Clean shower doors with vinegar
How to clean shower doors with vinegar
ByAshley Bryant Published Updated
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Trust me, I know how hard it is to keep glass shower doors clean.
When we renovated our master bathroom and added a glass shower it was love at first site, but then only after a few uses, I realized how quickly the glass got dirty.
Keeping your glass shower doors clean is so important. Hard water and soap buildup can actually permanently damage your glass if you don’t get to it in time.
Lucky for you cleaning shower doors is actually pretty simple and with just a little elbow grease and common household items, you’ll have your shower doors clean in no time!
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Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean shower doors with vinegar:
White vinegar is something you should have in your house at all times. Not only does it work to clean your fruits and veggies, but it also gets that mildew smell out of towels, freshens linens and even gets rid of soap scum and build up on your shower doors.
To use vinegar to clean glass shower doors with hard water stains you’ll need the following:
- A spray bottle
- White vinegar
- Water
- Microfiber cloth/or sponge
- Squeegee
Directions:
- Heat up vinegar in microwave until very warm.
- Next, fill a spray bottle with 1 part vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Mix well.
- Spray solution directly onto shower doors and massage into the glass using a microfiber cloth or sponge.
- Let solution sit for 15 minutes.
- Spray shower clean and follow up using a shower squeegee.
Note: if your soap scum is pretty heavy, consider using a mixture of half vinegar, half water. If that still doesn’t work, try the other cleaning techniques below.
Related: Is it necessary to seal grout?
How to: Dawn and vinegar shower cleaner
Dawn dish detergent is another great item to have on hand. Dawn is a popular way to remove grease stains from clothes and also works really well to remove soap scum build up from your shower.
To clean your shower doors with vinegar and dawn you’ll need the following:
- 1 cup vinegar
- Dawn dish detergent
- spray bottle
- squeegee
- bowl
Directions:
- Heat up 1 cup vinegar in microwave.
- Mix vinegar with 1 cup dawn (make sure it’s dawn blue dish detergent).
- Fill solution in spray bottle and spray directly onto shower walls.
- Massage solution into shower doors using scrub brush.
- Allow solution to sit on shower doors.
- Rinse off.
- Follow up with a microfiber cloth or shower squeegee.
How long do you leave dawn and vinegar on shower doors?
Ideally you want the dawn and vinegar solution to permeate the soap scum, so leaving on for at least 10 minutes is a good idea.
I typically spray the shower doors first, clean with a cloth and then clean the rest of my grout and tile in the shower. Remember to rinse with warm water and finish with a squeegee.
How to: Vinegar and baking soda shower cleaner
If you’ve got some heavy duty soap scum and grime on your shower doors that plain old vinegar won’t touch, it might be time to step up your cleaning game by using vinegar and baking soda.
Adding baking soda to the vinegar gives it some grit and works to really penetrate the soap scum. With this recipe you’ll have more of a paste, rather than a solution, so just mix the two in a cup or shallow bowl.
To clean shower doors with vinegar and baking soda you’ll need:
- 1 ½ cups vinegar
- ½ baking soda
- sponge/brush
- squeegee/microfiber cloth
Directions:
- Warm 1 ½ cups of vinegar in microwave
- Pour warmed vinegar over ½ cup of baking soda, just enough to combine and make a paste– Don’t let it get too runny.
- Combine in bowl or cup. There will be bubbles! Combining vinegar and baking soda is perfectly safe but it will cause a chemical reaction, hence the bubbles.
- Rub onto shower doors and work into glass using a sponge or brush
- Rinse solution with warm water and finish with a microfiber cloth or squeegee
How to keep glass shower doors clean in between cleanings
Glass shower doors are a beautiful element to any bathroom, but if you don’t stay on top of the cleaning, they can quickly become unsightly.
Once you’ve completed a thorough cleaning using one of the techniques I mentioned above, there are a few things you can do to cut down on your cleaning time and keep your shower doors sparkling.
Use a squeegee or microfiber cloth
Using a squeegee or microfiber cloth to wipe down your shower doors after every use is the key to preventing hard water stains and keeping your glass looking fresh and clear in between cleanings.
