My Glass Shower Door Is Rubbing – Why? What To Do?

Glass shower doors can loosen over time, causing them to shift and sag. As a result, the door may start rubbing against the adjacent glass panel or the floor. It may be difficult to close or open the door when this happens fully. We researched to help you re-adjust your glass door and provide more relevant information.

Below is a guide that shows you step-by-step how to re-adjust your shower glass door to stop it from rubbing:

  1. Place wood shims under the glass door, one at each end of the door.
  2. Loosen the screws on the clamp of the top hinge. You may also loosen those at the bottom if necessary.
  3. This allows you to adjust the door upwards and toward the wall, creating space between the glass door and the adjacent glass panel.
  4. Place a wooden shim in this space.
  5. Tighten the screws. 
  6. Remove the shims and test the door. 

Keep reading as we show you how to fix your shower glass door from rubbing on the floor or the glass panel. Find out what other common problems can occur on your glass door. Lastly, we provide tips for keeping your shower glass doors in good condition.

How To Stop Your Shower Glass Door From Rubbing

Spacious and bright modern bathroom interior with white walls, a shower cabin with glass wall, a toilet and faucet sink

You may start worrying when you see your shower glass door shift causing it to rub on the glass panel or the floor. It may even produce a sound as you close or open the door. It would be best if you fixed the door before it gets worse.

You can find these wooden shims on Amazon.

To do this, you will need wood shims and a screwdriver. You may also need a ladder and one other person to help you.

The steps to fixing your shower glass door include the following:

  1. With the other person inside the shower, place the wood shims under the glass door, one on each side.
  2. The person inside should loosen the screws of the clamp on the top hinge of the glass door.
  3. Next, pull the door upwards while pushing it towards the wall. This should create space between the door and the adjacent glass panel. In some cases, you may need to also loosen the screws on the clamp of the bottom hinge.
  4. Fit a wood shim in this space that you have created while ensuring the shims at the bottom are firm and stable. They should not shift.
  5. Tighten the screws you had loosened earlier.
  6. Remove the shims slowly, and test the door.

Below is a video that demonstrates the steps above:

The next video below also demonstrates how to fix a rubbing door. But, in this case, both the upper and lower hinges are loosened:

Other Common Problems With Your Shower Glass Door

Other than your shower glass door becoming loose and rubbing, other problems can develop, such as scratches or leaks. We shall concentrate on how to fix the scratches on the door.

How To Repair Scratches On Shower Glass Door

Light blue modern bathroom interior with glass door shower and white cabinet with mirror. - My Glass Shower Door Is Rubbing - Why What To Do

Not all scratches are a DIY fix. First, examine the scratches. If they are deeply entrenched in the glass door, you will have to call a professional to repair them. If the scratches are light, you can easily remove them yourself using one of the following methods:

Use Clear Nail Polish

If you have some clear nail polish, apply a tiny amount onto the scratch and set it for an hour. Next, pour a few drops of nail remover on a clean microfiber cloth and wipe off the nail polish. Continue wiping until the scratches are all gone.

Use Baking Soda

You can use toothpaste that has baking soda or plain baking soda. Form a paste by mixing equal quantities of baking soda and water. Use a damp cloth to scoop some paste and rub it on the scratches using a circular motion for about 60 seconds. Wipe off and check if the scratches are gone. If not, repeat the process until you achieve the desired results.

Use A Glass Scratch Removal Kit

Check out this corded drill on Amazon.

