How to Prevent Soap Scum on Glass Shower Doors

There are plenty of ways to remove soap scum buildup from glass shower doors.

Scum occurs when minerals in water and soap products combine and react with one another to create that familiar film coating your shower doors. Take preventative measures to keep soap scum from building up rather than getting stuck with having to remove layers of established soap scum. Commercial cleaning products, home remedies or a combination of both are effective for ridding your shower doors of soap scum for good.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon furniture oil
• Acrylic or nylon scrubbing pad
• Baking soda
• Water
• Distilled white vinegar
• Powdered laundry detergent
• Laundry stain remover spray
• Squeegee
• Powdered dishwasher detergent
• Bucket
• Stiff scrub brush
• Commercial soap scum remover
• Ammonia
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Apply lemon furniture oil to an acrylic scrubbing pad. Scrub the glass shower doors with the scrubbing pad in small, circular motions to remove soap scum from the surface. Lemon oil also helps prevent soap scum from recurring, according to the website Mrs. Clean USA.

2. Make a paste of baking soda and water, then use the paste to scrub the shower door. Rub gently so avoid deep scratches in the door. Rinse the doors with a cup of distilled white vinegar to remove any remaining soap scum and baking soda paste.

3. Apply a paste of powdered laundry detergent and water to the glass shower doors, or simply apply a spray-on laundry stain remover. Allow the paste or spray to sit on the doors for 15 minutes, then scrub in a circular motion with an acrylic scrubbing pad. Rinse the doors with water and squeegee off any excess water.

4. Dissolve a handful of powdered dishwasher detergent in a bucket of warm water. Apply the mixture to the shower doors after showering and allow it to completely cover the door. Let the mixture soak on the door for 15 minutes. Scrub the glass doors with a stiff scrub brush and rinse with water. Repeat this procedure as many times as necessary to remove built-up soap scum, recommends Merry Maids.

5. Alternatively, apply a commercial soap scum remover to the shower doors, allowing it to sit on the door for at least 15 minutes. Scrub the door with an acrylic or nylon pad or stiff scrub brush. Rinse the doors with warm water and repeat this procedure until doors are clean.

6. Wear rubber cleaning gloves and combine 1/2 cup of ammonia with 1 gallon of water. Pour some of this mixture into a spray bottle and apply to the glass shower doors. Wipe away soap scum and rinse doors with warm water to remove any residue. This method is best for heavy soap scum buildup.

Tips & Warnings

• Wax shower doors with car wax to prevent soap scum buildup. Use a squeegee after each shower to remove water and residue from glass doors and prevent potential soap scum.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Remove Soap Scum
• Merry Maids Cleaning Tips: Soap Scum in Tubs and Showers