Shower glass is notorious for being difficult when it comes to cleaning. Where shower curtains used to be the default, glass doors and shower screens have mostly taken over.
And it’s not hard to see why. Fabric can trap moisture and encourage mould growth and a curtain just doesn’t open up the room the way glass can. With glass screens, light can travel further and bounce around the room keeping your bathroom looking bigger and more inviting.
But that only holds if the glass gets cleaned properly, and that’s where this guide comes in.
We’ll cover why shower glass gets a build-up in the first place and exactly how to bring back that streak free shine in a few simple steps.
Why shower glass clouds over
The air in a bathroom holds more moisture than any other room in your house and most of it comes straight from the shower.
That moisture settles on the coolest surface it can find, usually glass, and dries there long before you get round to wiping it off.
And what’s drying onto the glass isn’t just water. Soap, shower gel and shampoo residue all play a part, leaving your once crystal-clear shower glass looking streaky and clouded.
Mineral deposits from the water add to that same layer, and they’re often worse in hard water areas.
A little of this build-up is just part of owning a shower, the trick is knowing how to deal with it easily.
What you’ll need
Before you start, let’s get the cleaning kit you’ll need:
White vinegar is the workhorse in your cleaning kit. It's acidic content cuts through limescale and soap scum build-up on the glass and is much cheaper than some of the dedicated shower cleaning sprays available.
How to clean your shower glass step-by-step
Mix one part vinegar with one part hot water in your spray bottle, then add a few drops of washing up liquid. This helps the solution cling to the glass instead of running straight down and helps to clean any soap or shower gel residue at the same time.
Spray a generous even coat over the glass and go over it with a damp sponge to work the cleaner into the stains and help it stay on the glass.
Then leave for 5 to 10 minutes if you can to give the vinegar a little time to work.
Wipe away any solution that’s landed on the shower frame or door handles, and stick to the diluted mix and time given here. Vinegar is acidic, and left too long, it can eat into a metal finish or wear down a protective coating on the glass over time.
With your damp sponge and some warm water, wipe down the shower glass to remove all your cleaner from the glass surface.
Dampen your squeegee slightly and then work from the top of your shower glass down to the bottom in long strokes clearing leftover water and any residue as you go.
If there’s residue or soap marks that are still there, it’s time to reach for the toothpaste or baking soda paste.
- Add a small amount of toothpaste directly onto the mark. Work it in with a damp sponge by rubbing gently in small circular motions, then wipe clean.
- For baking soda, mix three tablespoons of soda with a little water to make a thick paste. Apply to the mark and work it in the same way as the toothpaste method.
You can leave the paste on for a few minutes to work a little harder if it’s a stubborn mark, and wipe off with your damp sponge afterwards.
Go over the glass with the squeegee again to remove any residue and excess water still on the surface.
To get a glistening shine on your shower glass, dry and buff the glass with a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget the corners that might have been missed with the squeegee!
Buff in small circles rather than in one direction and you’ll avoid leaving any fresh streaks behind.
Prefer a ready-made solution?
If mixing your own isn’t for you, we stock Cramer’s professional shower glass cleaner. It works on both coated and uncoated glass and it’s environmentally friendly and biodegradable.
Doing this clean once a week and using the squeegee after each shower will keep your glass clean and streak free with minimum effort.
Common mistakes to avoid
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Wiping the solution straight off without giving it any time to work. Those few minutes in between can mean a much better clean!
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If you do use the toothpaste method, stick with a plain one which is usually the cheaper option. The more expensive gel formulas don’t clean as well.
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Scrubbing a dry stain with a rough sponge or scourer. This can leave scratches on your shower glass.
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Not using the squeegee after every shower. That extra minute just to squeegee down your shower glass will help prevent the build-up that makes your cleaning job harder.
If all that cleaning has made you think about something different for your shower, we have shower screens and enclosures in framed and frameless styles, with finishes from chrome to matt black.
Practicality and keeping it all clean are just as important as how beautiful your shower area and bathroom looks. Whatever the size of your room, from a compact en-suite to a full wet room, we’ve got both bath and walk-in showers and screens to fit.
