The look of a spotless bathroom is unparalleled for any homeowner. Shimmering tile, glistening counters, and scum-free sinks and taps can do wonders for the soul, making it an inviting environment to get yourself dolled up for the day. But bathrooms don’t stay neat and tidy all on their own, and nowhere is that more evident than shower doors. Surfaces get dirty with normal use, and even with regular cleaning, spots and streaks show up. It takes a serious glass cleaner for shower doors to look crystal clear again. 

Glass Cleaner For Shower

For spray cleaners, you’ll find shelves packed with commercially available products intended for showers. Many of these cleaners will tackle mineral buildup on the glass, dissolving it effectively with an array of chemicals. Choose products that contain ammonia for hard-to-clean shower doors as well as shower heads and hardware on frames and tracks. Other strong products contain isopropyl alcohol that cuts through grime and mineral residues. Some effective cleaners also employ oxygen bleach that isn’t as harsh but just as powerful. Some safer solutions can contain vinegar or citric acid, but they tend to be slower-acting and might need more than one treatment.

For an eco-friendly solution, dissolve two parts distilled white vinegar to one part dish soap in a spray bottle. For stuck-on spots, use baking soda on a soft sponge as an abrasive that won’t scratch the glass.

How Often Should You Clean Your Shower Doors?

If you’re looking to avoid lengthy deep cleans, some routine maintenance is necessary. Whenever you’ve finished using the shower, simply squeegee the water off the glass. Depending on how many people are in the house, it could mean the shower get squeegeed a few times a day or just every other day or so. Soap scum and deposits don’t have a chance to dry on the glass.

And even with daily maintenance, you’ll start to get spots or streaks dried on. Once a week, use a sponge or microfiber cloth to wipe down the shower doors. A little spritz of warm water from a spray bottle can help keep streaks at bay while you wipe.

Then, once a month, a deep clean should be done. It’s because calcium, lime, and mildew build up on surfaces no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Deposits from water spots that dry in place won’t disappear without a cleaning solution intended to dissolve them. If you’ve skipped squeegee-ing the doors - it happens sometimes when you’re in a hurry - you might need to do a deep clean every week or two instead.

What You Need to Clean Glass Shower Doors

A shower cleaning takes a bit of time and some elbow grease, but the results speak for themselves. A few common supplies will have your shower doors sparkly clean with just a little work. You’ll need: 

• A shower squeegee
• Non-abrasive sponge or rag
• Spray cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Microfiber cloth

How To Clean a Shower

For your monthly (or even weekly) deep clean, set aside about an hour to clean the shower doors on a standard-sized walk-in shower. Don’t worry, you won’t be scrubbing the whole time.

Step 1: Wipe down the shower

Begin by cleaning like you would after a shower. Wet the doors, the squeegee the water off. Follow it up with a good wipe with a rag or microfiber cloth. At this point, you’re simply taking any loose bits and soft soap scum off the glass, making the next step even more effective.

Step 2: Spray the shower doors with cleaner

Whether you’ve opted for a purchased bathroom cleaner or a mix you’ve concocted at home, spray it liberally onto the dried glass. The active ingredients in the cleaner will begin to attack the hardened water spots, grime, soap scum, and mildew, dissolving it. You’ll be able to see deposits ‘melt’ off the glass as it works. 

For commercially available cleaners, follow the instructions on the bottle. If you’re using a mixture of vinegar and soap, let it sit and work for about 30 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub the glass

Here’s where there’s some work involved. The residue has begun to dissolve and break down, but there’s probably more to be done. Using a non-abrasive sponge or microfiber, scrub the glass from the top to the bottom. Your toughest deposits are likely on the edges and at the bottom, and you’ll feel the resistance against the cloth lessen as the grim comes free.

If there are any spots that won’t come loose, dab your cloth in baking soda and scrub. The fine particles act as a safe abrasive. Keep a box on hand - it’s super helpful for other aspects of bathroom cleanings too!

Step 4: Rinse and dry

Rinse the shower glass with warm water, then wipe it dry with your microfiber cloth. 

Step 5: Get it crystal clear with glass cleaner

Most people stop at that, but the best results come from one last cleaning. Just like for cars, Ethos Clarity Ceramic Glass Cleaner is the best shower cleaner for shower doors to sparkle and shine. Plus, water beads off the glass, helping it stay clean and spot-free for longer. 

Spritz the glass inside and out and buff the area with an Ethos Microfiber Glass Cleaning Towel for a streak-free finish.

How to Keep Your Shower Glass Doors Clean

The slippery glass surface isn’t so slippery once water spots and soap scum stick to it, and it progresses quickly from there. Being committed to squeegeeing the glass after every shower will reduce the frequency you need to clean your shower, but there is more you can do.

To further reduce water spots and grime from gripping the glass, apply a slick graphene coating. Ethos Resist Graphene Hybrid Coating can be wiped onto the glass with a microfiber applicator or towel, then wiped off after it dries or flashes. Water will bead off better for longer, making future cleanings even easier.

Also Consider a Ceramic Coating