I keep a squeegee in our shower and trust me, the difference it makes is amazing.
I’m someone that can’t stand to see stains on my beautiful glass, and using a squeegee does the trick!
Keep a spray bottle filled with 1 part vinegar, 3 parts water
It doesn’t hurt to keep a spray bottle mixed with 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water in your shower. I like to spray down my walls about every 3 or so days and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
Use Rain-x to keep shower doors clean
Using Rain-x to keep shower doors free of hard water stains is a little trick I stumbled upon years ago, and wow, does it work.
Once you deep clean your shower doors using one of the methods above, finish off with a little Rain-x. Use a microfiber cloth to buff in the Rain-x, drying as you go.
Closing thoughts on cleaning shower doors with vinegar
Never underestimate the power of all-natural household cleaning products like vinegar to keep your shower doors clean.
If you’ve got a glass shower door riddled with hard water stains and soap scum, don’t attempt to use a commercial cleaning solution to clean your glass, and instead opt to clean with vinegar!
Related vinegar cleaning hacks
The microwave cleaning hack you need
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Ashley Bryant
Ashley Bryant is a Certified True Colour Expert, design enthusiast and co-owner of Home Like You Mean It.
Together Ashley and her husband, Daniel help homeowners renovate and decorate their home by sharing their knowledge, expertise and passion.
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How to Make the Best Shower Door Cleaner Ever with Dawn & Vinegar
Here’s how to make the best shower door cleaner EVER using Dawn & vinegar~a powerhouse combo to leave glass shower doors sparkling clean.
Update: I recently discovered that the Dawn-Vinegar solution also works to clean the greasy gunk from oven doors. I’ll share this great discovery at the end of this post!
What are shower doors made of?
Most shower doors are made of tempered glass, a special type of glass that is safer if broken than regular glass. In this post, I have only tested this solution on glass shower doors. I am not recommending it for any other shower door or for any tile, stone or marble.
What causes white stains on shower doors?
Most white stains on shower doors are hard water stains, sometimes called soap scum.
It is what remains on shower doors when hard water mixes with dirt, soap residue, and body oils. If allowed to build up over time, the deposits harden and can be very difficult to clean. The most commonplace for soap scum to cling is to the shower doors that are used regularly. The steam, water, soaps, shampoos, and other bathing products eventually end up causing a cloudy film on the shower doors that is very unattractive.
What dish soap works best to clean shower doors?
Dawn is the only dish soap that I ever use~for dishes and for cleaning shower doors. Why? In a word~grease. Dawn is the only dish soap (to my knowledge) containing a special grease fighting agent that almost melts grease into oblivion.
What is the best vinegar to clean shower doors?
The vinegar that works in this dynamic Dawn & vinegar duo is plain white distilled vinegar. It is the least expensive vinegar you can buy, and it is also the best one to tackle this and other household cleaning tasks.
Distilled white vinegar is the “workhorse” or all vinegar!
What tools do I need to clean my shower doors?
The tools that I use to clean my shower doors with the Dawn & vinegar solution are a microfiber cloth or clean washcloth to wipe down the shower doors after they have been sprayed with the solution, a good spray shower to rinse the solution, and a squeegee (if I can find it) to wipe the shower doors dry.
Dawn & vinegar works better than store bought cleaners.
I’ve tried myriad cleaners specifically for bathrooms~from Rain-X to scrubbing bubbles and beyond. I’ve never had any store bought cleaner work better than this easy, inexpensive, DIY Dawn vinegar solution.
What is so special about Dawn and vinegar?
- Dawn breaks down grease and grime. Of all the dishwashing soaps you can buy, Dawn is the best at removing oils. In oil spills, it is the best solution for cleaning the birds’ feathers without harming their skin.
The reason? Dawn contains petroleum. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works. - Vinegar removes residue and imparts shine. It is a nature’s wonder that can be used for so many purposes. My dermatologist Dr. Jo Herzog shares what it does in this post on Listerine vinegar foot soak.
Which Dawn should I use for shower door cleaner?
