Removing excess water from your glass shower doors may be the last thing you want to do after a nice, relaxing shower. But doing so is crucial, and, yes, it should be done after every shower. Failure to do so can lead to hard water and soap scum buildup, which can eventually permanently damage the surface.
Hard water buildup can occur wherever there is water, as it comes from natural dissolved minerals. When the water evaporates, these minerals are left behind. If left long enough, they can become hard as a rock and etched into the surface.
Soap scum is the result of bar soap interacting with your natural body oils. Though it won't damage glass or ceramic surfaces like hard water buildup, it is usually tricky to remove.
There is a long list of remedies for keeping glass shower doors clean, ranging from soap to steel wool, to harsh commercial cleaners.
Dish soap and many store-bought cleaning solutions can produce too many suds, which will leave unsightly streaks on glass doors. They are also not the right formula to deal with base-pH mineral buildup.
The age-old DIY cleaning method of mixing baking soda with white vinegar is ineffective, despite many online tips to the contrary. The fizzy reaction may make it seem like the concoction is dissolving soap scum and hard water, but it isn't. Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. Combining the two creates a chemical reaction which only produces water with trace amounts of salt, which is not strong enough to get rid of grime and soap scum.
Steel wool, even at its ultra-finest, can etch glass and leave it looking like it's covered in tiny spider webs.
As a last-ditch effort, many people turn to glass cleaners or bleach to clean glass shower doors with hard water stains. Commercial glass cleaners often contain ammonia, which can irritate skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. Similarly, bleach can damage your skin, lungs, and eyes and produce toxic fumes if mixed with other cleaning solutions. Neither is effective on mineral buildup.
Simple Green Lime Scale Remover is specially formulated to effectively dissolve and remove mineral deposits without traditional harmful acids. It can be used as a spray and a highly-effective foam to clean soap scum off glass shower doors, shower walls, sinks, toilets, and tiles.
Instead of using a cloth or paper towels, use a squeegee to remove water and residue after each shower. Doing so will help reduce chalky streaks and marks from hard-water stains, limescale, and other mineral buildup and mildew growth.
On top of your daily maintenance, wipe down your shower about once a week (when you clean the rest of the bathroom), and deep clean it monthly.
If spraying above your head, wear eye protection. Always spot test a hidden area before beginning.
TIP: Reduce the amount of soap scum on glass by swapping your bar soap for liquid soap. Liquid varieties don’t contain the talc and solids that can increase gunky buildup.
TIP: To learn how to properly clean your shower head, click here.
