Expert Advice: Cleaning Your Shower Door

Cleaning Glass: an Expert’s Guide

On a recent Facebook post, somebody new commented: “Offer [a shower door] you can get clean. One that you don’t need vinegar, SOS pads and sand paper and hours of hard elbow grease.” And, friends, we do! All our shower doors, in fact!

Person cleans glass shower door
Not how you want to spend your Saturday…

How Glass Works

Glass is made from sand. To the naked eye, glass appears smooth, but it actually has tiny ridges and valleys where soap scum loves to hang out. That’s why using abrasives like sand paper is a really bad idea for your shower door! You’d only be making the surface rougher and happier for the scum!

What To Do

Your shower door experts recommend a two step approach: prevention and maintenance.

Prevention: Glass Sealant

We offer this service to all our clients. It seals those pores and ridges in your glass to prevent scum from accumulating in the first place. It’s kind of like wrapping your shower in Teflon®. You’ll still have to maintain the door, but opting for sealant does reduce those “hours of hard elbow grease” our Facebook follower so hates. We love hanging out with shower doors, but you have other things to do!

Maintenance: Microfiber

  • After every shower: quickly wipe down the glass with a microfiber cloth – or squeegee! it’s fun!
  • 1-2 times per week: when the shower is still wet, give the glass a more thorough wipe with a microfiber cloth.
  • Once a week: when the glass is dry, evenly spray a soapless repellent cleaner on the entire surface. Then use a clean dry microfiber cloth to wipe in a circular motion and buff to a shine!

Our preferred cleaner is Diamond Blue Wash. It’s environmentally friendly and doesn’t leave any residue for you to scrub away later. Do get in touch with any shower maintenance questions at all. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for stunning shower doors. And feel free to stop by our Jefferson, Maryland showroom to pick up some cleaner and microfiber cloths!

Woman frustrated with cleaning shower door glass in bathroom

A Tale of Maryland Tubs

Shower Door(s) of the Week: Three Tub Units in Maryland

Rub-a-dub-dub*, y’all! We’ve installed some very cool tub units lately and thought we’d showcase three of them in one post.

*Note: you might want to wait until our favorite holiday, Shower with a Friend Day (February 5th), to try fitting three people in a tub?

Bathtub #1: A Cambridge Education

This is our standard alcove Cambridge unit, with its sleek minimal dual-sliding system. It comes standard with one towel bar and one disc knob. (Fun fact: the disc knob will always be on the side of the shower head.) It’s not quite as minimalist as the Phantom (see below), but it’s a far cry from the metallic monsters of bygone days. Though I personally love fully framed and not ashamed shower doors…

Tub #2: Disc Knobs for Days

I’m just going to need to stare at these stunning walls for awhile. (…) Okay, I’m back! Do you recognize this shower door? Yep, it’s another Cambridge, this time a corner unit. Here you can really see how its low profile metal thresholds showcase custom tile work and stunning walls. (…) Here in the office we’re digging the choice of dual disc knobs – versus the standard disc + towel bar above. It’s a solid move for that minimalist frameless look. The best part is that choosing two disc knobs doesn’t even cost more money! Groovy.

Tub #3: The Phantom of Middletown

Did we forget to install the shower door? Of course not! The Phantom unit is already about as invisible as it gets, but as Expert Schuyler notes, “They upgraded to low-iron like some smart folks. Phantoms look infinitely better with low-iron. Sexy af.” What’s he on about? (We ask. Every day.) Low iron glass is free of the slightly green tint that regular glass gets from its iron content. If you’re interested in the phantom invisibility against light or white tile, you should certainly consider it.  And the smart folks even splashed out for a glass towel bar! That’s some real commitment to glass. We love to see it.

If you made it this far, you might enjoy geeking out about showers, glass, bubble baths… we’re here for all of it. You can get in touch any time for free quotes, top tips, questionable jokes, etc. You will also find more photos (and questionable jokes) on Facebook or Instagram.

