Your Shower Door Tracks Will Sparkle With The Help Of This Kitchen Ingredient
No matter how much you clean your bathroom, there is always something that needs a little extra attention. Though you may think that the toilet is the dirtiest spot in your home, that isn't necessarily always true. There are other key areas that can gather bacteria and dirt. Despite the ongoing water and soap that runs over them, shower door tracks can become breeding grounds for mildew, soap scum, and grime. On top of that, cleaning them isn't always easy if you don't know where to begin. However, one common pantry ingredient can get them sparkling in no time. To clean dirt-filled shower door tracks, simply use a little baking soda.
Part of the reason why baking soda is a great hack for cleansing shower door tracks is because of its coarse nature. It has a slightly gritty texture that acts like a gentle abrasive and works to scrub away soap scum that has built up. Additionally, baking soda absorbs funky odors often found in mold and mildew.
How to use baking soda to clean shower door tracks
In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of water. It should reach a paste-like consistency. If it's too dry, add a little more water by a teaspoon until you reach the right texture. Then dip a plastic knife or spoon into the baking soda paste and generously spread it over the entire length of the shower door tracks, making sure to get the paste into all the groves.
Let the baking soda paste sit on the tracks for 30 minutes to an hour. This allows the baking soda to loosen up the built-up grime. After the allotted time, use a small brush or even an old toothbrush to remove any stuck-on areas. Give extra attention to the corners where build-up tends to gather. Next, take a damp microfiber cloth and wipe away the baking soda paste. Finally, rinse the tracks thoroughly with clean water. This should remove any leftover baking soda paste and leave a clean finish.
Maintain the clean door tracks
The combination of water, humidity, and soap is a recipe for mold and mildew in the shower but there are some ways to prevent it from happening again. While it's totally normal to let these areas go too long and it happens to everyone, once your shower door tracks are deep cleaned, do your best to keep them that way. One way is to clean the tracks every time you deep clean your bathroom, which ideally should be about once a month.
To prevent mold and mildew build-up in the first place, you can give your tracks a quick blast of hot water after each shower. Then open a window or turn on the bathroom fan to help remove moisture and prevent mildew growth. Squeegeeing the shower door after each use is another way to help remove excess water and prevent soap scum from building and dripping down into the tracks.