If you have a glass door on your shower box, you may notice that after a while, a thin layer of white begins to build up on the door glass. Soap stains like this are caused by a mixture of animal fats in the soap and minerals in the shower water. Luckily, you can root it out of the door! Remove soap suds easily with commercial cleaning products or common household products. After that, all you need to do is make simple changes to your lifestyle to keep the stains from building up.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Commercial or Home Cleaners
Step 1. Remove the soap foam stain with a commercial glass cleaning product if available
Spray a small amount of product on a small area of the shower box door, then wipe with a clean cloth. If this “spray test” works, repeat the process on the other side of the door to remove all the soap suds.
- You can buy commercial glass cleaning products such as Cling or Mr. Muscle at the convenience store selling cleaning supplies.
- You can also try removing the stain using an all-purpose bathroom surface cleaning product, although these products may not be as effective as glass cleaners.
Step 2. Use a dampened magic cleaning eraser or dryer sheet to clean a small area
Soak the magic cleaning eraser or dryer sheet in a little clean water. After that, rub it on the dirty area in small circular motions to remove the stain. This step is the best option if there are very few stains that you need to clean.
- You can buy a magic cleaner eraser and dryer sheet from a supermarket (or a hardware store like ACE Hardware).
- Using a magic cleaning eraser is also the best method if you don't want to clean the shower box door using chemical or scented products.
Step 3. Make use of a homemade cleaning mixture of vinegar and dish soap
Pour the vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. After that, prepare a measuring cup, then pour hot vinegar and dish soap (in equal proportions) into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the two ingredients. Spray the mixture on the soap suds stain and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Finally, rinse the door while brushing it with a microfiber washcloth.
- Be careful when using hot vinegar, as you can scald or burn if you come in contact with vinegar.
- For best results, leave the mixture on the shower box door overnight before you rinse the door.
- If there are still stains that don't lift when scrubbing with a microfiber cloth, replace the rag with a stiff-toothed brush and scrub the door a little harder.
Step 4. Mix vinegar and baking soda to remove stains and soap residue
Pour 120 grams of baking soda into a small bucket and add about 60 ml of vinegar. Use a spoon to mix the two ingredients together until they form a paste. Dip a clean sponge in the paste and rub it against the shower box door. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse the door while brushing it with a microfiber cloth to remove any excess paste.
- Pasta made in a bucket has the consistency of pancake batter. You may need to add more baking soda or vinegar to the mixture to get the right consistency.
- This step is the best method if there is a hard water stain that you want to remove on the shower door.
Step 5. Use a toilet cleaner if it is the only product available
Although not formulated to clean shower box glass doors, toilet bowl cleaners are sometimes effective at removing soap suds. Soak a sponge in hot water, then pour a small amount of toilet cleaner on the sponge. Rub the sponge against the door to remove the stain, then rinse the door to remove any residue afterwards.
Make sure the bathroom is well ventilated when you use toilet cleaning products. The smell of the product will be very strong, especially in a small room
Step 6. Use lemon juice and salt if the frame or door frame is metal
This step is the best method that can also remove rust on the metal door frame. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of lemon juice with 2 tablespoons (35 grams) of salt to form a cleansing paste. Use an unused toothbrush to rub the mixture on the door frame and let it sit for about 5 minutes. After that, rinse the jamb with warm water.
Make sure you use the paste on the corners of the frame, because this is where rust and soap foam stains usually collect, and are difficult to clean
Method 2 of 2: Prevent Soap Foam Buildup/Stains
Step 1. Replace bar soap with body wash or liquid soap when you shower
Soap foam stains are caused by the organic animal fats found in bar soaps. If you don't want to use synthetic liquid soap, you can choose a fat-free soap or shampoo instead of regular bar soap.
You can buy liquid soap at stores that also sell bar soap. To purchase a fat-free bar of soap, you may need to visit a health and beauty product store or a cosmetic store
Step 2. Dry the door with a squeegee after showering
Keep the crib door/shower area dry whenever you're not using the bathroom to prevent the build-up of soap residue and mildew. If you don't have a squeegee or rubber mop, you can use a clean towel to dry the door.
- Squeegees are usually more cost effective and can be purchased from the cleaning supplies section of most supermarkets or convenience stores.
- Drying the door after every shower may seem inconvenient in the short term. However, this step will feel easier than when you have to remove the remaining soap foam that has accumulated for a long time.
- You will also need to open the bathroom window or leave the fan on for at least 30 minutes after showering. Thus, the bathroom will be dry and the development of mold can be prevented.
Step 3. Apply baby oil or vinegar on the door
Pour baby oil or vinegar onto the brush, then rub it all over the door. Finally, rinse the door with warm water. Repeat this process once a week to keep the door clean and free of soap suds.
- The chemical composition of baby oil and vinegar can remove soap foam stains so that the foam will not collect/build up on the shower door.
- Make sure you rinse the door thoroughly if you use baby oil as the oil tends to stick more firmly to the door surface.
- You can also use a commercial glass cleaning product like Cling to prevent stains from building up.
Tips
- You may need to spread old tarps or sheets on the bathroom floor to protect the tiles/floors during the cleaning process.
- Before starting to clean the door, take a hot shower or turn on the hot water tap to steam the room. This will help soften the sudsy stain that's stuck to the door, making it easier to remove.
- Instead of vinegar, mix ammonia and water in a 1:3 ratio in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the door and brush off any stains, then rinse the door with water and dry with a squeegee or a soft lint-free towel.
