How to Clean Glass Shower Doors So They’re Squeaky Clean and Streak-Free

Sparkling clean glass shower doors are a beautiful thing to behold…but once soap scum and grime starts to mar their surface, they can look downright creepy. (And the grossness is much harder to hide than, say, a moldy shower curtain liner.) As such, we asked a cleaning expert how to clean glass shower doors so they truly gleam and the good news is that the process is a total breeze, no matter which all-natural cleaning method you choose. Here’s everything you need to know.

Angela Lee is the content manager at Hellamaid, a top-rated, award-winning cleaning company in Ontario, Canada that specializes in residential properties.

Wondering how often you’ll be tasked with this shower cleaning chore? Well, there’s no definitive answer—namely because “how often you should clean your glass shower doors depends on several factors such as the frequency of use, water hardness, and the presence of hard water stains and soap scum,” explains Lee. However, as a general rule, the expert tells us that it’s a good idea to clean your glass shower doors once a week to prevent grimy buildup, and possibly more often than that if you have hard water, so hard water stains don’t develop.

Another good rule of thumb to follow is: If it looks dirty, clean it. Indeed, Lee emphasizes the importance of acting swiftly if you notice soap scum or other buildup forming on the glass, lest it have the opportunity to harden and become more difficult to remove. Fortunately, the process for cleaning glass shower doors is so easy, you won’t even break a sweat (though you could always just hop in the shower if you do). Read on for three different natural cleaning methods that work just as well as commercial glass cleaner—which is also a totally viable, but self-explanatory option—and pick your (non-toxic) poison.

What You’ll Need:

• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Clean water
• Soft-bristled brush or sponge
• Clean cloth

Steps:

1. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. (You can also add a tablespoon of dish soap if you wish.)
2. Thoroughly and generously spray the solution onto the glass shower doors, making sure to cover all areas.
3. Let the solution sit for a few minutes to allow it to break down any soap scum or grime.
4. Return to the job with a soft-bristled brush or sponge and start scrubbing the doors gently. (An abrasive scrubber will scratch the glass, but even a soft-bristled brush can have this unwanted effect if too much elbow grease is involved.)
5. Rinse the doors with water—by turning on the shower, for example—and make sure to remove all of the cleaning solution.
6. Dry the doors with a clean cloth using circular motions to prevent water spots and streaks.

What You’ll Need:

• Baking soda
• Water
• White vinegar
• Soft-bristled brush or sponge
• Clean cloth

Steps:

1. Mix baking soda with just enough water to make a paste, and apply it liberally to the glass shower doors.
2. Let the paste sit for a few minutes, so it has a chance to work its magic.
3. Next, spray the doors with white vinegar and let the mixture foam up—like the volcano experiments from your youth.
4. Once the reaction is done and the foaming has subsided, remove the broken-up grime by gently scrubbing the doors with a soft-bristled brush or sponge.
5. Rinse the doors with water and make sure to remove all of the cleaning solution.
6. Dry the doors with a clean cloth to achieve a sparkling clean and streak-free surface.