If you want the breakdown of the different Dawn dish detergent options, I list them below. In my opinion, any Dawn will do a beautiful job, along with vinegar, of cleaning shower doors.
- The New and Improved Dawn Ultra Blue contains “3X More Grease Cleaning Power.” It is 3 times stronger than non-ultra Dawn (regular Dawn).
- 3X Dawn is 50% stronger than the 2X varieties.
- Note that some other varieties of Dawn Ultra still say “2X Grease Cleaning Power.”
The recipe for Dawn & vinegar shower door cleaner.
- Use equal parts Dawn + vinegar.
You can also cut the Dawn if your mixture is too thick. - Heat the solution in the microwave for 2 minutes (do not boil). Stir well, and pour into the bottle when not too hot. This is key for the effective mixing/blending of the mixture.
- Put the solution into a good spray bottle. These clear spray bottles come in a set of 3 and are less than $20.
- Use a funnel for mess-free pouring. Collapsable funnels like these are ideal as they don’t take up drawer space.
How to clean shower doors with Dawn + Vinegar.
- Spray the Dawn + Vinegar solution liberally on dry shower doors. Wet shower doors dilute the mixture. Also, the solution clings to dry shower doors better than wet ones.
- Leave on for at least 2-3 minutes. I shower while the solution is on my shower doors which takes about 5 minutes.
- Wipe shower doors with a wet washcloth. I toss an extra washcloth into the shower with me when I plan to wash the shower doors.
I let it get wet while I am showering, and it is ready to use when it is time to wipe the Dawn + Vinegar solution off the shower doors. - Rinse shower doors with warm water. My shower head is handheld, so I start from the top and rinse all the doors until they are crystal clear.
- Wipe the doors down with a squeegee. This white Oxo squeegee is something I love and keep it in the shower just for this purpose. If you don’t wipe the doors with a squeegee, the doors will still be clean, but they won’t dry as crystal clear.
Baking soda also works to clean shower doors.
Baking soda acts as an abrasive, and combined with vinegar, can be very effective at dissolving many hard water spots and soap scum. If you want to try this method, simply saturate a sponge or cloth with vinegar, then coat it with baking soda. Use a little elbow grease to scrub until the soap scum disappears. Rinse with warm water to remove any remaining residue.
Watch me use this to clean my shower doors.
In the short video below, I mix up a solution of Dawn & vinegar and show how quick and easy it is to clean shower doors. It really takes no scrubbing~just a tiny bit of elbow grease and a good shower head sprayer.
Note: If you do the process while showering, be prepared for a strong vinegar smell. This doesn’t really bother me at all since vinegar is natural and non-toxic.
Dawn Vinegar for Oven Door GunkWatch me use Dawn & vinegar as an oven door cleaner.
I recently discovered that Dawn & vinegar shower door solution is hugely effective at cleaning oven doors. If you have an oven, you know how the doors get covered in “gunk” made of grease. See below how effective this solution is at removing oven door gunk.
Materials
- Original (blue) Dawn
- white vinegar
- spray bottle
Tools
- funnel
- 8 cup glass measuring bowl
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups Dawn and 2 cups vinegar into a glass bowl.
- Stir; heat 4 minutes in the microwave; remove and stir again.
- Using a funnel, carefully pour the solution into the spray bottle. *
- Shake well to mix the solution. Use as needed on shower doors.
Notes
* Be careful not to burn yourself if the solution is hot.
** If Dawn is a thicker, commercial type version, use 2 parts vinegar to one part Dawn so that it won't be too thick.
What to do if your Dawn-Vinegar gets thick.
If your your Dawn vinegar solution gets thick or is difficult to spray from the bottle, there is an easy solution. First, empty your bottle that is too thick, and rinse the sprayer well with water to flush out the sprayer. Second, mix a new solution following different proportions that I share in the short video below.
So there you have it~my favorite cleaning hack for the bathroom~Dawn + Vinegar Shower Door Cleaner. I hope you try this; if so, please comment so the rest of us can hear your thoughts!!!
As always, thanks so much for stopping by.
Be blessed, and stay (shower door) savvy!!!
