There are few home elements as classy and glamorous as glass shower doors. Whether it’s glass doors or an entire shower encased in glass, a glass shower gives your bathroom the appearance of class and luxury. Unfortunately, the upkeep required to maintain glass can be overwhelming, and allowing soap scum to accumulate can lead to a foggy appearance and irreversible etching. Thankfully, keeping glass shower doors clean and shiny doesn’t have to be as time-consuming as you may think, especially if you follow these tips.
Daily Glass Shower Maintenance
The key to keeping your glass shower looking great is wiping down the glass after every use. This might seem like a hassle but should become a second-nature part of your routine after awhile. (They say it takes 30 days of repetition to form a habit!) The best tool for this job is either a squeegee or a microfiber cloth. Drying off your glass this way after every shower will help prevent streaking, soap scum, and permanent etching.
Daily shower spray products can also help keep your shower in top shape, and may lessen the negative effects if you go without wiping down your glass every once in awhile. You will find shower sprays available from a variety of brands but they are mostly the same. Daily shower sprays are meant to prevent mold, mildew and soap scum from building up. These are not a replacement for wiping down everyday with a squeegee or microfiber cloth but, when used along with daily wipe-downs, they can help prolong the amount of time between deep cleans.
Glass Shower Deep Cleaning
Even with diligent maintenance, there will be times that you’ll want to give your glass shower a thorough cleaning. Soap residue can be removed by scrubbing with your favorite glass-safe cleanser. Melamine foam “erasers” may be the best tool for scouring off soap scum. (Be sure to wear gloves with this method or you risk scouring off your skin as well.) A thick paste of baking soda and water is a great earth-friendly option. Follow up by rinsing with vinegar. This method will require more aggressive scrubbing but will not leave any potentially toxic chemicals behind. or send any toxins down the drain.
Cleaning Your Shower Door Track
The track that holds shower doors is often the dirtiest part of the shower. A lot of people have no idea how to clean it effectively! One popular tip is to block off any holes or open spots in the track, then fill the entire track with your favorite cleanser and leave overnight. There are loads of cleansers to choose from – Something already in your cleaning aresenal will probably do the trick. Vinegar is another great option as it is eco-friendly, promotes shine and doesn’t leave a residue behind.
If you use a daily shower spray, you can also use that on your shower door track everytime you spray down the glass. Preventing build-up is always easier than removing it, especially in hard-to-reach places like the door track.
A Couple More Tips for Keeping Your Glass Shower Clean:
Really want to avoid scummy buildup? Only use soaps that do not have talc as an ingredient. Talc is the main culprit behind soap scum. Dove is one brand of bar soap that is talc-free. Organic soaps are a good bet as well. You can also switch to body wash or a liquid soap. Castile soap is gaining popularity due to its eco-friendliness and for how long it lasts. (Liquid castile soap should be diluted before use.)
Treat your shower’s glass surfaces with a product like Rain-X (commonly used on car windshields) and you may get away with wiping down your shower less often. Rain-X and other water repellents keep water from sticking to the glass, which can also prevent build-up from forming.
Don’t let a fear of cleaning keep you from installing the glass shower of your dreams! A squeeguee, some baking soda and vinegar, along with a slight change to your after-shower routine, is all you really need to keep your glass shower doors looking as stunning as the day they were installed.
