How To Easily Prevent Soap Scum Buildup On Glass Shower Doors

You said ‘Goodbye” to plastic/latex and vinyl mildew shower curtains and “HELLO” to gorgeous glass shower doors. They look FABULOUS! But now, you must keep them clean and soap buildup-free using nature’s best cleaning solutions. Keep reading to discover how to prevent soap scum buildup on your glass shower doors, compliments of C’s Home and Office Management.

The first step to preventing soap scum buildup is to prevent it from forming in the first place. Here are three tips to get you started:

Tip #1: Switch To Glycerin Soap

Use glycerin bar soap, liquid, or gel body soaps instead of traditional bar soap. The talc and paraffin in bar soap are left behind on your tile and glass shower doors. When it mixes with minerals in your water and dirt, body oils, sloughed-off skin, and bacteria, soap scum is formed.

Tip #2: Clean Surfaces After Every Shower

Keep a hand squeegee in your shower and squeegee the door after every shower.

No time to squeegee? No problem. Remove the shower head and rinse the walls and glass of soap residue after every shower.

As an alternative, keep a spray bottle of undiluted white vinegar in your shower and spray down the glass shower doors and all surfaces after every shower. This will also prevent mildew from forming.

Tip #3: Pretreat Glass Shower Doors With Lemon Oil

Treat your glass shower doors with lemon oil once a month. This will prevent water, soap scum, shampoo residue, etc., from sticking to the doors.

3 Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Solutions To Clean Soap Scum

Do you live with people who aren’t so diligent in keeping your shiny, new glass shower doors clean and sparkly? It’s going to be okay. We have easy fixes when you can’t stand guard after every shower.

Here are some inexpensive, effective, and environmentally friendly ways to rid your glass shower doors of that dreaded soap scum! Of course, the best method for you will depend on how heavy and caked-on the soap scum is. So start with our first tip and make your way down as needed. BONUS: These methods will work on your glass shower doors, tub and tiles.

1. Vinegar Cleaning Solution

Recipe

Combine 4 cups of white vinegar, 4 cups of warm water, and one tbsp dishwashing detergent (Dawn brand works best) in a spray bottle.

Cleaning Procedure

1. Spray on your glass shower doors, let sit for 15 minutes, then gently scrub the area with a clean, soft bristle brush.
2. Rinse clean with hot water, then squeegee or dry with a clean cloth.

2. Baking Soda Cleaning Solution

Recipe

Create a paste using a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and water—add more water as necessary to make a spreadable consistency. Once you have your paste, mix in 1 tbsp of dishwashing detergent—again, we suggest using Dawn.

Cleaning Procedure

1. Apply the mixture to your glass shower door and other areas with soap scum buildup. Let sit for 15 minutes, then gently scrub the area with a clean, soft bristle brush.
2. Rinse clean with hot water, then squeegee or dry with a clean cloth.

3. Borax Cleaning Solution

Recipe

Create a paste using a 1:1 ratio of Borax and water—add more water as necessary to make a spreadable consistency. Once you have your paste, mix in 2 tbsp of dishwashing detergent—Yup, you will get lots of use on that Dawn purchase.

Cleaning Procedure

1. Once you have your paste, mix in 2 tbsp of dishwashing detergent (Yup, you will get lots of use on that Dawn purchase).
2. Apply the mixture to your glass shower door and other areas with soap scum buildup.
3. Let sit for 15 minutes, then gently scrub the area with a clean, soft bristle brush.
4. Rinse clean with hot water, then squeegee or dry with a clean cloth.

Parting Thoughts

We hope these tips allow you to enjoy your glass shower doors for years! But, for those significant cleaning sessions for your Hamptons Home, we can help. Contact us for a cleaning estimate or call us at (631) 725-2408 for more information on keeping your East End home or office clean!