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The Best Way to Clean Glass Shower Doors
Experts Share Their Best Ways to Clean Glass Shower Doors
They are a common addition to most, if not all, modern bathrooms. They can become a distinctive feature as well as add a touch of elegance. But they can also be a source of serious disappointment. We are, of course, talking about glass shower doors.
Constant exposure to water, steam, soap and shampoo means that glass shower doors can often be the site of dirt and mineral deposits. In this article, we wanted to share with you the best way to clean glass shower doors. In this article, you will find the following useful information:
- DIY shower cleaning tips that mean you can avoid harsh chemicals in your bathroom. These cleaning solutions are environmentally friendly.
- A list of suitable cleaning tools to make deep cleaning and preventive maintenance of your glass shower doors easier.
- Preventive measures.
You can spend hours cleaning the rest of the bathroom. But, if the shower door is dirty, it will give the impression of an unclean bathroom. Glass shower doors are not easy to clean, especially if they haven't been looked after for a while. It's not that easy, and a standard glass cleaner with a cloth is also unlikely to help. We've gathered the best advice from our experts to put together this article on the best way to clean glass shower doors. nine0005
We will look at deep cleaning first, and then we will talk about active maintenance in the future so that you do not have to do deep cleaning as often.
When discussing the best ways to clean glass shower doors, the first thing all of our experts recommend is making sure you have the right tools for the job. Keep them together so they are always at hand. Here is a recommended list of materials.
- white vinegar nine0009 Water (distilled may be preferable depending on your local water supply)
- Dishwashing liquid (optional)
- Microfibre cloths
- Empty spray bottle
- Squeegee (for daily maintenance)
- Old toothbrush
Pro Tip: If you want your bathroom to smell good, you can also add some essential oils to this list.
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Glass shower door cleaning process
Once you have all the supplies you need, it's time to start cleaning. Our experts recommend that you follow the instructions below when cleaning your glass shower doors. The process is simple, but not necessarily easy. If you want to have a little more fun, our experts suggest listening to your favorite music while cleaning.
1. Mix glass shower door cleaner. nine0003
One of the most effective and non-toxic ways to clean glass shower doors is with a mixture of vinegar and water. Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water. Heat the mixture in the microwave until well mixed, then allow the cleaning solution to cool. After cooling, you must add the cleaning mixture to the sprayer. Some people like the smell of vinegar. If this smell does not suit you, try adding a couple of drops of essential oils. If you're worried that vinegar might damage your shower niche, you can use dishwashing liquid. nine0005
2. Spray on the glass shower door and let it do its job.
The next step to help you see a clean glass shower door is to spray the cleaning solution that you have already prepared. You can then leave it on for 30 minutes to work its magic (but it does most of its work in the first few minutes). This will help get rid of stubborn dirt, stains and other deposits.
3. Wash the door with clean water and a clean sponge. nine0003
The next step for cleaning glass shower doors is cleaning the solution. This is best done with a clean sponge or cloth dampened with warm water. Wipe the doors to remove all cleaning solution and dirt.
4. Wipe and dry the door with a microfibre cloth.
You should work from top to bottom with a microfiber towel, making sure all dirt is removed. Working from top to bottom, you can also use a cloth to remove streaks and stains. Leave clean glass shower doors sparkling. nine0005
5. Regular maintenance is your best protection for clean glass shower doors.
You need to maintain your glass shower door on a regular basis to prevent a massive accumulation of dirt in the future.
The easiest way to do this is to regularly wipe the door with a squeegee after a shower. Regular maintenance extends life and helps prevent potential damage.
Pro Tip: If hard water stains and dirt cannot be removed with this method, the best option is to use a steam cleaner to remove the stains. This is the fastest and most efficient method. nine0005
Tip 2: If, like most people, you don't have a steam cleaner handy, try using a lemon and some salt. Cut a lemon in half, treat it with kitchen salt, and rub the shower screen. Squeeze well to release the juice, and add salt from time to time.
Note: If you have mold stuck to the edges of your shower door, then an old toothbrush will come in handy. Spray with vinegar and scrape off.
When should glass shower doors be cleaned? nine0003
You can clean your glass shower doors at any time, but you may find it easier to clean your glass shower doors immediately after the last person has showered during the day. There are several reasons for this.
