Do you know how difficult it is to clean glass shower doors? Your bathroom can start looking less presentable very soon when soap scum and hard water stains accumulate quickly. While most of us probably have daily cleaners or a quick wipe down, sometimes shit needs to be cleaned. That is why I finally decided to put five different cleaning methods to the test and find out what works best to clean glass shower doors. In the end, I was surprised at the results and found a clear winner in an area that I did not expect to be the case.
So let’s get into each method, how it performed, and why one stood out from the rest.
Why I Created a Better Way to Clean,
For daily cleaning, I have been using a diluted DIY cleaner with dish soap, vinegar, and water. This is what I spray on everything after every shower and then I squeegee the doors to keep them clear. But lately, I was seeing cloudiness and water spots that my routine was struggling to correct. This motivated me to search for a superior cleaning aid.
I gave these approaches a fair shake by withholding my daily dose of cleaner and squeegee-ing for a week. This allowed the build-up of stains on the glass to occur in an organic fashion so I could track the effectiveness of each method.
How I Tested the Methods
I tested the five cleaning techniques on two of my own shower doors. I used the doors as a guide and split them up into partitions and used 1 technique on each partition. When scoring each method on the methodology it was scored 1-5 based on:
- Efficacy: How clean and clear the glass looked afterward.
- Ease of Use: How simple was the method to adopt?
- Time Taken: The method and effort that was taken to do this.
Results So, we will see the results now.
METHOD 1: Liquid Dish Soap, Vinegar, and Water
Rating: 1/5
The cleaner I’ve been using at home for everyday cleaning. In a spray bottle, I combined some dish soap, vinegar, a little water, and some lavender essential oil. I sprayed it on heavily, waited 30 mins, scrubbed it with a brush, and rinsed it off.
Results:
It looked pristine at a distance but I steamed up the glass and was able to see hard water spots still. While a decent option for cleaning my items, this method did not provide me with the high-level deep clean I was seeking. It works well for an average day-to-day use but does not work on stubborn stains.
Method 2: Dryer Sheet
Rating: 2/5
I then placed a dryer sheet and scrubbed against the glass in the areas where there was hard water stain and soap scum.
Results:
Pretty remarkable that the dryer sheet lifted out some stains. But it was a headache to do so. It was either sliding or sort of adhering to the glass making it difficult to work with. Good for small touch-ups but will never make sense as a full-door clean type tool.
Method 3: Magic Eraser
Rating: 4/5
I wet a Magic Eraser and scrubbed the glass in circular motions. Every time the sponge dried, I filled in a bit of water and kept scrubbing.
Results:
Magic Eraser worked effectively on hard water stains and build-up. It was harder work than other methods, but very much worth it. It is ideal for fast cleanups or when you want to focus on certain areas.
Method 4: Bar Keepers Friend
Rating: 3/5
I used Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser, with a damp sponge. I made sure to really scrub the glass, leave it for a couple of minutes to dry, then rinse it off and wipe the door down with a microfiber towel too.
Results:
While this method did effectively remove stains, it was not without flaws. The product: The texture was gritty and hard to apply, and the smell was overpowering and lasted in the bathroom. This technically works, but it’s not the most elegant way to do it.
Method No 5: Pine-Sol and Soft Cloth
Rating: 5/5
I added some Pine-Sol to a wet microfiber cloth and rubbed the glass in circles. For this one, I used the cleaner full strength, but I will be using a diluted version in the future.
Results:
So this was the definite winning method of the two. Cleaning was a breeze: it zapped hard water stains and soap scum away with little effort and the glass was left spotless and gleaming. Bonus if you get the fresh pine scent. Incredibly simple, quick, and super effective. This is going to be my method of choice for deep cleansing from now on!
What I Learned
The advantages and disadvantages of each method Though the DIY cleaner and sheet did a good job at keeping things reasonably clean, it was never going to cut it for a soapy scrub down. Both the Magic Eraser and Bar Keepers Friend worked, but each required a greater effort and had some limitations. Of the cleaners we tested, though, Pine-Sol performed the best with the least amount of hassle.
Cleaning Guidelines For Glass Shower Doors
- Daily Cleaning: Use a daily cleaner and spray a solution daily then wipe with a squeegee.
- Deep Clean Once a Month: For tougher stains, use something like Pine-Sol with a microfiber towel.
- Dry the Glass When you take a shower, immediately wipe the doors after use to avoid water stains.
Maintaining a sparkling shower door is not a nightmare. Using the correct approach, you can have a clean and fresh toilet with little to no effort. If you haven´t tried mixing pine sol on your shower doors, then do try, you might get a surprise just as I do!