How to Clean Overlapping Sliding Shower Doors
Shower doors need to be frequently cleaned because they easily accumulate dirt from spills of products such as soaps and shampoos among others. However, some overlapping glass shower doors might not be easy to clean because some parts can be accessed with your bare hands.
If the sliding doors are unremovable, you use a painting sponge stick or pressure washer to get rid of the dirt in between the overlapping surfaces. Some shower doors are designed in a way that they can easily be removed for cleaning. The following are details on how to clean sliding glass shower doors.
Using a Painting Sponge Stick
This is a stick with a sponge at the tip. Those with cylindrical sponges are the most effective when it comes to cleaning. This stick can slide into the overlapping tight spots of your shower door since it is very slim. Also, the sponge is flexible and can be molded into any shape thus fitting in the overlapping part.
Items needed
- Cleaning liquid
- Soap
- Painting sponge stick
Steps to follow
- Dip the painting sponge stick into the cleaning liquid. Squeeze the sponge so it can absorb all the liquid.
- Push the sponge through the crevice of the door and scrub the edge. Repeat the process thoroughly to make sure that all the grime is cleaned off.
- Lastly, take a fresh sponge and dip it in water then push it through the overlapping part so as to get rid of all the cleaning liquid. It is also advisable to push a dry sponge into the overlapping part to dry it out. This will prevent it from rusting.
Removing the Doors Completely
This method is best for shower doors that can easily be removed from the tracks. It might seem like a tedious task but it is effective.
Items needed
- A screw
- Cleaning liquid
- Bleach
- Anti-bacterial liquid
Procedure
- First, start by unscrewing the stopper on the door. The rubber stopper is usually placed at the bottom of the door. Use a screw to unscrew the rubber stopper.
- After removing the stopper, push the door gently and make sure that you have a good grip on the door to avoid it from sliding off. Push the door upwards and towards your direction and it will come off. Repeat this whole process for the other shower door.
- Once you’ve removed both doors, place them in a safe location where they cannot be knocked off or even broken. It is advisable that you lean them on a wall.
- Begin the cleaning process by cleaning off the track with some cleaning agent and bleach of your choice. Scrub the tracks thoroughly to get rid of all the grime. You can as well use anti-bacterial liquid to get rid of tough dirt.
For the showers doors, you can use a sponge and cleaning liquid to clean them. Rinse them well with a sponge that is dipped in water and lastly dry them with a dry sponge.
- After you have cleaned the tracks and the showers doors, reinstall the doors back. Place one shower door on the track and align it well. Fit it gently into the frame and place it on the lower track then screw back the rubber stopper tightly.
- Repeat the reinstallation process for the other door.
Running Liquid through the Crevices
Instead of having to remove the shower doors so as to clean the overlapping surfaces, you can run a liquid through the crevices of the door. You can use tools that can run water at high pressure. They clean the overlapping area of the sliding doors.
You should use any cleaning agent that can easily break down all the grime and gunk in the overlapping surfaces. Other substances that can be used include white vinegar, dish soap, lemon juice and baking soda. These will easily remove all the grime.
Put the liquid through the crevice and allow it to sit for a while. Apply the same water pressure to clean out the soap.
Removing the Doors
Some overlapping sliding surfaces are designed to be removed from the tracks. To remove the door, lift it up to unhook it at the top then pull the bottom outside the shower. Repeat the same with the other door. Once you have removed both, place them on a safe place for cleaning.
Alternatively, you might not need to remove the overlapping door surfaces. Some of them can pass each other. To separate them, push the left one to the right and the right one to the left. By doing this, the overlapping parts will be pushed to the far ends.