Home Cleaning Cleaning How-Tos How to Clean Glass Shower Doors So They Sparkle—2 Natural Cleaners Clean your glass shower door (in no time) with these DIY cleaning solutions that restore clarity and shine. By Natalie Perez Natalie Perez Natalie Perez has been a writer and multimedia designer for five years. Highlights: * Began her career as an editorial intern at Real Simple * She is currently the senior designer of digital experience at American Airlines. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 23, 2024 Fact checked by Haley Mades Fact checked by Haley Mades Haley is a Wisconsin-based creative freelancer and recent graduate. She has worked as an editor, fact checker, and copywriter for various digital and print publications. Her most recent position was in academic publishing as a publicity and marketing assistant for the University of Wisconsin Press Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article How Often to Clean Glass Shower Doors How to Clean Glass Shower Doors With Vinegar How to Clean Glass Shower Doors With Lemon Juice Removing Water Stains From Glass Shower Doors How to Clean Glass Shower Door Tracks With Vinegar How to Keep Your Glass Shower Doors Clean Longer Knowing how to clean glass shower doors is crucial if you want a sparkling clean bathroom. Glass shower doors get dirty frequently, thanks to the water droplets, shower products, and body soil that cling to their surface, and can permanently etch the glass. You can use a soap scum remover, or follow these steps for a clean glass shower door that shines, using cleaning solutions made with household items. How Often to Clean Glass Shower Doors Glass shower doors should be cleaned after every use—and if daily cleaning isn't manageable, deep clean your shower door weekly at a minimum. You can simply wipe the surface clean to remove water and buildup, or try a quick spray with a DIY or commercial shower cleaner that is removed with a squeegee. You can also spray your shower door with a daily glass cleaner that doesn't even need to be wiped off or squeegeed. To Clean With Lemon Juice Spray bottle Lemon juice Distilled water Dishwashing soap Non-abrasive sponge or squeegee Microfiber towels To Clean Shower Door Tracks Paper towel or old washcloth Distilled white vinegar Toothbrush Distilled water Microfiber towel To Remove Water Stains 1/2 lemon Baking soda Microfiber towels Distilled white vinegar Microwaveable glass bowl Dishwashing soap Spray bottle Non-abrasive sponge Non-sudsing ammonia Distilled water SL-F/Getty Images How to Clean Glass Shower Doors With Vinegar You likely have everything you need to clean your glass shower doors with vinegar in your home. Diluting distilled white vinegar in distilled water with a touch of dishwashing soap will help clean away soap scum—and a sponge or squeegee and microfiber towels help clean and shine your shower doors. You Can Use Cleaning Vinegar to Clean Almost Everything Distilled white vinegar contains acetic acid that will cut through soap scum; however, the acid can damage unsealed natural stone. Do not use this method on showers with stone. Step 1: Mix a Cleaning Solution Mix two parts of distilled white vinegar with two parts of distilled water in a spray bottle. Add 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to help the solution cling to the glass. Step 2: Spray the Glass Starting at the top of the glass door, liberally spray the solution onto the glass. Let the solution work for at least five minutes to break down the soap scum. This vinegar solution can be used as a daily cleanser. If you use it this way after every shower while the glass is wet, there is no need to wait. Step 3: Wipe the Glass Starting at the top, use a non-abrasive sponge or squeegee to wipe the glass down. If the vinegar solution has dried, add a bit more. Step 4: Rinse and Dry If using a sponge for cleaning, rinse the glass with water, then dry it with a lint-free microfiber towel. If you are cleaning with a squeegee, use the towel to remove any smudges or smears. How to Clean Glass Shower Doors With Lemon Juice Lemon juice is a slightly gentler (though still effective) cleanser for glass shower doors. You'll use most of the same ingredients and tools as above—distilled water, a touch of dishwashing soap, a sponge or squeegee, microfiber towels, and a spray bottle—but swap in the lemon juice for the vinegar. Lemon juice contains citric acid (not as strong as the acetic acid in vinegar) and can be used for daily cleaning. However, even though it is milder, it should not be used around natural stone showers. Step 1: Mix a Cleaning Solution Mix equal parts lemon juice and distilled water in a spray bottle. Add 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Step 2: Spray the Glass Start at the top of the glass door and spray the surface with the solution. Let it work for about five minutes. Step 3: Wipe the Glass Starting at the top, wipe the glass with a non-abrasive sponge or squeegee. Working from the top down helps avoid smudging and streaks. Step 4: Rinse and Dry Rinse away any solution with water. (If using a squeegee, rinsing may not be necessary.) Use a microfiber towel to dry the glass and remove streaks and smudges. Removing Water Stains From Glass Shower Doors You can use several different cleaning strategies for removing stubborn water stains from your glass shower door—including using lemon or vinegar, ammonia, a gentle abrasive like baking soda, or a targeted and potent cleaner made for glass shower doors. Here's a quick look at how to do remove water stains from glass shower doors: Lemon: Dip the cut half of a lemon in baking soda, and gently scrub the stained areas of the glass. Rinse well and dry with a lint-free cloth or towel.Vinegar: Heat undiluted distilled white vinegar in a microwaveable bowl until very warm but not boiling, then add 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Pour the heated vinegar mixture into a spray bottle or use a sponge to apply it to the glass—and allow the vinegar to work for five to 10 minutes. Dip a sponge in dry baking soda and gently scrub any stained areas. There will be some fizzing, but it will quickly dissipate. Rinse well and dry the glass with a lint-free cloth.Ammonia: Add 1 tablespoon of non-sudsing household ammonia to 1 quart of warm distilled water in a spray bottle. Spray the water stains and wait five minutes, then scrub the area with a non-abrasive sponge. Rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth. Ammonia is a common ingredient in commercial shower and bathroom cleaners. It has a very strong odor and should not be combined with other cleaning products. However, it is effective on water stains. Open a window and be sure to have ventilation when cleaning with ammonia. How to Clean Glass Shower Door Tracks With Vinegar Shower door tracks catch all of the soap scum and dirt that slides down the glass. Be sure to clean them each time you deep clean the glass shower doors to help prevent mold, algae, and soap scum buildup. Step 1: Plug the Drainage Hole Locate the drainage hole or slit in the shower door track. Plug it with an old washcloth or paper towel. Step 2: Fill Track With Vinegar Pour undiluted distilled white vinegar into the track. Let it sit and work for at least four hours or overnight. Step 3: Scrub the Track Once the vinegar has been allowed to break down the soap scum, unplug the drainage holes to drain the vinegar. Use a toothbrush to scrub away the soap scum and dirt. Step 4: Rinse and Dry Rinse the shower door track with distilled water. Scrub again (if needed) with a toothbrush dipped in vinegar. Rinse and dry with a microfiber towel. How to Keep Your Glass Shower Doors Clean Longer To help your shower door stay clean longer, try these tips. Use a squeegee or microfiber towel to wipe dry your glass shower doors after every use, even if you don't use a cleaner. Mix a cleaning solution in a spray bottle (such as the vinegar or lemon solutions above) and keep it in the shower for daily use. To reduce soap scum, switch to liquid body wash. It is less likely than bar soap to react with minerals in water and create water stains. Consider installing a water-softening system in your home if you live in an area with hard water. How to Clean a Shower Drain and Prevent Smells Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit