Shower door tracks don't often appear on daily or weekly cleaning checklists. However, as with anything else in your home, they get dirty over time too.

When neglected for too long, all shower door tracks will show a particular sign: you'll have trouble sliding the door. Another sign that deep cleaning is overdue is mold or mildew spots on the tracks.

So, if you pushed an almost-stuck door during your last shower or looked down and finally noticed that the door tracks looked less than stellar, the time to clean them has finally come. 

Be prepared to reach the small crevices

Shower door tracks need to be tight to work correctly, so reaching the crevices and narrow sections (like the tiny space where sliding doors overlap) is the real issue when tackling this task. 

So, when you're having difficulty reaching these small places, an equally small tool can give you the upper hand on this task. 

For example, a small brush, a toothbrush, a plastic knife, or a spatula covered with a thin cloth are all small enough to work—there are even some special grout brushes that can help you get some of the gunk off.

Have a couple of these tools at hand and move on to the following methods.

How to clean your shower door tracks 

Despite shower door tracks being somewhat tricky to clean, the easy part of washing them is choosing the cleaning product to do the work. As you can see below, there are many ways to clean shower door tracks.

Here are our top six choices for both natural and potent cleaners: 

Option #1. Vinegar

Vinegar is a popular product for many cleaning chores, so it's not surprising to find it on this list.

White vinegar owes its popularity to its acidic qualities, allowing it to help deal with mold and hard water stains—both are pretty common on shower door tracks.

To clean your shower door tracks with vinegar:

1. Fill a spray bottle with half white vinegar and half water.
2. Spray the door tracks and wait for 10 to 30 minutes—depending on how grimy the tracks are. Once the time has passed, scrub the spots with a small brush. 
3. Wipe with a dry microfiber cloth to remove the dirt loosened by the vinegar. You can use a plastic knife or similar tool to remove the grime from the crevices.
4. Finally, rinse by pouring clean water until it overflows or wiping the tracks with a wet cloth.

Option #2. Baking soda

Baking soda is a favorite among many homeowners for its versatility—besides, you might already have some in your pantry.

This product has many benefits, but the one that works best for this specific task is its antifungal property, which means it can help remove mildew in your shower door tracks.  

To use this method:

1. Mix baking soda and water until you create a mildly thick paste.
2. Spread the paste over the tracks and leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour.
3. Grab a cloth and wipe the paste off the tracks, applying some pressure to scrub the surface. Before rinsing the tracks, scrub the remaining spots with a small brush. If you can't reach a tight spot with the brush, use a plastic knife or similar.
4. Rinse the door tracks with water or a wet cloth. 

Option #3. Lemon

Lemon works not only for adding flavor to your meals but also is a great natural cleaner. This delicious citrus is antibacterial and antiseptic, so it's a natural way to deal with mold and mildew. Plus, for this method, you'll also be using salt, adding scrubbing power to the properties of lemon.

You have two options to apply the lemon juice to the shower door tracks:

• Slice the lemon in four, dip one wedge in salt, and rub it along the door tracks a few times. The wedge replaces the brush, but you may need another tool to reach tight spots.
• Make a paste with lemon juice and salt, and scrub the tracks with a small brush dipped in the paste.

Then, leave the juice or paste for half an hour to let it work. Once the time has passed, rinse with water or a wet cloth.

Option #4. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide was widely used as a first-aid product to clean wounds and prevent infections. Nowadays, it's no longer used to disinfect skin, but this handy solution is excellent for cleaning surfaces and killing germs.

Hydrogen peroxide causes oxidation, which helps disinfect the surface and loosen stains, even if they've been there a while. Plus, mixed with dish soap, it will remove even stubborn grime.

To use this method:

1. Mix one cup of hydrogen peroxide and a few splashes of dish soap in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the tracks, leave the solution for 5 to 10 minutes, and scrub with an old toothbrush or any other small brush. You can use a small plastic knife or spatula if you have trouble reaching tight spaces.
3. Rinse the solution by pouring water over the tracks or wiping it with a wet cloth.

Option #5. Steam cleaners

Using your steam cleaner is a good option if you prefer methods where you don't have to scrub so hard.

Steam cleaners work by heating water and forcing it out as pressurized steam. When applied, the high temperatures from these vapors loosen up the grime.

If you decide to go with this method, make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for safety and better results.

Option #6. Hot salt water

You may think something as basic as salt water for cleaning must be a myth, but sometimes the most straightforward solutions are just as useful as people say.

Hot water is excellent for loosening gunky stains, and salt is antibacterial, making it a simple but effective duo. 

To use this method, mix a tablespoon of salt for each cup of water and pour it carefully over the tracks without letting it overflow (the hotter the water, the better it will dissolve the grime). Then, grab a toothbrush or small brush and scrub. 

Just be careful not to burn yourself when handling the hot water.

Option #7. Store-bought cleaners

Commercial cleaners are the primary option for many homeowners. Since they are made for specific purposes, it would be more surprising if they didn't work for what they were made for! 

So, if you want to use one of these commercial cleaners, check that they work for the type of grime on your shower door tracks. Then, follow the instructions on the label—you can use brushes or clothes as you need them.

You don't have to do everything by yourself!

Is cleaning your shower taking too much time and energy? Let Rain City Maids take that burden off your shoulders!

We pay special attention to the shower and bathtub during our deep cleaning service, so you don't have to worry about dirty door tracks! Check out our full cleaning checklist!