Bonus Content

My original poem to Schuyler, in thanks for his ongoing support for Shower Door Sunday:

Trend Alert: Matte Black Grid Door

Shower of the Week: Gridworks bypass sliding unit with matte black finish in Frederick, Maryland

This grid shower door we recently installed in Frederick, Maryland is doubly on trend! Grid showers and matte black hardware are both having a moment, and we love it.

Expert Advice: Matte Black Trend

The doors we install are actually from the second generation of the grid shower door movement. Early grid showers had small rectangular panes of glass welded together with metal framing. The look was was an immediate hit, especially in urban areas with uber-contemporary design trends. The units sold like hot cakes, but they were ghastly expensive!

Other manufacturers have found better, less expensive ways to accomplish the same look. We source ours from Century Bathworks in New Jersey. By using a single piece of glass with thin grid framing adhered to it, Century is able to provide this trendy matte black look at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.

Matte black hardware is, in general, also having a moment. Oil rubbed bronze finishes are also popular, but their tone can run the gamut from super dark to super light. It’s definitely easier to pair black with black versus two different oil rubbed bronze finishes from two different manufacturers.

If you’re interested in this trend, get in touch! We’re happy to start chatting about what would work for your unique shower space. You can also get the ball rolling with a free quote. We also post more shower door pics and fun bonus photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Steamy & Dreamy in Shippensburg

Shower Door of the Week: Steam Unit in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

When the field experts emailed me this pic, the subject line was “Steamy & Dreamy.” Accurate! We haven’t shared a steam unit in awhile, so let’s review some basics. #1: steam is amazing. It’s fabulous for your muscles, skin, and sinuses. (Anyone else experiencing spring allergies right now?)

Steam units require tall glass. And custom glass is what we do! This unit is 72″ tall with an 8″ transom. Keeping steam inside the unit is the ultimate goal, of course, but it’s also important to be able to breathe. The operable transom at the top of the door opens to let some steam out.

Expert Schuyler thought it was also important to note: “Coffee mugs in bottom left not included with the purchase of a shower door.” But how relaxing would it be to sit in the steam with a steaming cup of tea or coffee??

If you’re intrigued by the idea of adding a steam unit to your home, please do get in touch with any design questions. We’re always pleased to geek out about design and get you a free quote. You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram for design inspiration.

Glass Shelves for Shower Storage

There comes a time in shower remodeling when one must ask: “Where do I put the shampoo bottle?” If you’re not planning to install a built-in wall or bench seat, your two best options are niches and shelves.

The best thing about recessed shower niches is that they don’t take up any space in your shower. You won’t need bulky, unstable, or rusting organizers added in later. (Also, niches are an opportunity for eye-catching tile that can become the centerpiece of your enclosure.) Where do we come in? Well, you can add a lot of functional space to a a shower niche with… glass shelves! The glass shelves can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of heights. Think taller space for shampoo bottles and a little cubby for razors and loofahs.

We can also install glass shelves! As always, our work is completely custom. Corner shelves give you a lot of freedom in placement. So if you live with folks of varying heights, custom glass shelves might be the way to go. Need a shelf way down low for the weird cat who likes to shower with you? We don’t judge.

Your shower might have a unique layout, so please do get in touch if you want to talk through your storage options. We genuinely enjoy geeking out about shower design, and we offer free quotes. You can also get design inspiration over on Facebook and/or Instagram, where we share a Shower of the Week. And some other fun stuff! Happy shampooing, friends.

 

Completely Custom Corner Shower

Shower Door of the Week: Completely Custom Corner Door in Poolesville, Maryland

“Custom” is the word of the week around here. I asked our office experts how they would describe this corner unit. Expert Schuyler chimed in, “It’s certainly not standard! The return panel doesn’t extend to the wall. Only 2 of the 3 panels extend to the ceiling.” That was the client’s vision, and we made it happen!

Schuyler adds, “We are the gods of custom.” Not sure that part was meant for the blog, but… I’m not denying it.

