How to Clean Shower Door Tracks
Updated February 20, 2026
Deep clean your shower door tracks to clear soap scum, mold, and mineral buildup -- fix stiff doors and stop water leaks from clogged weep holes.
Overview
Nobody thinks about shower door tracks until the doors barely slide or water starts leaking onto the bathroom floor. Soap scum, mold, and mineral deposits build up in those tracks faster than almost anywhere else in the house. The real problem is the weep holes -- tiny drain holes in the bottom track that let water flow back into the tub. When they clog, water overflows the track and hits the floor. The deep clean takes 20-30 minutes with stuff you already have under the sink. After that, a quick monthly wipe keeps it from coming back.
What You'll Need
Safety First
- If you use bleach for mold, never mix it with vinegar. Bleach plus vinegar creates toxic chlorine gas. Use them separately -- vinegar first for minerals, rinse it out completely, then bleach for mold if needed.
- Track edges are sharp, especially at cut ends and corners. Wear rubber gloves. Reaching into those channels barehanded is asking for a slice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Prepare the Tracks for Deep Cleaning
Clear out the loose stuff first -- hair, soap chunks, whatever is sitting in there. A dry paper towel, cotton swabs, or a vacuum with a crevice attachment all work. If the doors lift out (many sliding doors do), remove them so you have full access to the tracks. If they do not come out easily, just work around them. Cover the drain with a rag so debris does not go down.
Tip: Most sliding doors lift out by raising them into the top track (it has a deeper channel) and swinging the bottom inward to clear the lower track. Check for retaining screws or clips at the top first. Take a photo of the door position before removal so reinstalling is painless. -
Apply Vinegar and Baking Soda to Dissolve Buildup
Pour white vinegar into the bottom track -- fill it about halfway. It starts dissolving mineral deposits and soap scum on contact. For extra power, sprinkle baking soda on top of the vinegar -- the fizzing helps lift stubborn buildup. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes, longer if the tracks are really bad. For the vertical side tracks, soak paper towels in vinegar and press them against the surfaces so it stays in contact instead of running off.
Tip: Heavy mineral crust that vinegar is not cutting through? Switch to CLR. Apply it, let it sit 5-10 minutes, then scrub. Rinse thoroughly -- CLR is significantly more aggressive than vinegar. -
Scrub and Clear the Drain Holes
Scrub every surface with an old toothbrush -- bottom channel, sides, and especially the corners where buildup concentrates. For tight spots the toothbrush cannot reach, use cotton swabs, a thin bottle brush, or cloth wrapped around a screwdriver. Now the critical part: find and clear the weep holes. These are small drain holes in the bottom track, usually at each end on the inside edge. They let water drain back into the tub. Use a toothpick, thin wire, or pipe cleaner to poke through any blockage. Clogged weep holes are the number one reason water leaks out of the track onto the bathroom floor.
Tip: Cannot find the weep holes? Look for small slots or round holes (about 1/8 inch) on the inside face of the bottom track near each end. Some are on the bottom face. After clearing them, pour a small amount of water into the track -- it should drain through within seconds. If it pools up, they are still blocked. -
Rinse, Dry, and Treat for Mold
Rinse everything out with a handheld shower head, a cup of water, or a spray bottle. Get all the vinegar and dissolved gunk out of the tracks. Dry with a clean cloth or paper towels. If there is black mold or pink staining that the vinegar did not handle, spray those spots with a bathroom mold cleaner or a 1:10 bleach-to-water solution. Let it sit for 10 minutes, wipe clean, and rinse. Dry the tracks thoroughly.
Tip: That pink staining is actually bacteria (Serratia marcescens), not mold. It loves soap residue and moisture. Regular cleaning kills it, but it comes right back if the tracks stay wet. Drying the tracks after each shower prevents it from returning. -
Reinstall Doors and Establish a Maintenance Routine
Put the doors back in by reversing the removal -- top into the upper track, swing the bottom into the lower track, lower into position. Both doors should glide smoothly the full length. Still stiff? Apply a thin coat of silicone-based lubricant to the rollers and track surface. Do not use WD-40 or anything petroleum-based -- it attracts soap scum and the buildup comes back faster. Going forward, wipe the tracks with a vinegar-soaked cloth once a month and clear the weep holes every 3 months. Five minutes and you never have to do the deep clean again.
Tip: Best habit you can build: after each shower, hit the glass with a squeegee and wipe the top of the bottom track with a towel. Takes 30 seconds and removes most of the soap and water before it can accumulate. Dramatically cuts down on how often you need to deep clean.
Pro Tips
- Here is what actually matters: the weep holes. A dirty track is ugly but functional. Clogged weep holes cause water to overflow onto the floor and potentially damage the subfloor. Keep those clear and the track does its job.
- Doors still stiff on clean tracks? The rollers are probably worn or cracked. Replacement rollers are $5-15 per pair at the hardware store. They are brand-specific, so bring the old one for matching or note your shower door brand and model.
- Frameless doors with just a bottom sweep or guide? Cleaning is simpler, but check if the sweep seal is torn or hardened. Replacement sweeps run $10-20 from glass shops or online.
- After deep cleaning, treat the tracks with Rain-X or a similar water-repellent. The hydrophobic coating makes water bead up and run off instead of sitting there and leaving mineral deposits as it evaporates. Works surprisingly well.
- Water leaking around the frame -- not just the bottom track? The frame seals or sweeps probably need replacing, or the frame needs to be recaulked where it meets the tile or tub.
When to Call a Pro
Cleaning tracks is always DIY. But if the track itself is bent, corroded through, or separating from the tub, or if the doors are off their rollers and you cannot get them back on, a glass or shower door specialist can handle it. Same goes for persistent leaks despite clean tracks and clear weep holes -- that usually means a frame seal or installation problem.