Do you hate having to clean the shower enclosure in your Toronto home? A glass shower enclosure adds style and elegance to your bathroom. But, like other bathroom fixtures, ugly grime and mineral deposits can accumulate if not cleaned regularly and properly.
Fear not! Our simple maintenance tips can help you to remove tough stains easily and keep your shower enclosure sparkling. Let’s get started.
Best Ways to Clean Your Shower Enclosures
There are a number of circumstances that can make your shower enclosure look unclean. Mould and mildew growing around in the shower area are dangerous for everyone’s health. Hard water is rich in minerals like magnesium carbonate and calcium and these also may leave deposits. Because glass is porous, these minerals can seep into the glass and cause corrosion. Moreover, soap scum may stain the glass.
Keep these five tips in mind when cleaning your glass shower enclosure this winter.
Use Vinegar to Clean Your Shower Door
White vinegar is a great product for cleaning your shower unless stones are used in its design.
First, mix an equal amount of warm white vinegar and liquid dishwashing soap inside a spray bottle. Test a small area with this mixture to ensure it won’t scratch the glass. If it’s fine, spray this mixture on the enclosure and wipe it with a soft sponge or cloth. The soap should remove grease, and vinegar washes away the residue easily.
You may also use undiluted white vinegar with some drops of tea tree oil. This oil is an antibacterial product safe for use on glass.
Use Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is not as acidic as white vinegar but smells better and has good cleaning power. Use lemon juice for soap scum buildup and not tough stains.
Combine three tablespoons of lemon juice with one cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture in the shower. Wait for some time and then wipe the area with a sponge. Dry it with a clean microfiber cloth.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is an effective and low-cost cleanser especially used for cleaning mould growth from all types of glass shower enclosures.
Use one cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of liquid dish soap, a few drops of essential oils, and an adequate amount of water to make a paste. Spread this paste over the mould and keep it there for a few minutes before wiping it away with hot water.
Make Use of Bleach
Can’t remove mould or stains from your shower enclosure? Make a solution of one part bleach to two parts water in a spray bottle. Spray directly onto the mould and let it dry. Spray again. Then, use a scrub brush to remove the mould and rinse with water. If there is still mould left, repeat the process.
Apply Borax
Borax is another effective cleaning product that you may try for removing mould from your shower space. Pour one cup of borax into one gallon of water. Use a scrub brush to spread the borax solution on the mould and then scrub gently. Wipe the area using a wet washcloth and let it dry.
Use Ammonia
Ammonia may help to give your glass shower enclosure a streak-free shine. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia into two quarts of distilled water in a large spray bottle. Spray it on the door and wait for at least three minutes; then wipe it using a microfiber cloth. Buff the streaks with a dry cloth.
While using ammonia, open the bathroom windows and door, so the whole area is well ventilated. Never combine ammonia with chlorine bleach as this mixture will create toxic gases.
Take a Different Approach to Cleaning Problematic Spots
For cleaning spots with heavy stains, you should try out a different approach. The following products may be used for cleaning hard spots in the shower glass area:
Dryer sheets: These sheets may be moistened and then used to remove heavy scum accumulated on the glass shower enclosure and door. Wash the area properly after cleaning it with this sheet.
Multi-purpose cleaning pads: These are effective for removing marks on glass walls and for cleaning hard-water stains.
Penetrating lubricants: Although used for fixing squeaky glass doors, they may also help to remove hard stains from glass surfaces.
Follow Regular Cleaning Routine
A vital step to keep your glass shower door and enclosure clean is to follow a regular cleaning routine. Always keep a squeegee in the shower stall. After every shower, make sure to remove water and residue. Then wipe the area using a dry microfiber cloth. Finish the process by quickly spraying a daily cleaner.
To prepare this daily cleaner, pour half a cup of rubbing alcohol with a half cup of hydrogen peroxide inside a spray bottle. Fill up with water and gently churn the liquid to combine. Spray it on the shower enclosure after using the squeegee.
Now that you know how to maintain and clean your glass shower enclosure in Toronto this winter (or any time of year), figure out which method works best for you. For example, use vinegar to clean the glass the first time, then try out lemon juice. Use bleach, borax, or baking soda to remove any mould growing on the glass shower area. Clean your shower area after every use, so you won’t have to deep clean so often. To learn more about glass shower enclosure maintenance and repair, call our experts.