Warm water and steam in your bathroom will help get rid of dirt. If you can't do this immediately after your family showers, let the hot water run for a bit to achieve the same result.
This gives your cleaning solution a better chance of doing its magic without the need for over-cleaning. While you're letting your cleaning solution do its magic, our experts suggest doing other things at the same time, like cleaning the toilet, walls, or sink while you wait. nine0005
Shower glass door cleaning schedule.
At this point, you are probably wondering how often glass shower doors should be cleaned. As we mentioned in this article, your job will become easier with regular predictive and preventive maintenance. That's how often you'll likely need to complete certain tasks.
- Every 1-2 months - Every 1-2 months you will need to deep clean your glass shower doors according to the above process using your cleaning solution. When you're deep cleaning, don't forget to go into all the nooks and crannies around the glass shower door.
This is where a special toothbrush comes in handy. Using this brushing toothbrush will remove all soap scum and deposits. However, the more you do the following two things, the less frequently you will need to deep clean your glass shower doors. nine0010
- Every 1-2 weeks - you need to wipe the shower door with a sponge. You don't need to use a cleaning solution, but wipe the door thoroughly after you shower so the steam and hot water can make it easier for you.
- 2-3 times a week - a couple of times a week you should take out the squeegee and wipe the glass doors. You should leave the shower door and the bathroom door open to dry everything.
A few final thoughts and tips
The more you mop and sponge (we promise it won't take long), the less often you'll need to deep clean your glass shower doors. nine0005
To make your life easier, you should have all the necessary items. Using the right cleaning products and having everything you need within reach and easy to find will make your job less stressful.
Raquel is your friend.
You can stop using soap altogether. Glass shower doors will be easier to clean if you use instant shower gels instead.
In this article, we have shared with you the process that experts recommend for clean glass shower doors. This will make the job as easy as possible. If you would like a no-obligation quote on home cleaning, if you would like us to provide you with clean glass shower doors, contact us today for a no-obligation quote. We look forward to your call. nine0005
Cleaning the shower enclosure from lime
Many owners of shower enclosures are faced with the problem of limescale accumulating on the walls. The reason for this is hard water - a frequent occurrence for Russian plumbing systems. It is quite difficult to deal with such deposits; even some household chemicals cannot remove them. Our article will tell you which cleaning fluids are best to use, and which folk methods can be used for cleaning. nine0005
Shower cleaners from the store
- Creamy: a good example is Cif.
It works well with lime, especially if you leave a thin layer of the agent on the soil for a short period of time, then wipe it off.
- Spray for glass surfaces: these sprays containing lime-dissolving substances do their job well. Their minus is an unpleasant pungent smell. They should not be used in closed, unventilated areas. nine0010
- Specialty liquids: There are special shower wall cleaners on the market that will help get rid of not only limescale, but also mold. They often have an antibacterial effect.
Folk shower cleaners
Table vinegar
A solution of 6% vinegar for cleaning is prepared in a ratio of one to two, i.e. 200 ml of vinegar will need 400 ml of water. A spray gun will help to conveniently distribute the liquid over the surface of the wall. You also need to use this method in a well-ventilated area. nine0005
Steps for cleaning the cabin with table vinegar:
- Prepare the solution in the indicated ratio.
- Apply to walls and leave for 15 minutes.
- Wipe with a dry cloth or tissue.
This method allows not only to get rid of mineral deposits on the glass, but also to restore the shine of chrome parts and kill 85% of bacteria.
Citric acid
100 grams of citric acid will also help get rid of limescale. It must be diluted in ½ liter of warm water. After that you need:
- Apply the solution to the dirt for 15 minutes.
- Wipe gently with a sponge.
- Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.
Citric acid with soda
This solution will rid the walls of the shower from plaque, as they say, right before your eyes. To prepare it, you will need 200 ml of water, 20 grams of soda and 30 grams of citric acid. You can mix the ingredients at once and treat with a mixture of pollution or do the cleaning in stages:
- Mix baking soda with water until a slurry forms and treat lime deposits with it.
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