How to Clean Shower Door Tracks: 6 Easy Hacks

Updated September 14, 2020
shower in new luxury home

How to clean your shower door tracks might not be something that comes to your mind often. However, when you're starting at the shower door gunk, you probably want it gone ASAP. Learn how to use simple ingredients for cleaning shower door tracks. You'll even learn to clean aluminum shower door tracks.

Cleaning Aluminum Shower Door Tracks With Vinegar

White vinegar is a mold killer given its acidic nature. Therefore, you can utilize that mold and mildew fighting action on your shower door tracks.

Materials

  • White vinegar

  • Sponge or magic eraser

  • Old toothbrush

  • Cloth

  • Spray bottle

Using Vinegar for Cleaning Your Shower Door Tracks

  1. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar. (If your floors are made of stone, apply the vinegar with cotton balls to avoid getting it on the floor.)

  2. Carefully spray down the tracks with vinegar.

  3. Let it sit for 10 - 30 minutes.

  4. Use an old toothbrush to scrub down the soap scum and grime.

  5. Work the magic eraser over stubborn areas.

  6. Wet a sponge and wide down the track.

  7. Repeat as necessary.

How to Clean Shower Door Tracks With Baking Soda

Another powerful cleaning solution for getting rid of soap scum and mildew on your shower door tracks is baking soda. This light abrasive cleaner can scrub away any shower door gunk.

Must-Have Materials

  • Baking soda

  • Bowl

  • Water

  • Toothbrush

  • Microfiber cloth

How to Clean Shower Door Tracks With Baking Soda

  1. Mix the baking soda and water in a bowl to create a paste.

  2. Dip the toothbrush in the cloth and scrub the tracks.

  3. For stubborn areas, use the microfiber cloth to apply the paste to all areas of the tracks.

  4. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

  5. Scrub again with the toothbrush.

  6. Rinse and wipe down.

Baking soda and vinegar on table

How to Clean Shower Door Tracks With Lemon

Are you a fan of that lemony smell? Good news, it's a great cleaning agent for your crusty shower door tracks.

What You Need

  • Lemon or lemon juice

  • Salt

  • Toothbrush

  • Cloth

Method for Using Lemon to Clean Shower Tracks

  1. Quarter a lemon.

  2. Take the wedge and dip it into salt.

  3. Use the wedge to scrub the tracks.

  4. Let it sit for 25 to 30 minutes.

  5. Use the toothbrush to scrub extra grimy areas.

  6. Use a wet cloth to rinse.

You can also create a paste with salt and lemon juice. You'll then apply the paste with the toothbrush.

lemon and salt

Using Peroxide to Clean Shower Door Tracks

Rather than using a harsh chemical like bleach, you can use peroxide to handle your shower door track cleaning woes.

Materials to Grab

How to Use Peroxide to Clean Shower Door Tracks

  1. In a spray bottle, mix a cup of hydrogen peroxide and a few squirts of Dawn.

  2. Spray down the tracks.

  3. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

  4. Use the toothbrush to scrub the gunk.

  5. Wet the cloth and rinse thoroughly. Dish soap can be slippery if left.

Cleaning a Shower Door Tracks With Steamer

If you have a steamer for your floors or clothes, this can also be an excellent method for cleaning your shower door tracks.

Supplies to Grab

Cleaning Shower Door Tracks With Steamer Steps

  1. Before grabbing your steamer and going to town on your tracks, make sure to use it properly and read all instructions.

  2. Run the steamer over the tracks to break up the water deposits and gunk.

  3. Use the toothbrush and putty knife to loosen stubborn areas.

  4. Repeat steps until the tracks are completely clean.

Using Commerical Cleaner to Clean Shower Door Tracks

You can also use a commercial cleaner like Green Works Bathroom Cleaner or Comet.

Supplies You Will Need

  • Cleaner

  • Sponges

  • Rags or old towels

  • Empty, clean spray bottle

  • Magic eraser

  • Old toothbrush

  • Gloves

Steps to a Clean Shower Door With Commerical Cleaners

  1. Put on gloves to protect your hands for harsh chemicals.

  2. Spray or sprinkle your cleaner over the tracks.

  3. Allow it to sit for the recommended time on the bottle.

  4. Now, using the toothbrush, scrub the shower track. The mildew and soap scum should be loosened and will come up with a little effort. Continue to scrub until the track is clean.

  5. Rinse with clean water and dry with a dry rag.

Closed shower doors

How to Clean the Plastic Strip at the Bottom of the Glass Shower

To clean the strip at the bottom of the shower, you can use a magic eraser or toothbrush and scrub the area. For tough or stubborn stains on the strip, use a bit of straight vinegar and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, scrub it again.

Keeping the Shower Doors Clean

Once you've put in the effort to clean your shower doors thoroughly, you'll want to keep them consistently clean. You can do a few things to help keep this type of door clean after the initial deep cleaning.

  • Wipe out the tracks after your shower. It only takes a minute, and it can help keep the mildew away. It is also an excellent way to make sure that the doors continue to slide easily.

  • Check the caulking around the tracks to ensure that there were small spaces left for the water to drain. If there don't seem to be, make a few notches with an X-Acto knife to solve the problem.

  • Follow a regular cleaning schedule. Cleaning shower doors weekly is generally a good idea.

  • Run a bar of paraffin wax over the track when it is clean to help it resist dirt and damage.

Benefits of Cleaning Your Shower Doors

A sparkling clean shower door helps make the whole bathroom look clean. With just a little time and effort, you can transform that dingy door to a sparkling one, and you'll feel so much better about your bathroom after you do.

How to Clean Shower Door Tracks: 6 Easy Hacks