Question: How do I remove stubborn spots on my shower door?

In a conversation with a girlfriend the other day, she expressed her frustration and inability to remove the stubborn soap scum on her glass shower door. She asked if I had any helpful hints that might put an end to the battle. The answer? But of course.

Over my years of cleaning, I've spend oodles of money testing out a million and one products; CLR, Scrubbing Bubbles, Kaboom, Tilex, Clorox, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. You name it, I've tried it. Because the shower area is constantly subjected to heat, humidity, and shower residue, it unfortunately forms a tricky build-up of soap residue, body oils, dirt, and calcified mineral residue from bath water. If the buildup is caught early and you are religiously using a squeegee, then most any product will work to cut through the film. But for those more serious build-ups like Jen was referring to, I have three products that are sure to help dislodge and remove even the hardest soap scum deposits:

1) Soft Scrub: Listen to me carefully - ONLY BUY THE LEMON SCENTED, NON-BLEACH Soft Scrub. I've tried the others. They do not work like the Lemon Scent does. Weird I know but trust me. It works best if you rub on with non-abrasive hard-bristled brush (one that’s plastic, not metal, so that the glass is not damaged) and let sit for 5 minutes before rinsing off. 2) Fabric Softener Sheets: Yes you heard me. Fabric Soften Sheets like you put in your clothes dryer. These are a secret weapon when it comes to cleaning the shower. Supposedly the sheets contain ingredients in them that are formulated to soften water deposits. To try it out -- get the door wet, scrub the glass with a brush to loosen deposits and then wipe with a sheet. Rinse immediately after.
3) Mixture of white vinegar and baking soda: If you want a natural, DIY home remedy, white vinegar has immense cleaning power, and it’s especially useful when it comes to soap scum. Pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the entire shower door. (Opening the windows first and turning on the fan!) Allow the vinegar to sit on the shower door for 15 minutes. Then pour baking soda on a non-abrasive scrubber and rub over stains in a circular motion on the shower door. The vinegar loosens hardened soap scum, allowing the baking soda to remove the stains entirely. Rinse the vinegar and baking soda from the shower doors with a sponge and cold water. Wipe the shower doors dry with a towel to reduce the chance of water scale stains.

Some suggestions in preventing future hard water and soap deposits from building up:

◦Use a squeegee after EVERY shower.
◦Wipe shower doors dry of all water after each use.
◦Use liquid soap or shower gel instead of bar soap.
◦Use glycerin based soap if a bar soap is preferred.