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Shower Door Won’t Stay Closed: Why and How to Fix It

Having a shower door opening during your shower defeats the purpose of having a door in the first place. This leaves you with a soaking wet floor and possibly a slipping hazard.

There are many reasons why a shower door won’t stay closed. The hardware such as the screws, latches, hinges, or magnetic strips could have worn out. You usually just need to tighten or replace the hardware to fix a shower door. Hiring a professional for this work is usually unnecessary.

There are many different shower doors, including sliding, swinging, and hinged. Each door type may require its own solution.

Learn how to fix your shower door that won’t stay closed, eliminating the risk of water damage and slips in your bathroom.

leaking shower door

Why Won’t My Shower Door Stay Closed?

There are about 22 different types, shapes, and styles of shower doors.

Regardless of the manufacturer, such as Kohler, Delta, or Dreamline, the causes and solutions discussed below affect most types of shower doors.

Loose or Worn Out Hardware

Most commonly, a shower door that won’t stay closed has an issue with the hardware that holds everything together.

However, hardware issues can affect all types of shower doors.

This often happens as a domino effect.

For example, a screw will become stripped or loose, which causes a hinge or latch to become loose, resulting in your door opening mid-shower.

In the context of shower doors, things such as magnetic strips and rollers would also be considered hardware.

Bad Tracks

This issue exclusively affects any type of sliding shower door.

However, a few things can affect the track of a sliding door.

The track might be out of level.

A door installed on an inclined or unleveled track will want to slide back, causing it to open.

Your track may also be in bad shape or have worn rollers, making the door slide open if you bump into it or just from the shower’s water pressure.

Built-Up Dirt and Debris

Dirt and debris, usually in the form of soap scum, mildew, and limescale, can build up in the door frame or track, causing your shower door to open unwantedly.

This buildup also gets into the hinges of shower doors, preventing them from closing all the way, which can make your shower door open as you use it.

This buildup occurs because door frames, tracks, and hinges are not places we usually clean when sprucing up our shower space.

How to Fix a Shower Door That Won’t Stay Closed

Tools & Products You Will Need

  • Screwdriver
  • Allen Wrench
  • Adjustable Wrench
  • Level
  • Bathroom Cleaner
  • Cloths or Rags

Solutions

Tightening and Replacing Hardware

  1. Inspect Your Hardware

The type of shower door you have will determine the type of hardware your shower has.

Use a screwdriver and check for any loose screws.

In some cases, your hardware may be fastened by hex screws or bolts.

In that case, an Allen wrench or adjustable wrench will be necessary.

Make sure you check all hinges, handles, tracks and rollers.

If you have a magnetic strip, use a piece of metal like a coin or key to test the strength of the magnet and check if the strip itself is loose.

  1. Tighten Your Hardware

Once you have found loose hardware, use the proper tool and tighten it up.

Take care not to strip any screws or bolts.

In some cases, you may have to make adjustments to the door before tightening the hardware to make sure your door is aligned correctly.

If your magnetic strip is loose, you will have to apply some adhesive to get it properly secured onto your door frame.

  1. Replace Your Hardware

If you have any hardware that won’t tighten like a screw that just spins, then that hardware is stripped and will need to be replaced.

Shower doors take a lot of abuse from water, limescale, shampoos, and soaps, so be on the lookout for any hardware that is degrading or just in bad shape.

Worn-out hardware will become loose again or completely fail. Either way, it should be replaced.

Be cautious when removing your shower doors hardware because it will cause your shower door to come off.

Fixing Bad Tracks

  1. Level Your Track

First, use a level to determine the straightness of your door’s track.

If your track is not level, there is an easy way to make it straight.

Most sliding doors, including closets, glass patio doors, and shower doors, have a way to adjust the track.

This is usually done through two screws at the end of the track, with one screw bringing the track slightly up and the other down.

It will take some back and forth through making adjustments, then checking the level, then making more adjustments, but eventually, your track will be straight as can be.

  1. Replace the Rollers

If your rollers are in bad shape, then you should replace them.

You can usually lift and pull a shower door off the track, but take care when doing this as not to damage the door or injure yourself.

With the door removed you can take out the rollers by unscrewing them from the track.

Then put in your new rollers and fasten them tightly to the track.

Then put the door back in.

Afterward, slide the door back and forth to ensure everything is running smoothly.

  1. Test Your Track

With a level track and fresh rollers, your sliding shower door should be working like it’s brand new.

But it doesn’t hurt to test it.

Run a shower, gently bump into the door, and do other everyday things you do in the bathroom to see if it opens.

With tightened hardware, a level track, and new rollers, your sliding door should no longer unexpectedly open.

Cleaning Built-Up Dirt and Debris

  1. Choose the Right Cleaner

Cleaning your shower door to keep it from opening is pointless if you’re not using the proper cleaning product.

You definitely want a bathroom cleaner that removes limescale, mildew, and soap scum.

You might need to use multiple products.

You also have to be mindful of how these products may affect the glass or metal of your door.

Also, harsh chemical cleaners are not always better.

  1. Apply the Cleaner

Once you have your cleaning products, simply apply them to your door frame, hinges, latches, handles, or track.

It’s always best to follow the instructions given on the cleaner regarding how long the cleaner needs to sit on your surface and how it should be rinsed away.

James B. Parker

At a young age, James' father taught him carpentry, and he was pretty much destined for a career in the construction industry. He worked as a professional remodeling contractor for some of the most prominent construction companies for several years, before deciding to pursue his passion for writing.

A vast amount of construction experience allows James to provide practical advice for those considering a bathroom remodel.

About Loo Academy

At Loo Academy, our mission is to offer trusted advice for everything related to bathrooms (design ideas, plumbing advice, showering & bathing tips, remodeling guides, and more) — a place where we all spend a great deal of time.

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