How to clean and care for glass, mirrors and splashbacks

Clean glass with a soft cloth or a squeegee and a mild, non-abrasive cleaner, and avoid scouring pads, scrapers and powders, which can scratch the surface. Rinse and dry shower glass after use to reduce limescale. Check seals, hinges and fixings from time to time, and ask us if a door drops or a panel moves.

What should I clean glass with?

For everyday cleaning, keep it simple:

• a soft, clean cloth or a microfibre cloth
• a rubber squeegee for large flat areas
• warm water with a little mild washing-up liquid, or a mild glass cleaner
• a second dry cloth to finish and remove streaks

Test any new cleaner on a small area first. Rinse off cleaning products with clean water so they do not dry onto the glass.

What should I avoid?

Glass can scratch, and a scratch cannot be polished out at home. Do not use:

• scouring pads, wire wool or the rough side of a kitchen sponge
• scrapers or blades on the glass face
• abrasive powders or cream cleaners with grit in them
• harsh chemicals that the cleaner's label says are not suitable for glass, chrome or seals

Grit trapped in a dry cloth can scratch too, so rinse the glass before you wipe off heavy dirt.

How do I keep a shower screen clear?

Most marks on shower glass are limescale and soap left behind as water dries. A little care after each shower makes a big difference:

1. 1

   Step 1: Rinse the glass

   After showering, rinse the glass with clean water to wash off soap and shampoo.

2. 2

   Step 2: Squeegee or dry it

   Run a squeegee down the glass, top to bottom, then wipe the bottom edge and the corners with a dry cloth.

3. 3

   Step 3: Ventilate the room

   Open a window or run the extractor fan so the bathroom dries out. A drier room means less condensation and less build-up on the glass and seals.

4. 4

   Step 4: Clean weekly

   Once a week, clean the glass with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry.

How do I look after shower seals?

Seals and wipers stop water escaping around the door and along the bottom edge. Wipe them clean when you clean the glass. Over time they can harden, split or come loose. When a seal is worn, replace it rather than letting water get out. Our guide to hinges, channels and seals explains which seals go where, and you can ask us for a replacement.

How should I clean a mirror?

Use a soft cloth with a little glass cleaner or water. Spray the cleaner onto the cloth rather than straight onto the mirror, so liquid does not run down to the edges. Do not let water sit on the edges of a mirror, especially in a bathroom. Dry the edges after cleaning and after steamy showers.

How do I clean a glass splashback?

Wipe a glass splashback with a damp cloth and a little mild washing-up liquid, then dry it with a clean cloth. Clean up splashes of food or grease when the glass has cooled, before they dry on. Do not use scourers or scrapers on the glass. Around sockets and cut-outs, use a cloth that is damp, not wet, and keep water away from electrical fittings.

What should I check from time to time?

Glass is safest when it is fixed properly and treated gently:

• Do not use glass as a step, and do not stand on a shower tray lip or bath edge holding the glass.
• Do not lean heavy items against glass panels or hang things from shower doors.
• Check that hinges, handles and fixings are tight and that doors open and close smoothly.
• Look along the edges for chips or cracks.

If a shower door drops, a panel moves, or you find a chip or crack, stop using it and contact us. If a fitter installed it, let them know too.

This is general guidance. For your project, follow the regulations and manufacturer instructions that apply, and ask your building control body, engineer or Gas Safe engineer where needed.

Where to go next

Need a replacement part or a new piece? Contact us with a photo and your order reference if you have one.

• Hinges, channels and seals
• Shower screens and enclosures
• Glass splashbacks

Questions we get asked