How to Clean Glass Shower Doors

November 4, 2020

Soap scum and hard water deposits make shower doors look cloudy. You can use harsh chemicals to remove that film, but you might also damage your shower door in the process. Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser is a smarter alternative – it’s non-toxic and safe for most surfaces. Ready to learn how to clean glass shower doors? We’ve got some tips for you.

Some BKF fans know how to clean shower doors. Check out the Before & After above from 2019.

How to Clean Shower Doors: Do a Spot Test

You can use Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser, Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser, or Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray & Foam to clean your shower door (some people prefer the foam because it adheres to vertical surfaces well). All three products are safe to use on most non-porous surfaces, but before cleaning, apply a small amount of cleanser to an inconspicuous area of the shower door and the handles or fixtures, just to be sure.

Apply and Scrub

To clean your shower door with Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser, wet the shower door, then apply a small amount of cleanser to a wet sponge or non-scratch scrub pad and gently spread the cleaner evenly on the door’s surface. Allow up to one minute for the cleanser’s oxalic acid to penetrate the grime, then gently scrub the door, rinse well and dry it with a soft cloth. You may need to repeat these steps to remove stubborn stains or soap scum. Follow the same steps when using Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser (although you don’t need to wet the shower door before application).

If using Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray & Foam, adjust the sprayer nozzle setting to either spray or foam, then, holding the bottle 6 to 8 inches from the door, spray evenly across the surface. Allow the cleanser to stand for up to one minute, then use a wet sponge to scrub the door. Rinse the door, and dry with a soft cloth.

Clean the Tracks

If you have a sliding shower door, the tracks need to be cleaned, too. Tracks may have recessed areas and ridges that are tough to clean with a regular sponge. An old toothbrush works well for getting to those areas.

Wet the tracks and apply a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser to a wet toothbrush. Scrub the inside of the tracks. Rinse with clean water to rinse away the cleanser, then wipe the inside of the tracks with a clean wet cloth or rag to remove any remaining residue. You may need to repeat this step a few times.

After you’ve cleaned the inside of the tracks, clean the outside of the tracks. Bar Keepers Friend is safe to use on light-colored grout.

If using the spray cleaner, apply it to the grout and scrub lightly with a toothbrush or stiff nylon-bristle brush. If using the powdered cleanser, add a small amount of water to the cleanser to make a paste, apply it to the toothbrush, and scrub the grout lightly. Wipe the grout with a wet rag to remove excess cleanser, and dry with a soft cloth. Bar Keepers Friend MORE Spray & Foam is great for this purpose, and it wipes up cleanly. When cleaning grout areas, be sure that the surrounding tiles are porcelain or ceramic, not natural stone tiles such as marble, granite, or travertine.

Don’t Forget the Fixtures

Bar Keepers Friend is safe to use on most alloys: brass, aluminum, copper, bronze (except oil-rubbed bronze), and stainless steel (but not stainless steel appliances, because they have a protective coating). Clean any hinges, handles, or towel bars on your shower door to inhibit rust growth, and rinse and dry thoroughly after cleaning.

See BKF In Action: How to Clean Glass Shower Doors

Want to see BKF in action? Here, our pal Jennifer shows us how to clean glass shower doors. Check out the video below:

About the Author

Felicia Savage is a content strategist, agile marketing enthusiast, and Digital Marketing Manager at Bar Keepers Friend. When she isn’t writing about her love for Bar Keepers Friend (or wiping down her stainless steel sinks), you can find Felicia sparring at her muay thai gym, doodling in her sketchbook, or watching silly cat videos on TikTok.