Walking into a clean, tidy bathroom gives an instant lift, and nothing diminishes that feeling more quickly than unsightly water marks on glass shower doors.
When water dries on glass, it leaves behind a white residue of calcium carbonate — commonly known as limescale. This chalky buildup forms when hard water evaporates, leaving behind deposits that can make even a freshly cleaned bathroom look neglected.
While you can reduce limescale by wiping down the shower after each use and ventilating the room, it's nearly impossible to prevent buildup entirely. To remove it you don't need special cleaners, just three common kitchen items. Here's how to clean your shower glass and restore that streak-free shine.
1. How to clean shower glass with vinegar
Find an empty spray bottle and fill it with one part dishwashing liquid to one part white vinegar. Then shake the bottle gently to mix. This simple solution works because vinegar breaks down mineral deposits, while the dish soap helps loosen greasy soap scum that can trap limescale on the glass.
Make sure the vinegar is white distilled vinegar rather than malt vinegar to reduce the odour. While malt vinegar will do the job just as well, the smell will be much stronger. Ventilating the room will also help any vinegar odour dissipate.
For light residue, you can wipe the solution off straight away with a microfiber cloth. This is ideal for glass that’s cleaned regularly and only has faint water marks. For more stubborn stains, leave the vinegar solution to sit for around ten minutes, then scrub with a non-scratch sponge and rinse.
Finish by drying the glass to prevent fresh water spots from forming.
2. How to clean shower glass with baking soda
If you don’t have vinegar or find there’s still some residue, you can use baking soda. Baking soda works as a gentle abrasive, and when mixed into water. This makes it especially useful for thicker limescale deposits that need a little more physical scrubbing.
Dampen a microfiber cloth and sprinkle on some baking soda. Using a circular motion, scrub at the limescale deposits. Applying light, even pressure helps lift residue without scratching the glass. Next, simply use a clean cloth to wipe the glass, and give it a rinse.
If you find some stubborn residue remains, you can use the scouring side of a non-scratch sponge. Wet the sponge, add some baking soda, and scrub in a circular motion. Rinse and dry thoroughly to avoid further limescale deposits. Drying is key here, as leftover moisture can quickly undo your hard work.
3. How to clean shower glass with a lemon
Love a lemon scent? You can also clean shower glass with a lemon! This method is ideal if you prefer natural cleaners and want to avoid bottled products altogether. Cut a lemon in half and dip the cut surface in baking soda.
Using a circular motion, use the lemon as you would a sponge to scrub away the residue, then rinse and dry thoroughly. The lemon’s acid will eat away at soap scum and mineral deposits, while the baking soda provides abrasion to scour the stains.
Together, they create an effective combo against cloudy glass, while leaving the shower smelling fresh.
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