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While you're getting all cleaned up in the shower, chances are your shower door is getting dirtier. Learning how to clean glass shower doors can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining your bathroom's gleam post-shower.
Whether you're hoping to remove hard water stains, scrub off soap scum or just give your shower a general deep-clean, we have some tips and tricks — including how to make a simple vinegar solution — to keep your walk-in shower door looking as good as new.
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And if you're ready to go all-out, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab have also tested shower cleaners and overall bathroom cleaners you can use to supplement our homemade solution. Continue reading for more on how to keep your shower door consistently clean.
How often should you clean your glass shower door?
While you should definitely schedule time to clean your glass shower door, simply squeegeeing on a daily basis will keep your shower in good shape so those deep cleans aren't as intimidating.
"I am a big fan of squeegeeing and drying down the shower walls (we even do the tub) after the last shower of the day," says Carolyn Forté, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director. With almost 1,500 5-star reviews on Amazon, this all-purpose squeegee will get the job done. Using it to wipe away water after each shower will help delay the formation of mold and mildew.
When it comes to deeper cleans, we recommend treating your shower door with the vinegar solution below on a weekly basis and using shower cleaners per manufacturer's instructions, whether that be monthly or more frequently.
How to clean a glass shower door
What You'll Need
- Distilled white vinegar
- Water
- Dishwashing liquid
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Microfiber cloth
Homexcel Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 12 Pack
- Combine ingredients: Add equal parts distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
- Add dishwashing liquid: Pour 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into the spray bottle.
- Let sit: Spritz solution onto shower door and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Wipe clean: After 15 minutes, use a microfiber cloth to wipe clean. For heavy build-up, scrub with a delicate scrubber or eraser-type sponge.
- Dry: Rinse and buff dry.
How to remove hard water stains
Cloudy spots can put a damper on your glass shower door's sparkle. These spots are most likely hard water stains, caused by water that contains high levels of "hard" minerals like magnesium, calcium and iron. As the water dries after you shower, these chalky white stains are left behind. But that doesn't mean they can't be treated — luckily, you can remove these spots with the same solution mentioned above so long as you act quickly. If left alone, these spots can eventually become permanent.
How to remove soap scum
Soap scum forms when oil- or grease-based ingredients react with minerals in water. You can use the same distilled vinegar, water and dishwashing liquid combination to remove this chalky, white residue from your shower door, or opt for CLR Brilliant Bath Foaming Action Cleaner.
For a DIY solution, you can mix baking soda with water to form a paste. Or you can use a scrubber like Good Housekeeping Seal star Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath.
What doesn't clean a glass shower door?
While homemade vinegar solutions and shower cleaners targeted for doors can clear up hard water stains, soap scum and leftover residue from your most recent shower, there are certain cleaning products that are best to skip for cleaning a glass door.
One popular concept is using dryer sheets. However, if you use fresh dryer sheets to clean a glass shower door, you will likely deposit the fabric softener from the sheets. You could use used dryer sheets as a DIY cloth if you don't have a microfiber cloth on hand. Bottom line: Keep this handy laundry product by the washer and dryer unless you want to repurpose used ones.
More tips to keep your glass shower door clean
Now that you know how to clean your glass shower door on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, here are some expert tips on how to maintain your shower door's shine:
- Wipe away water, mold and mildew with a squeegee every day.
- Keep your shower door dry.
- If you live in an area with high levels of magnesium and calcium minerals in your water, treat the door with cleaning solutions that target hard water stains.
- Deal with tough stains and problem areas using specific shower cleaning products. Opt for CLR Calcium,Lime & Rust Remover to remove hard water stains, limescale and rust stains.
- Treat your glass shower door with a protectant such as EnduroShield Glass Treatment Kit. Our Lab tests found the product successfully repelled water so future cleaning is easier.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
