Hard water spots form when drops of water dry on the glass, and mold and mildew can grow in damp environments. To keep glass shower doors, clean and grime-free, prevention is key. The best thing you can do is squeegee the door after each use. Keep one hanging in your shower to make it easy and remind family members to do it after each time they shower. A basic squeegee costs less than $20 and saves you lots of time and frustration. It'll help keep hard-water deposits from building up, so you won't have to scrub so much later.
Plan to wipe down shower doors every night after the last person has bathed for the day. Microfiber cloths work fantastic. This is also the best time to clean your shower surround because the warm water has already loosened up the grime. Use a sponge or foam cleaning pad, such as a Magic Eraser ($3, Walmart), to avoid the need for additional cleaning products or toxic chemicals. Cross multiple chores off your list by cleaning shower doors, walls, and floors at the same time.
Leaving the door open after a shower will also help dry it out. To further prevent hard water spots and keep shower doors clean, spray the doors with a water repellent spray, such as Rain-X.
Glass Shower Door Cleaning Schedule:
If you keep up with regular light maintenance, you should only have to deep-clean shower doors every few weeks. Here's a good shower cleaning schedule to follow:
Every day: After using the shower, squeegee glass shower doors and leave the door open to air out.
Weekly: Give your entire shower a wipe-down once a week with a sponge or foam cleaning pad.
Once a month: It's time for a deep clean. Thoroughly scrub your entire shower, making sure to get in any nooks and crannies. Apply a water repellent spray such as Rain-X to prevent hard water stains on glass shower doors.
Keeping Your New Shower Sparkling
1. How to Clean a Shower Without Scrubbing:
It’s a good idea to start with the mildest cleaning solution first and work your way up to stronger products, if needed. Always wear rubber gloves when using products with bleach or products that tell you to protect your hands. Work in a well-ventilated area.
Read the label to be sure the cleaner won’t harm your tile or grout. If you can’t tell, test it first in an inconspicuous area, such as behind a toilet.
Many commercial cleaning products can help clean shower tile without scrubbing. Most are sprayed on, left to work for the time indicated on the label and sponged or rinsed off.
2. Cleaning your shower with vinegar
To clean a shower with vinegar, fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and warm water and spray the solution on the grout. Use old towels on the floor to absorb any runoff. Let the solution stand for a few minutes and then scrub with a stiff brush. Old toothbrushes aren't usually stiff enough to do the job.
To clean shower grout with white vinegar, mix one part vinegar to two parts water and scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse with clean water and mop or towel-dry the grout. Rinse and dry in small sections, so the dirty water doesn't settle back into the grout.
3. How to Clean Shower Tile Grout
If white vinegar doesn’t clean the grout, step up to a paste made of baking soda and water. Apply it to the grout lines and then spray them with a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water, as described above. The mixture will foam. When it stops, scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with clean water.
You can also clean shower tile grout with some hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray it on the grout or make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a bowl. Scrub, rinse or sponge with fresh water and repeat if needed.
4. How to Clean Shower Tile and Grout with a Steam Cleaner
A steam cleaner with a grout-cleaning nozzle that holds a scrub brush is an environmentally friendly way to clean grout. Scrub brushes made of nylon are generally safe for grout and tiles, but brass scrub brushes for steam cleaners may damage them.
Before you start steam cleaning, damp mop the floor tiles or sponge clean the wall tiles with a mild detergent to remove loose dirt and anything else that might clog the cleaner.
Some steam cleaners work only on floor tile, so be sure your model will work on wall and shower tiles. Then follow the manufacturer’s directions to clean the grout. Stop every now and then to rinse and mop or sponge up the dirty water, so it doesn’t settle back into the grout.
5. How to Keep Shower Tile and Grout Clean
To keep your tiles looking clean and bright, clean them two or three times a week with a product designed to remove soap scum.
Squeegee the shower walls, floor, and shower door to dry them. If needed, wipe them down with a towel to remove any drips or spots.
Run the bathroom fan for about 20 minutes or open a window to remove humidity.
Leave the shower door or curtain slightly open for air circulation.
After cleaning the grout and letting it dry thoroughly, treat it with a tile and grout sealer every year or two to help it last longer and stay cleaner.