Soap scum builds up so slowly that many homeowners stop noticing it until the shower glass becomes cloudy. While a Reddit user u/Sierra93 Before and after shared in r/cleaningtips, one detail stood out. Instead of spending hours with a sponge, the shower door was cleaned with a scrub brush attached to a cordless drill.
The cleaning solution was simple: equal parts water and vinegar, a small amount of dish soap, and two cleaning sessions. The biggest difference came from the rotating brush, which lifted months of soap residue from the glass with far less effort than scrubbing by hand alone.
Cloudy glass hides the tile behind it
Before cleaning, the shower door looked almost frosted. Soap scum and mineral deposits cover most of the glass, making it difficult to see the tile inside. The buildup spreads across almost the entire panel rather than collecting in a few spots.
Many commenters said they reached a similar point before realizing that a standard glass cleaner was not enough to remove the thick layer.
A drill brush does most of the work
The homeowner sprayed the glass with a small amount of dish soap mixed with equal parts water and vinegar, then scrubbed with a brush attached to a cordless drill. According to the post, the process took two rounds before reaching the final result.
A spinning brush applies steady pressure across the surface, helping to lift what is often left after cleaning by hand.
“Better than that” became the goal
The homeowner titled the post, “It’s not perfect but it’s better than that,” and many Reddit users agreed. Rather than chasing a complete explanation, commenters focused on how well the soap scum disappeared.
Others shared similar routines, with one commenter recommending equal parts vinegar and dish soap on the glass for about ten minutes before wiping and rinsing. Many agreed that the drill brush was the biggest time saver.
Start with the least invasive method
The drill brush has made the biggest change, but it’s not the only approach. Many Reddit users reported good results with equal parts vinegar and dish soap, allowing the solution to sit before scrubbing with a soft sponge. If mineral deposits remain, repeating the process works better than switching to harsher chemicals.
Before and after photos serve as a reminder that cloudy shower glass is often a buildup problem, not permanent. Before replacing the shower door, it’s worth trying a deep cleaning first.
Iamge credits go to reddit user u/Sierra93