Personally, I dig the postmodern vibe of the different heights and open door space. We often recommend low iron glass against light colored tile, but in this case it’s especially key to the vibe. For anyone new to the ol’ blog: low iron glass is more optically clear than regular glass. Iron gives a slight green tint that’s not super noticeable against darker cool tones. But if you’re going for a crisp look, low iron glass is something to consider.

As ever, get in touch if you have any questions about shower door design. We love it when clients come to us with a vision, but we also love starting from scratch to figure out what you want and need from a shower space. In short: we love you guys! If you <3 us too, follow along on Facebook and/or Instagram. This month we once again featured original art from Gypsy Cab Studios to celebrate our favorite holiday of the year…

Shower with a Friend Day!

Upgrade in Adamstown: Centec Dual Slider

Shower Door of the Week: Centec Dual Slider with Chrome Finish in Adamstown, Maryland

Ready for an upgrade but don’t need every single bell and whistle? Our Centec dual slider could be the shower door for you! This traditional “bypass” style of door doesn’t get the same buzz as barn sliders these days, but they remain a great value option. If you’re upgrading from a shower curtain or getting rid of an outdated door, the Centec is an affordable sturdy replacement.

Did I say sturdy? Yep, I sure did. Our bypasses use heavy 3/8″ glass – not the flimsy stuff you’ll find at a big box store…

… and the Centec is completely customizable to your shower layout. We’ll do the measuring and installation so it’s just done, not a project that takes up your free time. During our consultation you can let us know if you want to upgrade the towel bars or change the hardware finish. Centec hardware finish options: brass/gold, chrome, brushed nickel, polished nickel, oil rubbed bronze, matte black. This blog post prompted some chat in the office about how cool a matte black Centec would be – etch some skulls in and you’ve got yourself a goth shower!

Okay, shower door friends, that’s it for this week but stay tuned for more awesome shower doors – and our favorite holiday of the year! February 5th is Shower with a Friend Day. (No really, it is!) We’ll be posting photos on  Facebook and Instagram as always, and we love to hear from our clients and fans.

Acid Etched Shower Door in Greencastle PA

Shower Door of the Week: Acid Etched Cambridge Unit in Greencastle, Pennsylvania

For those who prefer to keep the mystery alive, we present: acid etched shower doors! 👤🚿

This is our popular Cambridge double sliding unit, fully frameless for a stylish modern look. The client opted for completely acid etched glass. We also work with local artisans who can acid etch patterns into the glass, which I personally love. Partially etched glass, whether a privacy bar or funky pattern, is fun and also lets more light in. Some people prefer a “shower cave” especially in the morning, but you can also install additional lighting in the shower enclosure if you prefer privacy and a sunnier start to the day.

We really enjoy coming up with custom solutions to your showering visions! From a recent Google review from client Joanne: “The gal in the office who schedules the installation is super friendly and helpful.” That’s our Emmarose! She’s fantastic. (Don’t worry, she’s not writing this – hah hah – Emily is the blogger!) So if you’re in the greater Washington DC area – including our southern Pennsylvania friends! – give us a shout to talk options. You can also follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram for design inspiration and the fun things we get up to!

Getting A-round in Annapolis

Shower Door of the Week: Rounded Operable Spray Panel in Annapolis, Maryland

New year, new shower door – check out the rounded corner on that spray panel! Technically, it’s a ’10” radius edge,’ if you want to sound like one of our experts. But whatever you call it, it’s pretty darn neat. From an interior design perspective, the rounded corner means the door is taking up less room. That makes the overall unit look bigger than it is. A solid solution to a small shower space.

The spray panel is operable, that is, it will swing out so you don’t have to shimmy yourself into the shower. The operable spray panel is hinged off the stationary panel with glass-to-glass hinges. Add in a square towel bar to match the squared shower head, and you’ve got yourself one cool little shower!

Interested in a new shower this year? Get in touch! We can get you a free quote quickly, so you can start to make plans…

Holy Smokes! Smoked Glass in Martinsburg

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