If you are up to the task, you can use a glass scratch removal kit, which consists of a corded hand drill like the one shown above, a backing pad, abrasives, and a glass polishing compound. Next, follow the guide below:

Attach Backing Pad And Fix the Green Abrasive
  1. Attach the backing pad to the drill.
  2. Attach the green abrasive to the backing pad, with the green side facing down.
  3. Place the pad on the scratches and apply a small amount of pressure.
  4. Move slowly from left to right, starting at the top and moving downwards.
  5. When you reach the end of the scratch marks, start again at the top and repeat this process several times. You will notice the glass becoming hazy and frosty.
  6. After passing the abrasive several times, spray some water onto the glass to cool it down and remove glass dust.
  7. When the glass gets too hot, wait for it to cool down. At the same time, tap the abrasive to remove glass debris.
  8. As you continue removing the scratches, you will reach a point where no more glass dust is produced, and you seem to be losing grip. You will notice the scratches are no longer visible.
Replace Green Abrasive With Blue Abrasive
  1. Clean and wipe the area again and replace the green abrasive with the blue abrasive, a grade down.
  2. Place the abrasive on the glass and move from left to right, and continue until the area you are working on is lighter in color.
  3. Clean and wipe the area again.
Remove Blue Abrasive With Felt Polishing Pad

Check out this glass polishing compound on Amazon.

  1. Remove the blue abrasive, and attach the felt polishing pad to the backing pad.
  2. Apply a polishing compound to the pad and spread it to the damaged area.
  3. Continue polishing while applying water occasionally, but not too much of it until the glass is clear. Ensure there are no hazy patches.
  4. Once you are sure, all the scratches are gone, clean the glass using a glass cleaner.

Check out the video below that demonstrates the steps above:

How To Maintain Your Shower Glass Door In Good Condition

Employee hand in rubber protective glove with rag washing and polishing a glass shower doors. Housewife cares about house. Spring general or regular clean up. Commercial cleaning company concept.

You have learned how to fix your shower glass door so that it stops rubbing and how to remove scratches. In addition to this, you may want to know how to maintain it in good condition by following the tips below:

Clean Every Day To Remove Hard Water Stains

Removing hard water stains and deposits in bathroom. Stains drops on glass shower doors. Cleaning bathroom concept.

 

If you live in an area with hard water, the water drops falling on the door can form stains. With time, these stains can become permanent. To prevent this from happening, you can use a microfiber towel or squeegee to wash the door daily.

Clean Once A Week To Remove Mineral Deposits

Check out this white distilled vinegar on Amazon.

Remove mineral deposits by cleaning the doors once a week. Mix dishwashing soap and distilled white vinegar, and pour this into a spray bottle.

Spray on your doors and allow the solution to sit for 30 minutes to cut through grime. Afterward, rinse with water using a sponge, and dry the door using a microfiber cloth.

It's essential, however, to note that you should not use vinegar if your bathroom is made from stone as it can damage the stone. Instead, use products such as baking soda, ensuring you mix it to the right consistency.

Have a look at this set of microfiber cloths on Amazon.

Deep Clean Once A Month

professional cleaning

 

Deep clean your shower glass doors at least once a month to remove the build-up of scum and prevent mold growth. As you do this, clean the entire bathroom removing dirt from every nook and cranny. You may use a homemade solution or cleaning agents bought from the stores.

If your shower has sliding doors, remember to clean the tracks thoroughly. Pour vinegar into the tracks, and let it soak for a while. Use a toothbrush to scrub the crevices and then rinse with water. The video below shows you how this is done:

Avoid Using Abrasive Cleaning Products

Don't use abrasive cleaning products such as steel wool or cleaning agents that contain bleach. They can corrode the hardware in your bathroom, damaging them. For example, the door seals can develop holes, causing water to leak out of the shower cubicle.

In Closing

Your shower should be a stress-free environment to escape hectic everyday life and take care of yourself. That is why it should function properly, including the glass doors. It can be a nuisance when they always rub against the floor or the adjacent panel. However, following the step-by-step guide provided in this post, you can quickly fix this issue.

In addition to this problem, another common problem you can easily fix is the scratches on the glass door. You may use one of the three methods mentioned here.

Don't forget to apply the tips we have discussed to help your glass doors remain in good condition for longer.

You may be interested in more of our previous posts below:

How Long Should Shower Base Last

How To Remove A Pebble Shower Floor

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