Shower screens can quickly become covered in watermarks and limescale, even if they are cleaned regularly, but there is a simple way to keep the glass sparkling clean without spending a penny. Jennifer Cartwright from Royal Bathrooms has shared an “effortless” way to prevent shower door staining that takes only 30 seconds, as you just need to get rid of any hot steam after showering.
Every time you shower, you add fresh droplet marks that will dry onto the glass and leave a mark, and a screen will also be exposed to soapy residue from any products you use. Over time, the water staining and grease can leave a sticky film on the glass, which will attract limescale, a hard-to-erase stain left over when hard water evaporates. If you leave these three types of stains for long enough, it can leave a permanent cloudy haze on a shower screen as the build-up will be etched onto the glass and cause damage.
How to keep a shower screen clean
The absolute best way to keep a shower screen clean is to get into the habit of opening the windows or switching on a fan after showering to remove any steam from the bathroom. A hot shower will produce a lot of moist air in a bathroom, which will stick to cooler surfaces and leave spotty droplet marks or greasy smears on the shower glass.
Jennifer said: “Well-ventilated space helps water evaporate quickly from the shower screen, reducing the likelihood of watermarks and soap scum buildup.
“I suggest using an extractor fan to reduce humidity in the bathroom. Keeping the window (if you have one) after each shower can also allow moisture to escape.”
Getting into the habit of ventilating the bathroom after showering helps the glass dry faster and prevents moisture from lingering on the screen, which will stop the worst stains from forming.
Wiping down the screen
It will also greatly help to buy a squeegee if you can, keep it in your bathroom and give the shower screen a quick wipe after a shower. This will help remove any water or soapy residue that has sprayed onto the glass during a shower, drying the glass even faster to prevent staining.
Taking the time to open a window and give the screen a wipe down should take seconds at most but will help keep limescale, grease and watermarks off the glass.
How to properly clean a shower screen
Most glass cleaner products will not work properly on a shower screen as they are usually designed to remove light stains like fingerprints and are not strong enough. It is usually easier and much more effective to use natural products to clean shower glass, since you will likely already have the best cleaning items in your kitchen.
Watermarks will look like small spots or sticky droplets and usually just need to be wiped off with a squeegee or cloth after a shower to prevent them from drying into the glass. Limescale will look like crusty patches or a hazy smear that clings tightly to a surface but can be removed with white vinegar or lemon juice. White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, which means they can dissolve the minerals in limescale or break down dried water marks, making them much easier to wipe away.
If there are many dull smudges on a shower door, they are usually caused by hair products or body wash splashing onto the glass during a shower. Use equal parts warm water and washing-up liquid to get rid of these greasy stains as it will dissolve the residue quickly so you do not have to scrub at the screen.
Keeping a shower screen clear just requires a few seconds of care after each shower and the right cleaning products can help keep the glass sparkling day after day.
