We, too, are in our sixties and really like our clear, frameless shower doors. We spray with Clean Shower after each shower and clean with Windex All Purpose once a month. We have very hard well water so your maintenance will probably be even easier than ours!

We too have very hard water from our well... And right now Its not necessary to spray any cleaning on our glass after every shower... I only use the hand shower to spray the interior with hot water to rinse away any soap, that's it.
I was wondering if their was some kind of glass spray ( like for car windshields) that repelled water to prevent the hard water residue from forming.

I'm in my 60's too and recently built a small house and put in a glass shower surround. I do not like it at all as it is almost impossible to keep clean. We have well water that has minerals so that might be a part of the problem, but I've found no product or home remedy that works well. I'm looking forward to taking out the glass and putting in a shower curtain.

I spray "scrubbing bubbles" foam on my clear shower doors and it practically cleans itself!!

We have clear glass frameless in our master bath and take 5 seconds after each shower to squeegee. We keep it hanging inside the shower to make it easier. In our guest shower, also clear and frameless, I use rain-x instead of asking guests to squeegee it after use. I will never have frosted glass again, clear is so bright and open! We also are on a well, but if your water is so hard that it leaves marks on your shower, you might need a water softener so your plumbing lines are not caked with these deposits. That's a lot worse than spots on glass.

I find the squeegee is the best after every shower and then once a week I do the glass with vinegar and a microfiber cloth that i keep just for that job. Microfiber cloths can be the best cleaning tool as long as you follow the instructions on how to use and clean them. No chemicals and no need to polish everything.

Ask the contractor or glass installer about treating the glass before it is installed to prevent hard water spots. This protective layer will be an up charge and it is worth every penny. I have this coating on my shower and very rarely have to squegee. Just regular cleaning and I recommend CLR or diluted white vinegar for cleaning hard water.
http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbath.htm

I wax mine with car wax. Some people use rain ex, but it is to toxic for me when in a shower stall. Wax and squeegee. I have hard water also.

This dilemma is timely as I'm getting ready to redo the master bath and was concerned about glass. Now I'll go forward without hesitation. I will not be using a stone that requires sealing, though.

As a glass contractor, I always try to educate our clients on the care and maintenance prior to the sale and installation of custom shower doors. There are sealants that are (factory) applied to the glass that replicate a clear Teflon finish where most of the water beads and rolls off the glass. Most of these products have a ten year warranty.
If this is not an option because your doors are already installed, we recommend a product that removes hard water spots, and an application of glass wax. Unfortunately, this option has to be repeated indefinitely.

You can use Rain X, the same product you use on windshields and forget about maintenance for a while. Frameless glass doors are clean and make every bathroom looks better

I am purchasing a new home and added a frameless shower to my wish list. I was offered an optional "coating" for $500 (!) that will never leave water spots. I've been doing the 10-second squeegee after every shower for years. I decided to keep my $500 and continue doing my own squeegee work.

Diluted vinegar in a sprayer!

BEST TIP: When ordering your new shower doors, ask about a special coating to seal the glass and make the water bead up and roll off. This glass treatment does not make it self-cleaning like a dishwasher, but protects the surface from harsh chemicals and minerals that damage glass.

The secret is to squeegee away water before it dries and use a good glass cleaner once a week.

HAVE WATER SPOTS? visit http://www.showerdoorsqueegees.com/2012/10/cleaning-water-spots-and-tough-stains.html

I also find that liquid soap is better than bar soap

Listen to Charmean Neithart. The daily squeegee would be a deal breaker for me at any age.

Old post. I wonder what they chose?

No need to wonder! ;)
After some investigation, we spoke to a few friends & relatives who have the all clear glass, no trim look: they liked them brand new... But, ALL agreed that the squeegee routine got old fast! We went with a "raindrop" look.. The various sized tiny raindrop shaped bubbles are inside the glass ( it actually looks like it's raining in there) giving the showering person some privacy and no squeegee Is necessary...only a quick rinse with the hand held shower wand....less than 10 seconds of maintenance. The glass is flat, not textured. It's beautiful and we love it!
BTW...after you squeegee... What do you do with that squeegee wand? Keep it in your shower? :(
Or store it someplace and go retrieve it and get back into the shower every time?

We have glass shower doors that are the raindrop pattern (texture on the outside- smooth inside) and you still need to keep up on the water on the inside. I try to squeegee them every day to keep hard water spots/white film from developing. It's a pain...but in reality it only takes 30-45 seconds. Yes- I keep my squeegee in the shower and remove it when I have guests.

So far no water spotting and it's smooth glass on both sides, so perhaps your glass is not the same type as mine.

@momdotcom41, @Shower Door Expert is right - whenever we manufacture new shower doors for clients we always suggest this sealant treatment which provides a protective coating to the surface of the glass and helps prevent water mineral buildup/damage. There are two different types but both are recommended for shower doors or enclosures. Ongoing maintenance should consist of weekly cleaning with an ammonia-free glass cleaner. (Our "go-to" cleaner can be found at any Costco called Sprayaway) An example of the protective strength of this sealant treatment, after it's applied if you were to stick a piece of ducktape to the glass, within a few seconds it would fall off.

