If you have ever stayed in a hotel, one of the first things you notice when you walk into your room is the spotless glass shower door. But, do you know, how do hotels manage to keep their shower doors so clean? Turns out, there are a few tricks they use to get the job done.
Shower Doors get stained due to soap scum, hard water, and molds. To keep these glass doors shining and sparkling, the hotels clean them on daily basis by spraying different cleaning products. They use a microfiber cloth to wipe the glass, making sure that the glass remains scratchless. In areas with hard water, hotels have installed water softeners to reduce water hardness. Lastly, to keep their washrooms dry and mold-free, proper ventilation systems are in place.
Further in this article, we will go through the main causes of stains on the glass doors, and then I share the details on how hotels manage to keep their glass doors clean all the time. Lastly, I will share some tips on how you can clean your shower door.
Read on to learn more!
What Causes Stains on Shower Doors?
Shower doors are common in almost all hotels and homes. However, you would have observed they get stained and dirty just in a couple of days.
So, what do you think, what makes these doors dirty and unsightly? Here’s a list of three main reasons:
#1 Hard Water
If you reside in a region that receives hard water, your shower is likely to be stained due to water hardness.
As you know, hard water is rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and lime. When the hard water, falls on these clear glass doors, it leaves behind white marks, which make the shower door look stained and dirty.
#2 Soap Scum
Soap Scum is a pale wax mixture of soap particles and hard water. Both these substances react and leave a permanent mark on the shower door, that won’t come off with water.
Soap scum is undoubtedly lurking in the recesses of your shower stalls and under your sinks at some point.
If the shower door is left uncleaned for days, the soap scum forms layers upon layers and it becomes very difficult to get rid of it.
#3 Mold
The bathroom is the perfect breeding place for molds. Mold is a fungus that grows in wet, damp, and dark places. Among other kinds of stains, you also see them on your shower doors. Generally, mold is harmless, however, some people are allergic to it.
How do Hotels Keep Glass Shower Doors Clean?
Now, that you have known the causes of stains on glass shower doors. I am about to reveal the methods through which the hotels manage to keep their doors crystal clear.
Use Chemical and Natural Cleaning Products
To get rid of hard stains hotels use cleaning products such as vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or their mixtures. They also use soap solutions and shower gels.
Do Regular Cleaning
The second thing hotel practice is regular cleaning. They clean their washrooms on a daily basis. This practice gives no time for scum or water stains to build up and become hard.
Use Microfiber Cloth
To make sure that the glass door remains unscratched during the cleaning job, they spray the cleaners on the glass doors. In this way, the cleaner is spread evenly on the glass doors. Secondly, to wipe off the glass door, hotels often use a microfiber cloth or towel.
Install Water Softeners
In locations where there is hard water, hotels have installed water softeners in pipes and shower heads. Water softeners reduce hardness to great extent. As a result, the stains due to hard water don’t show up very early.
Keep the Shower Rooms Ventilated
As I mentioned earlier, molds grow in damp places. So, to keep the washrooms dry and recede mold growth, hotels keep their shower rooms ventilated.
How to Clean your Shower Door? [The Professional Method]
Let’s go through a simple procedure through which you can make your glass door sparkle.
Step 1: Create the Mixture
First, you have to make the cleaning mixture. Different cleaning mixtures can be formed depending upon what materials are available to you. You can use vinegar, soap solution, baking soda, ammonia, lemon juice, or salt.
For now, you can take a cup of soap solution and a cup of distilled vinegar. Take any empty spray bottle and pour down the two solutions into it. Shake it to mix the solution.
Step 2: Spray it on the Door and Let it Stay
Once you have formed a cleaning mixture, spray it thoroughly on your glass door. Spray more on areas with scum buildup and hard stains. Let the solution stay for 15 to 20 minutes. For quick results, you change your cleaning solution.
Step 3: Scrub with Micro Fiber Cloth
Wipe off the shower door using a microfiber cloth or any sponge. You just need to make sure this doesn’t leave any scratches on the glass door. This part of the job may take longer in case if the door hasn’t been cleaned for days, and there is a lot of scum build-up.
Step 4: Add some Shine
Now, the door must look clean but it’s not shining as it does in the hotels. For that, take any commercial cleaning product and spray it on the whole door.
Then, wipe that off with a clean microfiber. After you have finished this job, you will see that the shower door is sparkling.
Tips to Clean your Home Shower Door
If you are a homeowner, here are a few tips for you to make your glass shower door shine and sparkle.
#1 Use Different Cleaning Mixtures
As mentioned you have a variety of cleaning mixtures you can choose from. You can use a mixture of:
- Vinegar and Soap
- Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Vinegar and Salt
- Lemon and Baking Soda
- Ammonia and Water
- Shower Gel
To clean your shower doors. Try using different mixtures and see which one works best for you.
#2 Clean Daily
Cleaning on daily basis is another good practice to make your doors spotless. If you don’t clean them regularly the spots will form layers upon them, making it hard to get rid of them.
#3 Do Install Water Softeners for Hard Water
If you live in an area where there is a hard water issue, consider installing a water softener. Because hard water not only stains your shower it forms scales on toilets and sinks as well.
#4 Use Soft Micro Fiber Cloth
When cleaning doors, wipe them off with a soft fiber cloth or towel. Don’t use any harsh sponges which can scratch your glass door.
FAQs
Can I use WD40 for cleaning shower doors?
If you haven’t cleaned your shower door in months and the stains have become permanent. Then, you can use WD40. It is not harsh like other chemical cleaners so it can be used on shower doors due to its lubricant properties.
Can you use baby oil to clean the shower door?
Many homeowners have used baby oil on the shower doors and it has brought fruitful results. The oil stops the building of scum on the glass doors and gives a shiny look.
How often should the shower door be cleaned?
To make sure that your shower door remains spotless, make a routine to clean it on daily basis after you shower. However, if you are too busy, then you can do so after a couple of days. The more you delay, the more it becomes difficult to get rid of stains.
Final Words
Shower Glass Doors are the face of your bathroom. If they aren’t clean and shiny, the whole bathroom looks messy and ugly. It is a fact that they are prone to get stained. However, if you clean them on regular basis they can also shine like the ones you see in hotels.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.