How to clean runners on shower cubicle sliding doors?

[Suddengeekgirl]

We have a shower in the ensuite which has a curved entrance/ sliding doors. The runners look grim! but without removing the doors I can't get at them - the gap is smaller than my fingers but big enough to be visibly icky.

Any suggestions?

Use a brush? A cloth wrapped around a pencil? Q tips? Blast with pressure washer? Dose with Viakal and hope for the best?

Can you tell I have the same problem? :)

Oh forgot, Some slidng doors do come off easily if that helps access the ruddy runners.

I use a toothbrush or a cotton bud. Or flood a cotton wool ball with bleach / lime stuff and shove it in the gap overnight.

I have tried toothbrushes - even dds old tiny one won't fit.

Will have a go with cotton buds but think it might need something a bit abrasive.

Ooh ohh me too...!! En suite, curved shower doors, gunky runners, awkward and hell to clean

I'm eyeing it as I type. It's on my hit list for today. Actually it's been on my hit list for several days and I keep putting it off.

I hate cleaning it. I can never get it spotless.

The only thing I can suggest is something I have been considering getting mainly for bathroom cleaning: a steam cleaner. I started a thread about whether they're really any good for bathrooms but admittedly haven't had a great reponsonse. I think I might go ahead though. It's got to be better than a sodding toothbrush on my hands and knees.

I am awake since half seven cleaning and don't know how to do this either?? Also the scummy shower door look is not good.. how do you sparkle up the doors? Thinking of brillo pad then windolene?

It actually drives me insane that things are so often designed without cleaning them as a considertion. And the worst culprits are the things that need cleaning the most often.

Cooker extractor hoods. They're another bugbear. Nightmares to get clean, yet need cleaning often. Arrgh!!

Brillo might scratch the door MrsP

I use copious amounts of limescale remover and elbow grease. Rinse and polish up using paper towels.

Then some inconsiderate git member of the family goes in there and ruins it by Having A Shower Yes it's unreasonable but even so I still harrumph to myself

Steam cleaner does a pretty good job, but make sure you are careful with it around any sealant as it can force gaps in it and cause it to peel away a bit. Also be carefull using bleach as it destroys the inbuilt fungacide in your sealant and tile grout and then you end up with black fungus spots that can only be gotten out with bleach and before you know it it spirals out of control.......

Honestly, I found it easier just to remove the shower doors once ins while. Depends on the shower doors you have, of course!

I have a brand new shower and it stays sparkling now I have trained DH and DC to use the rubber scraper thing after every shower. I hang it in the cubicle ready, it literally takes moments and after all you'd expect people to clean the bath after use so why not the shower screen?

nemno - we do that too - it works up to a point but I still get a bit of build up on the bottom of the shower doors and the runners still get a bit dirty. Our new one has been in 18 months now and the whole family tend to use the same one as it's always the last person in who has to clean it. Therefore the boys would rather dive in the one in the en-suite knowing that I will be in it afterwards. It seems like we wasted a fair bit of money ensuring that there was a decent shower in the bathroom now :( However, given that we all (4 of us) have at least one shower a day, it's holding up pretty well.

soon yes sorry didn't mean to suggest this helps the runner situation, just the screen issue someone mentioned. And you are right, the shower tray and screen corners still need the normal weekly clean. My new screen doesn't have runners yay.

I lift the doors off and stand them in a tub in the bath with some strong descaler, then go at the frame with a toothbrush and Bath Power. It is a horrid job though, and I probably do it less often than it needs!

that must be fab nemno - shower units are the work of the devil :o

luckily we live in a soft water area but my OH has to use bars of soap whch inevitably seems to result in a build up.

Mr muscle bathroom spray squirted into the gap seems to work for us.

bUT, the best thing ever has been our water softener. Things still need cleaning but are so much better!

I use window cleaner with vinegar on my doors and tiles, it works a treat. But you do need to have cleaned the build up first. But mines 3 years old and used at least twice a day, not a mark on it.

www.lakeland.co.uk/23109/OXO-Good-Grips-Deep-Clean-Brush-Set

D'oh. www.lakeland.co.uk/23109/OXO-Good-Grips-Deep-Clean-Brush-Set

Nemno what's this rubber scraper you've got?

This is the one we have Bakingnovice:

www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30207990/

I use a variety of things.

Mostly I use a little plastic putty knife with a cloth folded over it. I also use those little wire brushes that are sold in kleeneeze, etc. They are good for the bits where the wheels are because they push through small openings.

For the poster that said about extractor fans... I agree. But did you know you can unclip the panels of the underneath bit and stick them in the dishwasher (on highest setting). I only found that out a few months ago and it's been a revelation!

Bakingnovice I have ones like soon . My smaller shower, the one with the grungy runners, has a small one from a supermarket, the one for my shiny new shower is from John Lewis.

I tried a cheap supermarket one and it just doesn't do the job like the heavy weight IKEA one. I haven't seen the JL ones but I suspect that they will also be better quality - it's false economy for the cheap ones I think. Before I got the proper shower one, I used an actual window cleaning one which was great but just slightly too wide for the panels so always had to swipe at an angle.