Looking for the best way to clean glass shower doors? Check out this easy way to clean hard water spots and mineral buildup from shower glass and have it look like new!
Glass showers seem to be a magnet for hard water and soap scum. You can get mineral deposits, calcium, and limescale build-up.
Plus, it's amazing how quickly it builds up.
Over the years I have tried all different techniques to clean the shower door so it shines. We have hard water at our house so it tends to get cloudy and dirty fast.
I had some luck with harsh chemicals that involved opening up windows and running fans. I didn't like the horrible smells.
Then a couple of weeks ago I decided to try my favorite trick to remove hard water stains from the toilet bowl.
It got my cloudy shower door clean again with ZERO scrubbing.
I've also been on a mission to toss out toxic cleaning products and abrasive cleaners that have terrible smells. I have found that white vinegar is a natural cleaner and a great way to reduce spending on cleaning supplies.
Sometimes I don't even have to use dryer sheets because I make my own vinegar fabric softener, one of my favorite vinegar-cleaning hacks.
It's also the best thing I have found to clean our nasty shower head when the hard water strikes.
Check out the no-scrub way to clean shower glass below!
Ingredients Needed:
- Distilled White Vinegar or Citric Acid - if you choose to go with citric acid it comes in a powder form. You will need to mix it with warm water to make a solution. Then follow the remaining instructions.
- Paper towels (or microfiber cloths) - you'll also need a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the glass when finished.
- Spray bottle (I buy mine on Amazon).
- Old Toothbrush or scrubber - you may want this for the edges. (this electric one from Amazon works great)
Note: It doesn't take a lot of your time to clean the shower doors with vinegar, but they do need to soak. I recommend doing this on a day when you will be at home for most of the day or add it to your deep cleaning bathroom routine, and start it first.
How to Clean Shower Doors with Vinegar
This easy no-scrub technique for cleaning glass shower doors will work on tough stains, hard water deposits, and soap scum build-up. Grab the white distilled vinegar or citric acid and get started!
You can see below how hard water-stained my shower door is.
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar.
Next spray some of the vinegar or citric acid on the hard water stained shower door.
Hold the paper towels up to the shower door glass and spray them with vinegar.
They will absorb the vinegar and stick to the glass surface. You will want to spray the towels generously so they stay on the door and not run off.
Let The Paper Towels Soak on The Door
Let the paper towels sit on the dirty glass shower door for at least 30 minutes. You can pull back the paper towels to check and see if the stains are gone.
If they are just pull off the paper towels and wipe down the door with a clean microfiber cloth. If the stubborn stains are still there, place the paper towel back on the spot.
You may need to let the paper towel sit for as long as 2 hours.
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Remove the Paper Towel
It was amazing how the spots and buildup of soap scum just completely disappeared and the door was clean without any scrubbing! You can see below how clean the shower door is now!
Tips for Cleaning
- Vinegar is the cheapest way to do it, but if you hate the smell of vinegar, citric acid works great too!
- If you are in a hurry to get the door cleaned you can coat the whole door with paper towels. I didn't want to waste many, so I just used the same 2-3 squares and moved them on the shower as I got an area cleaned.
- You can see in the before and after all of the hard water stains are gone it just shines! I have the older shower glass doors that are frosted, but this would work even better on the new clear frameless glass shower doors as well!
- Combine baking soda and lemon juice together to make a paste to clean the shower door tracks if those are dirty too. Use an old toothbrush to really get into all of the crevices, Rinse with water and wipe with a damp sponger or clean cloth.
How Often Should You Clean Shower Glass?
Regular maintenance is the key. If you have hard water, chances are the stains are going to return in a couple of months. I recommend using my DIY daily shower spray on a daily basis. You can also use a shower squeegee with the vinegar solution for best results (or without). Some also like to use a Magic Eraser rather than a squeegee.
We like to do this after the last shower of the day.
What Can You Do to Reduce Hard Water?
Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium ions. These minerals can leave behind deposits and cause various issues, such as scaling on appliances, soap scum (this is from bar soap, body wash, and hair products), and reduced soap lathering.
The most permanent way to get rid of hard water is to install a water softener. These are specialized devices that remove calcium and magnesium ions from the water and replace them with sodium ions through a process called ion exchange. This effectively "softens" the water. These are often installed at the point where water enters your home.
Distilled vinegar is a great cleaner and can be used for so many different things around the house. Not only is it cheaper than professional cleaners, it's the best option when looking for a natural alternative.
Cathy says
It makes sense since I have always cleaned my windows with vinegar and. newspaper!
Deborah Gessner says
I have the same shower door and the same problem you have, Thank goodness there is finally a way. I will let you know how mine turn out.
Michelle says
After your glass shower door is clean, apply RainX (follow directions on label) to create a barrier to repel water.
Julie says
I will have to try that, thanks for the suggestion!