How to clean glass shower screens (and stop limescale coming back)

Clear glass is the whole point of a glass shower screen, and in much of the UK hard water makes that a constant battle. The good news is that a few seconds a day saves a lot of scrubbing later.

Why glass goes cloudy

That white haze is usually a mix of two things:

• Limescale: calcium and magnesium left behind when hard water dries. Much of England, especially the South East, London and East Anglia, has hard water.
• Soap scum: residue from soap, shower gel and shampoo that binds with minerals in the water.

Both build up fastest where water sits and dries slowly, such as the bottom edge of the glass, around hinges and inside frames and tracks.

The daily habit: squeegee

The single most effective thing you can do is squeegee the glass straight after showering, while it is still wet.

1. Start at the top and pull the squeegee down in overlapping strokes.
2. Wipe the blade on a towel every few strokes.
3. Finish along the bottom edge and around the seals.

It takes under a minute. Leaving the door open or running the extractor fan afterwards helps everything dry faster.

The weekly clean

• Use warm water with a small amount of washing-up liquid, or a mild bathroom cleaner labelled safe for glass.
• Wipe with a soft microfibre cloth or non-scratch sponge.
• Rinse with clean water and dry with a squeegee or a second dry microfibre cloth.
• Wipe the seals, hinges and wall channel too, since that is where scum and mould tend to start.

Dealing with limescale

For visible build-up:

1. Mix a descaler made for glass according to the label, or use a solution of white vinegar and warm water (around one part vinegar to one or two parts water).
2. Apply with a cloth or spray, leave for a few minutes, then wipe with a soft cloth.
3. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry.

Be careful with acidic cleaners, including vinegar, around natural stone such as marble, limestone and travertine, and around some metal finishes such as brushed brass or matt black. Acid can etch stone and dull finishes. Protect them, or use a product the manufacturer approves.

What to avoid

• Scouring pads, wire wool and abrasive powders or creams. They scratch glass and can strip easy-clean coatings.
• Razor blades or scrapers, unless the glass manufacturer specifically says they are safe on that glass.
• Strong solvents and bleach on seals and hardware, which can perish rubber and damage finishes.
• Leaving any cleaner to dry on the glass.

Easy-clean coatings

Many screens come with a factory-applied coating that makes water bead and run off. To keep it working:

• Use only mild, non-abrasive cleaners.
• Check which side is coated (often the inside) and follow the manufacturer’s care guide.
• Some coatings can be topped up with a product recommended by the manufacturer. Aftermarket glass protection treatments are also available if your glass is uncoated.

Seals and mould

Black spots on seals are usually mould. Wipe seals weekly and dry them. If mould has got into the rubber, replacement seals are usually inexpensive and easy to fit, and they make a frameless screen look new again.

A routine that works

Planning a new screen? Fewer frames and tracks means less to clean. Our frameless vs framed guide explains the trade-offs.