Use enduroshield

And I agree, Sprayaway has long been the professionals' choice for the best glass cleaner out there.

How do you clean the bottom of the door the plastic. It gets filthy and I have not been able to find a tool that can effectively clean the area . Let me know if you understand my question, thanks

I believe you can slide the plastic end piece off. I take mine off, soak it in dilute clorox then use an old toothbrush with some Mr. Clean to scrub it clean..then rinse.

Yes, the "door sweep" at the bottom just slides off for cleaning. Soaking in a little oxyclean would probably work. They do wear out with time and require replacing.

I would like to do a frameless in-line glass shower. Can we have a 36" fixed glass panel mounted without a header? A 28" glass door would be wall mounted. There is a cathedral ceiling so we can't fix the glass at the ceiling.

@DIFY Design - Yes you would have to inset a channel into the wall for the fixed panel.Possibly the floor as well depending how tall it is.

momdotcom41 could you please post a link or more info about where to get he glass with tiny raindrop shaped bubbles inside? I love the idea and would like to do the same in my shower. Thank you

We are in our sixties and are redoing our bathrooms. As a matter of fact they tore the tile out of one yesterday, tiling it tomorrow and will do the other in the next week. Our guest bath is a shower tub combo and is hardly used and has a one year old shower door that is called rain and still looks beautiful and will go back up when the guys are done tiling it. But the master bath is just a shower and we need new shower door for it and I was thinking about the clear frameless. But what I was wondering is it I coated them before the first use with Gel Gloss if it would help with our hard water problem. I use it a couple of times a year on all of the windows inside and out and it's wonderful, if something gets on them, I just buff it out with a clean dry cloth. I also do the same on all of our glass top patio furniture and just dust it off with a clean dry cloth too. Works great!

Gel Gloss also works wonderful on all metal and porcelain too. I use it on the micro, dishwasher, oven and stove. Then just buff off any prints etc. It also coats all of your faucets and works the same way, just wipe with a clean dry cloth to remove toothpaste etc. splatters. Shower valves too. It works like a wax. I use it on the mirrors, sinks etc. But buy the spray one and not the paste one in a can. The spray is easier to use. Works great on granite counter tops too. It's uses are endless.

There are some great coatings applied to glass that repel soapy scum.

We talk about it on our sister site showerdoorsqueegees.com @

THIS LINK: http://www.showerdoorsqueegees.com/2012/11/water-repellent-coatings-for-shower.html

The factory or glass-dealer applied coatings are best. Ours happens to be DFI brand but there are other products as well. Not cheap but well worth it over time. Especially in a shower guests use and rarely fuss with as you do your own.

You still may want to wipe lightly with a squeegee or towel for best results. I do a few deep squats at the end of my shower to do this and get a little exercise at the same time. The glass looks pristine 3 years out now.

I prefer tiled side walls with only one side being (large) glass, rather than the now popular all glass look. Your niche for soap and shampoo can then be hidden from view on a side, rather than the centerpiece as you look into the shower. No looking at messy. Also much less glass to maintain.

Do consider turning the "bother" of 30 seconds of squeegee work into a little bit of exercise. Your shower will be even more rewarding.

I agree, jmpjmp, that the factory Guardian-type glass will definitely give a very long lasting result. And "squeegee squats" will keep you in great shape!

Diamond Seal of Oregon

At Diamond Seal we see spotted shower glass everyday! We specialize in restoring shower glass to the way it looked when you first installed it. We then apply a permanent seal. Our sealer bonds chemically to the glass. It works on an atomic level through a process called co-valent bonding. The glass surface is covered with microscopic pores that are full of oxygen atoms. The Diamond Seal imitates the linking atomic structure of diamonds. This process forms a strong stable bond of continuously linked carbon atoms across the surface creating a hydrophobic surface much like a teflon pan. Please visit our webpage and let us know if we can help. Diamond Seal cuts your cleaning time by more than 50%. diamondsealoregon.com

i AM A HANDYMAN. I bought the product F11 from their facebook site..and i swear by this product on all glass and painted surfaces, Two applications to a clean glass surface and the water sheets off quickly. Use vinegar and water with a single edge razor blade to prep the prior water stains and deposits. Sprayaway window cleaner will shine your glass when a more quick cleaning is needed. If you start clean with the initial F11 treatment your glass will stay cleaner longer. The squeegee method works great for daily wipe downs when the glass is wet. I just installed a glass wall in a new shower at my home and the F11 noticeably provides a super slick finish to new glass surfaces that you will feel as you wipe on wipe off. The second coat is simply more slick and the product layers itself.

We had a protective coating added to our frameless shower when installed 10 years ago. It has since worn off on the side opposite the shower head, even with daily squeegeeing & a weekly diluted vinegar spray (our water is really hard). Anyone know how to fix this?

Bottom line: is it possible to install a glass shower door / enclosure and NOT have to squeegee after every use? I agree with the original poster - trying to avoid additional chores...!