How to Clean a Glass Shower Screen

How to Clean a Glass Shower Screen to get it shiny!  Sometimes I feel like I’m just smearing it with product to make it look even worse!

Glass shower doors are now more popular and a more modern option for homes across Australia. Unlike a traditional shower curtain, a glass screen is better at keeping water in the shower and away from the floor.

They are also safer for little ones as there is no risk of them standing up in the shower and pulling the curtain completely down. But let’s face it – glass shower screens are a BITCH to keep clean.

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You may find that over time your glass shower screen starts looking duller and duller with a murky colouring or spots that you simply cannot get rid of.

Hard water and soap buildup on glass shower screens slowly build up and if not cleaned, it can permanently damage your glass shower screen as it slowly ‘etches’ the glass – leaving it less than perfectly shiny.  If it feels like no matter what you do, you can’t get your shower screen completely clean, then you are in good company.

Your shower can be perfectly spotless but if there is still a residue build-up on the screen, then this can leave your shower looking dirty and uninviting. If you don’t want to try the harsher shower screen chemicals, you are in luck. There are several more natural cleaning solutions that will work on cleaning your glass shower screen without posing health risks to you and your family.

More Reading: Where to Buy Wholesale Essential Oils

“However before going into cleaning details, you can also consider treated glass for shower doors. Treated or coating glass is less likely to catch hard water or soap scum stains and thus requires less maintenance and cleaning…”

All of these ideas will do the trick!

It just depends on what you have lying around the house:

Home-Made Shower Cleaner

This basic shower cleaner is just as good (if not better) than most commercially available shop-bought shower cleaning products – which can be seriously expensive.  This is a cheap and easy solution. It’s easy.  Here’s how:

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 teaspoon washing up/dishwashing liquid

Mix this all together and place it in a spray bottle.  Give the shower a good spray with the mixture, and all the grime will wipe straight off!

Use Magic Erasers

Magic Erasers are fine-like fibres that power through grime without the use of any chemical detergents. Simply activate it with water and wipe the glass.  They are awesome at getting rid of soap scum.

Magic Erasers or similar products work wonderfully to cut through soap scum on glass shower screens.

Try Using Fabric Softener

By adding one cup of fabric softener to one litre of warm water is an effective way to get rid of that residue and soap scum on your glass shower screen. Simply wipe the mixture on the door and then rinse it off with warm water from your shower.  If you happen to have a dryer and have dryer sheets handy, then wipe the dryer sheets along the shower door. This can also remove the soap scum.

How to Prevent Soap Scum From Forming on the Glass

Soap scrum can be prevented forever if you give your glass shower screen a really good clean, then wipe it over with baby oil.

Use steel wool to gently rub the oil in and remove as much remaining scum as you can.  Yes, it looks awful huh.  Next, soak a cloth in white vinegar, and buff the shower screen using circular motions. Then rinse (wash it really well as the oil that runs onto the floor can be slippery!).  This gives your shower screen a beautiful streak-free shine.

Any baby oil will do.  I just buy the generic brand which is just as good.

Gentle Glass Shower Screen Cleaner: White Vinegar

White vinegar is the one item that every household should have. It is effective and safe in cleaning a number of different things and your glass shower screen is no different. Simply put white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it onto the shower door. Scrub the mixture onto the screen with a Non-Scratch Scourer Scrub before rinsing off with warm water.

Make sure you label the spray bottle so that you know what item is in there. You don’t want your kids to find the spray bottle and assume it is water.

White vinegar is cheap as chips (and good on chips) and can be used to clean the whole home!

Bicarbonate of Soda

Bicarb is another magic cleaning solution that will not only clean the shower but also deodorize your bathroom. Get your shower screen wet before wiping the shower screen with baking soda on a cloth. You can expect a paste to form on the door when you mix the baking soda with the water. Rinse off with warm water after.

More Reading: List of Bulk Cleaning Supplies You Can Buy Online

Invest in a Squeegee

The biggest cause of mineral buildup and stains on your shower screen is water sitting on the glass for extended periods of time.  If you want to keep that glass super clean, super shiny and always looking good, invest in a squeegee (which you can pick up in the cleaning section of the supermarket or hardware store).  Encourage the family to give the shower screen a quick ‘squeegee’ after every shower.  Seriously – the kids love doing this so it won’t be a chore!  You will notice that you don’t even need to clean your shower screen anymore because it keeps it looking so good!

Squeegee’s are only a few dollars and you can pick them up in the cleaning section of your supermarket.

Lemon Juice and Salt

This is the most effective option if your glass shower door frames are made out of metal. Over time you may notice that rust forms which can make your shower look dirty and old as well. Combine one tablespoon of lemon juice to two tablespoons of salt and form a paste. Using a toothbrush, scrub the mixture into the corners where the rust is forming. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

Lemon Oil

Another good household remedy to keep the soap residue at bay is lemon oil. Simply spray lemon oil (orange oil works too) to the door and buff it off with a cloth. However, don’t use this technique too often as it can cause some damage. Every two weeks should keep your shower looking fresh, clean and smelling much better too.

SAHM’s All-Purpose Eucalyptus Cleaner – this works beautifully on built up soap scum on shower screens!

And if it is too hard…

Honestly, cleaning both shower screens and windows in general is a pretty damn sucky job.

So if window cleaning makes you lose the will to live, call in the professionals and sit back and watch with a glass of Prosecco!

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