Covid restrictions have eased and you’re eager to have family and friends over to stay. Like a lot of people, keeping certain areas of the house clean hasn’t been a priority but now that things are more relaxed, there is time to look at what has been overlooked. Upon closer inspection, you notice a layer of grime in your shower door, not an easy spot to reach! So how do you clean a shower door track?
White vinegar placed directly on the problem area will clean grime and bacteria away from shower door tracks. Its high acidic content breaks down grease that accumulates when washing dirt and oils from the hair and body. Its refined content is what gives it its power to cut through the filth.
Using white vinegar when cleaning your bathroom is not difficult and it does not require any mixing of cleaning products yourself. It can be purchased as is and is almost ready to go straight from the bottle. Read on to discover how you can clean your shower track by using white vinegar.
Why Is White Vinegar Good for Cleaning?
White vinegar is an easy and cheap product to buy that can be purchased from many supermarkets or home and DIY stores.
Its content alone is what makes it the powerful cleaning aid. Vinegar is highly acidic; the acidity of which is what then cuts through the grime that has built up in your shower. It is also effective to destroy bacteria.
White vinegar is an ingredient that can be found in other cleaning products. Prices can be cut by purchasing the direct sole ingredient that cleans the dirt away, rather than purchasing something branded. The branded item, which is double the price, contains the same ingredient, and so you would end up paying more for the same item.
Steps to Cleaning a Shower Track
Cleaning a shower track can be done in a few simple steps.
- Step One – Put some vinegar onto the shower door track directly and leave for 3-5 minutes to work its magic.
- Step Two – After 3-5 minutes, rub away the dirt and muck that has accumulated.
- Step Three – Rinse the area away with clear water.
- Step Four – Repeat this process if not all the dirt has been removed. The process can be repeated as many times as required.
Please see the video below for a visual aid on how you can clean your shower track.
Not only can white vinegar be applied for just a few minutes, but it can also be applied overnight. You can lay paper towels soaked in white vinegar down over problem areas. This extra time will help in breaking down any difficult areas to reach e.g., right in the corners of the tracks. Rinse with clear water when ready.
What Else Can White Vinegar Be Used for In the Bathroom?
Your shower track is not the only place where build-ups can occur.
Limescale can build on shower taps. It can be removed by wrapping vinegar covered paper towels over the build-up, being left on for a few hours, and then being rubbed away.
If your shower head is not at the power that it should be, this could be due to the holes being blocked by gunk or calcium. The shower head can be placed directly into a bowl of vinegar, left for a few hours, and then rinsed clean.
Not only can your shower track be covered in gunk, your shower tray or bathtub can be too. Gunk from your track can run down to these other areas when wet. Wipe white vinegar onto the filthy locations (you can add bicarbonate or soda for extra oomph), leave for a few minutes, and then scrub and wipe away clean.
Where Should You Not Use White Vinegar?
If you’re cleaning an area that is a little more delicate and shouldn’t have white vinegar added to its surface directly, it can be diluted to weaken its strength. It will still be clean but will protect more sensitive areas. It should not be used to clean fabric or natural stones.
One other pointer to remember is that although white vinegar is a great anti-bacterial, it cannot kill everything, so do not use it as a disinfectant on its own.
Using white vinegar for cleaning is not the same as vinegar that can be consumed on your salads etc. It can be harmful (and not very tasty) to use on foods.
What Cleaning Materials Can Be Used with White Vinegar?
Considering the strong acidic content of white vinegar, wearing rubber gloves is advised to protect the skin and stop the epidermis from becoming red and sore.
Although it can be sprinkled on its own directly onto dirty surfaces and washed away, it is more effective when used, cleaned, or wiped away by cleaning equipment.
Effective materials that can be used for cleaning your shower track door (which will not be affected by using a highly acidic liquid) are toothbrushes (the small head and bristles are great for reaching areas your fingers cannot), cloths, and wire brushes.
If your shower track has a plastic strip along its side, these can be removed. Once removed, it can be laid in a bowl directly of white vinegar to be cleaned. Rinse with clear water when you are ready to place it back on the door.
Conclusion
White vinegar is a cheap and effective tool to use when cleaning your shower door track. It can be purchased from many stores and is not difficult to find.
For a quick clean, leaving white vinegar on a grimy area for a couple of minutes and then wiping away can help your shower track gleam once again. By soaking paper towels and using on more problematic areas, it can help cut down grime that grips deeply. This will assist in hitting harder to reach areas, such as the corners of your track.
It shouldn’t be used on more delicate areas such as natural stone or on fabrics, but for a weaker cleaning solution, it can be watered down to reduce its strength.
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.