keep it that way:

• Clear the drain holes with a wire or pipe cleaner if clogged.
• Plug the drain holes with pieces of a paper towel.
• Fill the track with distilled white vinegar and let sit overnight.
• In the morning, use paper towels to soak up the vinegar.
• Use an old toothbrush to scrub any stains and loosen debris.
• Remove the paper towel from the drain holes and rinse the track.
• Periodically check the tracks and ensure the drain holes are clear.

Vinegar is safe for shower door glass, aluminum tracks, and shower hardware if you don’t let it sit too long. Spray out the tracks every few weeks using vinegar and rinse them with hot water to make your shower a healthier place.

How to Make Cleaning Glass Shower Doors Easier

To minimize buildup, all you need is a small squeegee, a microfiber towel, and handy quick cleaning spray. Mix one cup of distilled water, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and a couple of drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Give your shower doors a quick cleaning daily and you may never have to fight buildup again! 

• Keep a squeegee in the shower and wipe away water and residue from the glass shower doors and the shower walls before exiting.
• Wipe off the squeegee and excess moisture on the walls and shower door with a microfiber cloth.
• Complete your routine by spraying your homemade shower cleaner on the doors and frame.
• Keep moisture under control by always keeping your glass shower doors open when you’re not showering.

To manage moisture and prevent mold, always wipe up water on the bathroom floor, and don’t let wet towels linger. Running the exhaust fan and opening a window after bathing or showering also makes cleaning glass shower doors easier.

Pro Tip: Do you ever wonder how hotels keep their glass shower doors so sparkling clean? The secret ingredient for making the shower doors stay cleaner longer is water softeners. Hotels install water softeners in the showerheads and sink faucets to avoid stains from hard water deposits. If your home has hard water, installing filters and water softeners can minimize stains.

The Best Way to Clean Glass Shower Doors is To Call The Maids!

We hope learning how to clean glass shower doors helps create a more beautiful and healthy bathroom. Check out our other handy housekeeping guides to make housework easier and more manageable. And when you’re ready to see what The Maids® can do for your home, personalized cleaning quote for the healthiest residential cleaning services. Whether you do it yourself or let us handle the dirty work, The Maids wants everyone to enjoy a clean home more often with less work.