How to clean a shower screen

Prevent a scummy build-up on your shower screen. These tips will make it easy to keep it clean.

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This article has been fact checked by the Unilever Research and Development Team Fact Checked

Not cleaning a bath shower screen adequately can cause it to look cloudy and harbour a filmy buildup. This buildup is actually limescale, and it is best to remove it as soon as possible. If left unactioned, limescale deposits can become more solid and can prove more challenging to remove. These deposits can also provide an ideal breeding ground for mould and mildew, which can cause pitting and scoring on the glass screen.

We will take a look at the best methods of removing this buildup and give tips and tricks on how best to achieve a clean shower screen seal as well.

Cleaning a Shower Screen Using Vinegar

One of the easiest ways to clean the cloudy buildup from a bath shower screen is by using a common household condiment, vinegar. The type that works best in this context is white vinegar, which you can safely use to clean limescale from your shower screen.

Although white vinegar is a popular option for cleaning bath shower screens, it doesn’t always do the job as well as we might like. When this happens, you can switch from a cloth to a firmer option, like a kitchen cleaning sponge. As long as you are able to apply some physical effort to the cleaning, the surface should come up well in most cases and this technique can also help to ensure you have a clean shower screen seal.

Failing the above, many people use household cleaning brands such as Cif or Domestos to eliminate tougher cases.

We go deeper into how to remove mould from bathroom sealant in this article and take a look at how to use mould and mildew removers in the bathroom and kitchen. The aforementioned products are very simple to use, just be sure to follow the directions on the label, and your shower screen will sparkle again in no time.

A person wearing yellow rubber gloves cleaning a tile wall with a sponge.

How to Clean a Bath Shower Screen with White Vinegar

It is very simple to clean a bath or shower screen with white vinegar, and it is very similar to the process used to clean a showerhead with white vinegar, albeit on a larger surface area.

First, ensure you have your white vinegar to hand and also an empty spray bottle. Make a mixture of one part white vinegar and one part water and add it to the spray bottle.

Spray the contents of the spray bottle onto the shower screen and try to ensure that you have coated the surface as evenly as possible.

Wipe down the surface of the glass and pay special attention to any areas that are streaky or where the soap scum is too stubborn to easily shift.

Go back over the more difficult areas with a kitchen cleaning sponge. This should be soft enough not to scratch the glass but at the same time firm enough to give you adequate purchase to deal with the soap scum.

Squeegee the whole of the shower screen to rinse off all of the vinegar solution. You should see it beginning to sparkle at this stage.

When you have wiped down the bath or shower glass screen, you should proceed to dry it immediately. Unlike with the shower head, this is not something that you need to apply and leave on for hours until it works.

A hand wearing a yellow rubber glove cleaning a soapy window with a sponge.

References:

https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/blog/how-to/how-to-clean-shower-glass-doors-screens/

https://victoriaplum.com/blog/posts/how-to-clean-a-shower-screen

https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Shower-Screen

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a42779959/how-to-clean-glass-shower-doors/

Frequently asked questions on how to clean a shower screen

How Often Should I Clean a Shower Screen?

We all want our bathrooms to look spotless, and the easiest way to keep a bath shower screen looking pristine is to give it a quick wipe down every time it is used and then clean it properly once per week with white vinegar or a household cleaning spray. If you do this, you can give the shower screen a really thorough clean around once per month. Taking care of the small chores regularly stops them from becoming larger problems in the long term. Regular wipe-downs and weekly cleans should prevent mould and limescale from forming in the first place, reducing the need for the most vigorous cleaning efforts. This will also help to ensure you have and maintain a clean shower screen seal.

Why Do We Need to Clean Glass Shower Screens?

Our bath shower screens get covered in soapy water when we use them, which can turn into limescale if left unchecked. Limescale can be an environment that can encourage the growth of mould, which is never good for the health of the people who are breathing in the spores. Mould can cause or worsen respiratory problems such as asthma, so it is vital to do all that we can to prevent it from having a chance to grow in our homes.

How Can I Keep My Shower Screen Clean?

One of the simplest ways to achieve this level of cleanliness over a longer period of time is to apply a water repellent to the shower screen. This will make it much harder for soapy scum to adhere to the glass and will render the shower screen much easier to wipe down and keep clean. It is certainly something that is worth considering if you struggle physically with cleaning tasks. When wiping down your bath shower screen after use, be sure to dry it quickly once you are done. This will make it much harder for water stains to develop and will keep the glass looking as clear and shiny as it should.