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Glass is an extremely difficult substance to work with. Due to its nature, it attracts all kinds of dirt. Even worse, it puts them proudly on display. You cannot give the same treatment to glass as you do with every other surface in the cleaning spree, it requires special care and attention. One wrong step can land you a multitude of scratches.
Among all the glass items in the house, shower glass doors take the prize for being the most stubborn to clean. Due to constant use, and with all that water and soap that they battle day in and out, you would think they should be the cleanest. Nothing could be farther from the truth. And the culprit is surprisingly the water and soap themselves.
Outline
Why does the glass door look cloudy?
The cloudy stains that appear on your glass doors are caused by the minerals present in hard water. Add to that the paraffin in soap bars, it reacts with these minerals to create a film of grime over all surfaces it comes in contact with. When water dries, it leaves these minerals on the door. Thanks to the transparent nature of glass, it’s highly noticeable.
The scum is extremely stubborn to remove and if left for long periods, also degrades the quality of the glass. So, it’s always better to act as soon as you see the cloudy film on your doors. If you are unsure of how to banish these stains efficiently, we’ve got your back.
We have covered 13 ways that will help you get clean shower doors.
13 Genius Ways to Clean Glass Shower Doors
1. Shampoo
Your shampoo is a double agent in disguise. In addition to cleaning your hair, you can also use it to get rid of grime that has been sticking to your glass doors. Since shampoo is designed to remove grease and dirt, it works as well as any other industrial cleaner out there. Nothing fancy, any normal shampoo can do the trick.
Just make sure that the shampoo does not contain any conditioner in it. Conditioners are used to lock in moisture, and therefore will add to the slime film on your door. An amount equivalent to those small hotel shampoo tubes is enough to tackle stains on those cloudy shower doors.
Use the same wet- lather- rinse technique as you use on hair, followed by a wipe down with a clean microfiber cloth. The result is a sparkling clean door.
2. DIY Cleaning Spray
This DIY spray made using all-natural ingredients works great in cleaning any glass. Here is how to make this cleaning spray:
Mix a ¼ cup of Hydrogen Peroxide, a ½ cup of Rubbing Alcohol, 1 tsp. Dawn Dish Soap and 1 tbsp. Dishwasher Rinse Aid in a spray bottle. Now, add water to fill up the remainder of the bottle and swirl the bottle gently without making it foam. Your DIY spray is ready.
Make sure to store this mixture away from sunlight.
Related: 31 Ways to Use Dawn Dish Soap that’ll make life easy
Why does it work?
Well, Hydrogen Peroxide is a natural disinfectant. When it reacts with a substance, an extra molecule of oxygen is released, leaving behind plain water. This is what makes it a super cleaner. Combined with Rubbing Alcohol, which is a natural degreaser, these two can work wonders to restore the shine on your glass doors.
Related: 31 Genius uses of Hydrogen Peroxide for Home
3. Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the easiest available kitchen items you can lay your hands on. In addition to its cleaning effectiveness, it’s easily available almost everywhere at low prices. To make your vinegar spray to combat soap scum, just mix 1-part white vinegar with 1-part of Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle.
Now, spray this solution on the glass door, and allow the solution to set in for a moment. Once set, use a microfiber cloth to scrub the surface by hand and let it dry.
Related: How to Clean with Vinegar
4. Ammonia
Ammonia is the most commonly used cleaner in large-scale enterprises. But you can also use it to clean your shower doors. In a spray bottle, mix 1 part ammonia with 3 parts water, and spritz on the soap scum. While still wet, use a sponge to loosen the grime. Rinse the surface completely with water, allowing all of the ammonia to go down the drain.
Note: If you want to use this heavy-duty cleaner, be sure to ventilate your bathroom thoroughly and take appropriate safety measures (like wearing safety gloves).
Safety Tip: Avoid cleaning the bathroom with vinegar or ammonia at the same time as they can react to create a toxic environment.
You May Also Like: The Complete guide to clean a bathroom
5. Baking Soda
Mixing baking soda and water turns them into a paste that can return the shine to your glass doors. Since baking soda is abrasive, it will get rid of present stains, and the water will dissolve them. Rinse and dry to get glass doors that look new.
