How to easily clean soap scum and hard water with little to no scrubbing!
Living in Florida can have it’s challenges, and one of them is our super hard and rusty water. Not only do the appliances take a beating because of it, but cleaning things like the tubs, toilets and showers can be an absolute nightmare! You all loved my “how to clean window tracks with little to no scrubbing” post, so I thought I’d do it again, but this time with a trick to getting super spotless shower glass! I mean…If I can figure out ways to cut my cleaning time in half, even with nasty hard water and scummy junk all over, I want you to be able to as well! 🙂
All you will need is a cheap unused paintbrush, a bowl or cup, and glass cooktop cleaner! I use this one
Squirt about a cup of the glass cooktop cleaner into a bowl, and then start painting your shower enclosure. I usually go up and down and then swirls. No real pattern, just randomly and using a medium pressure as I go. Not scrubbing…just painting…
Then I let it sit…
For about 2-3 minutes…
I’ll usually go wipe down the counter or clean the toilet while I wait for it to do it’s magic.
Then I use my shower head to rinse everything clean, running my hand over it to make sure all the cleaner comes off.
I tried to get a shot to show you a comparison, but it’s super hard to take photos of glass–whowouldathought?! 😉
Hopefully you can kind of see where I left off to show you how well it works!
When you’ve finished cleaning and rinsing your entire enclosure, use a squeegee or a lint free cloth to wipe away the water.
No more soap scum build up and with a very small amount of effort, you got to love it!
Ehh…window glare…here’s a better look up close…
I hope you loved this cleaning tip! For more ways to make your cleaning a bit easier…check out my cleaning tips and tricks page filled with all sorts of nifty advice!
Have you discovered an easy way to fight the scum? I’d love to know what you do in the comments below…
Talk to you soon friends, take care!
XO
**this post contains Amazon affiliate links
Why a paint brush? Did this work on your chrome too?
Because I’m able to get a thicker layer of the stuff on without wiping it off if I use something like a sponge or cloth. Yes it worked well on the chrome too!
A quick spray with Endust will shine between cleanings.
Great tip!
Thank you soooo much for posting this! I have a fatigue issue and scrubbing down my glass shower doors would literally take days because I had to do it in small sections and let me arms rest in between swipes. I tried your suggestion this morning and was able to clean the entire (huge) shower in 15 minutes! Thank you for sharing your awesomeness!
MK- You made my day girlie! Thank you so much for leaving a comment! I’m so glad you found this useful <3
Thank you so much for posting this wonderful tip for cleaning shower doors. Something else that will help in between cleanings is apply RainX to the clean glass doors. It is mainly used for car windshields but works wonders on shower doors! Once on the water beads up and literally glides off the glass. Using a squeegee helps to get the remaining droplets. It really helps to keep soap scum off the glass. One other tip I learned from a friend to help eliminate the cumbersome job of cleaning those glass doors is to hang a shower curtain inside the shower stall over the glass doors. Some don’t like the look but it does keep soap scum from getting on the glass.
I’ve heard a few people talk about the RainX trick! Definitely going to try it out! Thank you 🙂
To keep the door clean after the rain-x, I use my handheld shower to rinse it off. Using the tightest spray setting, aim the water in a downward angle from around six inches away from the door so that the water sheets down the glass.
There will be very few drops left on the door and that is easily taken care of with a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth. Start to finish in under a minute.
Great tip! Tell me, how do you keep the inside spotless?!
Can you use this on fibreglass tub surrounds?
Not sure. I’d try it in an inconspicuous spot to test it out first!
Thanks, I MUST try this!! Cleaning those doors seems almost impossible….. Do you think it will mess with my stone shower? I stripped it by mistake with a cleaner & that turned into a major nightmare to repair
I honestly don’t know because I don’t have stone. It was fine with my white tile. You may want to test a small section of stone out first to make sure it doesn’t damage anything.
How about soap scum tile, does it work on that?
It will, you may need to scrub a little though depending on how much is built up.
Once the glass is clean, it’s quick and easy to keep it that way by scraping it down after a shower.
I use a scraper the same as shown in the picture above and I haven’t had to clean the shower recess sides and door since I started doing this about four years ago.
I’m the only one in the house and it takes me less than a minute.
I suggest that for a family, the last one to shower has the job of doing it.
I switched to the liquid soaps years ago and have not had an issue with scum since. Love, Love, Love, caress. Wish they made a lotion for layering!! I’m lucky enough to live at the headwaters of the Colorado river and have not had issues with hard water either.
Years ago, a property manager asked that when I showered that I use the damp towel and do a quick wipe down of the inside. It took maybe 15 seconds. And saved hours of cleaning later.
Endust will defintely shine it up and even repel the water. Just be careful not to get any on the tub where it can become a slipping hazard. Be careful on grab bars etc. where a wet hand slipping off could cause a tumble as well.
Can’t wait to try this on the basement shower that has years of built up scud! Thanks for sharing!
I have been using equal parts bicarbonate soda and salt and the make it into a paste with fabric softener. I leave it for about twenty minutes then spray it with vinegar.
It not only gets the glass clean but the whole bathroom smells nice too.