Mustiness often happens in poorly ventilated bathrooms. Even bathrooms with proper intake and outtake vents get very damp and develop musty smells. In bathrooms that have windows, keeping a window open before and after showers can help reduce the humidity in bathrooms that leads to musty odors. If there is no window, consider a small desk fan that can be set on the floor or on the counter area (always use caution using electrical equipment near water sources!). A fan can help circulate and cool air in a humid room and will reduce mustiness. This can also serve as a preventative measure, as once musty odors sink into bathroom counters made of wood, it can become much harder to remove that smell.

Sometimes bathroom odors stem from mildew that occurs naturally in a damp, warm environment. There are many cleaners on the market that are made specifically to combat mildew in bathrooms. Be sure to clean carefully in corners of showers and along grout lines to remove all the mildew from the bath and shower area. Even a small amount can create that musty odor. Keep the toilet clean as well. Though mildew is not a common toilet problem, an unclean toilet can only contribute to an odor problem. All kinds of cleaners for toilets crowd the shelves, including some disposable and flushable items.

If you notice mildew in your bathroom, check to make sure it has not spread to items like your shower curtain. If it has, launder the shower curtain, or clean it to manufacturer specifications. Washable shower liners are helpful, especially if you have a vinyl shower curtain where mildew can be harder to remove. The shower liner stands between the bathtub and the shower curtain and can be easily washed. Some are inexpensive enough to dispose of and replace if mildew develops. Even better, many shower curtains and shower liners come pre-treated to combat certain types of bacteria that can cause mildew. Investing in one of these types of curtains can help reduce musty smells in your bathroom.

Sometimes the musty smell can get into towels, which can be an aggravating problem. White towels can be laundered in hot water with bleach, following product recommendations, and this often removes the smell. Colored towels are trickier, but many have found that when colored towels are laundered in hot water with a cup of white vinegar added along with laundry detergent, it knocks the smell right out of colored towels. Vinegar also has the added benefit of removing detergent build up not only in the towels but in the washing machine itself. Removing that build up will get towels cleaner and the cleaner they are, the less musty they will smell.

The best solution is the simplest — don’t let your shower door get dirty. Wipe it down every day. The easiest way to make sure this happens is to keep a plastic squeegee inside the shower door. Some of them even come with little suction cups so you can hang them up.

Make it part of your daily routine to use that squeegee after your shower. It just takes a second, and it really pays off. Then, when you get out of the shower, leave the shower door open a crack. This will let air circulate and keep away the mildew.

Even with the daily wipe-down, you should clean the shower (including the door) once a week. A regular glass cleaner should work just fine, if you’ve followed this simple daily routine. If the door has a metal rim, it can be cleaned using a mild detergent and water. Lemon oil, if used afterwards, can add a real sparkle; just remember that a tiny drop goes a long, long way.

Also, remember to check the caulk while you’re cleaning the door. If any of it has broken away or developed cracks, it needs to be replaced quickly before any water damage occurs.

Fortunately, with the new squeezable caulk-containers, it’s easy to reapply; just squeeze it out like toothpaste, then go over it with a plastic spoon to smooth it.

Now, if you didn’t quite follow a basic maintenance routine… here are a few suggestions for dealing with the (often ugly!) results.

Does your shower door have built-up soap scum? There’s a simple solution for that which you probably already have in your pantry… white vinegar! It works very well on soap scum due to its high acidity.

Apply, let it sit for a few minutes, and then give it a scrub. Just ensure that you rinse it all away after you’re done.

Another great option to try on soap scum is adding just a touch of liquid fabric softener to water and applying that onto the soap scum. Let it sit for a minute and then scrub and rinse.

If the gunk on your shower door is extremely built up and you’d like to use some kind of a mild abrasive, tooth paste works surprisingly well. Remember, you’re working with glass, so you don’t want to use the same kind of harsh abrasive that would be okay in the tub or on the tile floor.

In any of these cases, remember that just because a cleanser can be used on glass doesn’t mean it should be left on the metal rim of the door or the tile floor of the shower. Ensure that you rinse well, in any case, and treat your shower door with care.