How to Clean Overlapping Sliding Shower Doors Without Leaving Streaks

Overlapping shower doors are a great space saver, but they can quickly become a trap for soap scum and hard water stains. The good news is that you can get them clean and shiny with a few easily accessible home items and consistent effort.

This article will cover how to clean overlapping sliding shower doors, tracks, and tips for maintaining their cleanliness.

If you’d like any help cleaning your shower doors, entire bathroom, or other parts of your house, Homeaglow is available to assist you. Book a professional, affordable cleaner with Homeaglow.

Supplies you’ll need to clean overlapping sliding shower doors

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• A soft sponge
• Microfiber towels or soft clothes
• Dishwashing soap
• Clean water

How to clean overlapping sliding shower doors

White vinegar and baking soda are all-purpose cleansers with built-in disinfecting capabilities. They’re fantastic for cleaning sliding doors as well as overlapping tracks.  Additionally, they work wonders to clean sink drains and get sticky residue off mirrors.

Step 1: Remove the sliding doors

This method is best if you can take your overlapping sliding doors off the tracks. However, if your sliding doors are irremovable, skip to the following method below.

• Lift the door to release the top hook.
• Then pull the bottom out of the shower to remove it. 
• Apply the same procedure to the opposite door. 
• Place both of them on a secure surface for cleaning.

Step 2: Clean the tracks

• Mix equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda. Then add in some water and stir to form a paste. 
• Add paste to the tracks to break down the grime and gunk, and let it set for 20 to 30 minutes as a minimum.
• Use a soft sponge to scrub the tracks thoroughly.
• Next, wipe off everything with a damp towel to remove the baking soda and vinegar.
• Lastly, use a dry cloth to dry the tracks. This will help prevent it from rusting.

Step 3: Clean the sliding doors

• Mix 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1½ tablespoons of dishwashing soap in a spray bottle.
• Spray the sliding doors with your solution and clean them with a soft cloth.
• Dip a fresh cloth in clean water and squeeze it out. Then use the dampened cloth to wipe the glass clean.
• Finally, use a completely dry cloth to clean any streaks off and buff the glass to a shine.

Step 4: Replace the sliding doors

Reinstall the shower doors once you've cleaned the tracks and the sliding doors.

• Place and carefully align one shower door on the track. Then, gently insert it into the frame, and set it on the bottom track
• Repeat the same procedure for the second door.

How to clean overlapping sliding shower doors with ammonia

This method is perfect if your overlapping sliding shower doors are irremovable. Clean the spaces between the overlapping surfaces with a painting sponge and long handle and the sliding doors with an ammonia solution. Be sure to open all the windows as you’ll need lots of ventilation when working with ammonia. Remember to wear suitable gloves and protect your eyes also. 

To clean the glass sliding doors

• Mix one part ammonia and three parts water in a spray bottle.
• Spray the sliding doors and use a brush to clean the still-wet surface.
• Rinse with clean water. 
• Then use a clean microfiber towel to dry the surface properly.

To clean the sliding door tracks

• Combine detergent and water in a bucket to create a cleaning solution.
• Dip the painting sponge with a long handle into the cleaning solution and squeeze it to help absorb all the liquid.
• Insert the sponge through the door's crack and scrub the tracks. Make sure the opposite end of the moist sponge touches the free edge of the sliding shower door as you push it back and forth through the overlapping area. Also, remember to wash the dirty sponge in the cleaning solution each time before continuing. 
• Next, dip a clean sponge in water and push it through the overlapped area to remove all the cleaning solutions.
• Finally, press a dry sponge into the overlapped area to finish drying it. This is to remove any leftover water and remove streaks.

How to clean overlapping sliding shower doors with a high-pressure hose

Another way to clean overlapping sliding shower doors is to use a high-pressure hose to flush out any dirt and grime that has amassed there.

You’ll need the following:

• A high-pressure hose connected to a small tank
• Liquid dish soap
• Detergent
• Clean water
• A bucket or large bowl
• Microfiber cloth

To clean the tracks

1. Mix the detergent and water in a tank connected to a high-pressure hose.
2. Then use the hose to apply the soapy water. Make sure the liquid passes through your sliding door's cracks.
3. Let it sit for a while.
4. Use the same high-pressure hose to supply fresh water and rinse off the soapy water.

To clean the overlapping sliding doors

1. Add the liquid dish soap into a bucket or large bowl, then add warm water to dissolve it.
2. Start by dampening a microfiber cloth with the solution, and then wipe your sliding doors from top to bottom in a zigzag pattern.
3. Leave the doors to dry for a few minutes. 
4. Then polish with a fresh microfiber cloth. You may need to use a painting sponge on a handle to get in there. 

Tips for keeping your overlapping sliding shower doors clean

1. When showering, avoid using soaps that contain paraffin wax as it causes scum buildup. Preferably switch to body washes, liquid soaps, or talc-free bar soaps to get around this issue.
2. Use a waterproofing product on your overlapping shower doors to keep water from remaining on the surface. These products let soap, grime, and water drip off. If they can't adhere, they can't form buildup or stains on your overlapping shower doors.
3. Clean the shower doors with a dry microfiber cloth or a squeegee after each shower. When you dry off your shower after each use, stains are less likely to be left behind by evaporating water.
4. Once a week, clean the doors with a cleaning solution. Mix one cup of distilled water, half a cup of white vinegar, a few drops of liquid dish detergent, and 10 to 20 drops of your preferred essential oil fragrance into a spray bottle. Dry the glass inside wholly after taking a shower. Then spray the mixture onto the dried glass. 

As the cleaning solution dries, it will reduce scum on the glass and leaves the surface shining until you complete your monthly bathroom cleaning.

5. Consider purchasing a whole-home water softener if you reside in a region with hard water. This tip is pricey, so only consider if hard water makes it impossible to maintain plumbing and clean clothes.

Cleaning overlapping shower doors in your home

Cleaning overlapping shower doors is considerably easier if you do it often and prevent scum and grime from accumulating. If you'd like to save some time on cleaning your shower doors, or if you’d like help cleaning other parts of your home, you can always use Homeaglow to find an experienced, affordable cleaner near you.