Related: 31 Brilliant uses of baking soda in cleaning
6. Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths are all the rage now. They deserve to be in the spotlight for their versatility. Highly absorbent, they will pick up all traces of grime on your door easily.
Another benefit to using them is that they can be used to reach the most inaccessible places. It’s advised to wring out the excess water in these cloths after every use and to set them to dry.
Related: How to clean and care for Microfiber Cloths
7. Squeegees
A squeegee is one of the best daily cleaning methods that you can employ to remove scum. It looks like a mini windshield wiper and has a rubber edge attached to it.
As rubber does not absorb water and is fairly malleable, it can be used to wipe away excess water on the door after every use. This will prevent the water from drying on the doors thereby preventing the formation of the cloudy residue.
8. Bar Keepers Friend
Bar Keepers Friend is a classic cleaner that’s been around for ages, and with good reason. It can get rid of any scum present in the bathroom including soap scum. Due to its non-septic nature, Bar Keepers Friend is completely safe to use on glass and will not leave any unsightly streaks behind.
We recommend the classic way to use it for this job. Make a paste from Bar Keepers Friend Powdered Cleanser and use it as a facemask for the door. Leave it for around 5-10 mins to work its magic. Now, wipe it away with a washcloth or non-scratch scrub pad.
Related: 18 Brilliant ways to Clean the Home using Bar Keepers Friend
9. Daily Shower Cleaners
Most shower cleaners are designed by keeping the requirements of glass in mind. Shower cleaners do not erode your glass or chip away at them, increasing their longevity. They are also one of the quickest ways to get the scum out.
Just keep in mind that you should not use any abrasive scrubbers with them or they may leave fine lines on the glass.
Related: 13 Easy Hacks to Clean Glass Shower Doors
10. Use a Lemon Sprinkled with Salt
Lemons are a great source of citrus acid, which can help break down the structure of scum. Since grime is mostly composed of biogenic minerals, a mild acid like one present in lemons can easily lift and dissolve them.
Lemons are also great at making your bathroom smell refreshing and clean, so count that a win-win on both sides.
Just cut a lemon in half and sprinkle it with salt, then use it to scrub the doors. Easy!
11. Scum Buffer
The longer you let the stains sit, the harder it becomes to remove them. Since the use of any abrasive tool on glass is a big no-no, it’s difficult to scrub them away. An alternative that works in your favor is to use a polishing buffer.
Since a buffer rotates at high speed, it will lift the grime easily. And its soft bristles also ensure that the glass is not damaged in any way during the process.
Plus, it’s so much quicker than spending hours wiping the glass. It’s also way cheaper when we compare it to replacing whole doors that have been destroyed by scum.
12. Clean With WD-40
WD-40 has so many amazing uses when it comes to cleaning your home! It works wonders in cleaning those grimy shower doors. And you don’t need to do much. Just spray it on your glass doors and wipe it down with a clean cloth!
It will leave those glass shower doors sparkling in no time!
13. Use Essential Oils
Surprisingly, Essential oils work great in cleaning the glass shower doors especially, Lemon and Thyme. Just mix them with hot water and you have a great smelling glass shower door cleaner ready! Wipe down the doors with the mixture and a washcloth. They’ll come out sparkling clean!
There you have it – a perfectly clean and sleek glass door. All these methods do require a fair bit of elbow grease and some time.
How to Keep Your Shower Scum-Free
Now, soap stains do not take long to build up. If not kept in check, these can start appearing after the very next shower cycle post-cleaning. But by following a few tips, you can prevent them.
1. Use liquid soap instead of bar soaps. Shower gels and washes do not contain the same elements as a bar does, which prevents scum formation in the first place.
2. Make it a habit to dry the shower using a squeegee or a clean cloth after every use. This will prevent any scum buildup.
3. You can also use shower curtains to minimize the contact of shower doors with the water. Of course, this would entail you having to clean the curtain, but it’s easier than cleaning doors themselves.
There you have it. A comprehensive guide on how to get rid of soap scum and make sure it never comes back. No more shying away from cleaning anymore, let’s get right to erasing those pesky stains away.
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