Don’t eat while you read this.
Seriously, don’t.
This is the story of removing the sliding shower doors from our bathroom — a job that had been at the top of our list for ages. The doors made the tub feel closed in in a way a soft white fabric curtain wouldn’t, and they were showing their age: rust along the tracks and thick lines of old caulk clinging to the frames.
The doors were also oddly short, which resulted in John bonking his head on them more than once while getting in. Fool him once, shame on the shower doors; fool him twice, shame on John. For the record, John insists this is a running theme (exhibit A, exhibit B, exhibit C).
To take the doors down we swung them out at the bottom and lifted them off the top track. Once the glass was out of the way, the top frame lifted right off and the side frames were next — except for the stubborn caulk. We had to score the silicone repeatedly to free the frames from the wall.
When the frames finally came off, they looked like they were iced — only far less appetizing.
Warning: the next part is gross. If you’re squeamish, stop reading or put down your snack.
We discovered a thick layer of scum under the bottom frame that peeled away to reveal a three-dimensional patch of mildew and general nastiness. I used a flat razor to scrape away the gunk (my hands got a workout — they bulged a little from the effort and the cringe factor).
With the doors gone, the tub looked open and much better from a distance.
Close up, however, the real issue was the old caulk around the tub. Large sections were missing, some had pink mildew, others had dark, rotted spots. It was clear we needed to remove all the old caulk and re-caulk the entire tub perimeter, including down the sides and along the base at the floor.
We removed the old caulk using a combination of a box cutter and a small plastic caulk-removal tool we picked up at the hardware store — it has a V-shaped blade that slices and pulls the caulk away from the wall. That tool didn’t reach along the floor, so the box cutter came back out for the tight spots.
An hour of careful scraping later we had a satisfying pile of old caulk and a tub that was ready for fresh sealant.
For the new sealant we used a silicone product specifically designed for tubs and showers. We prefer white silicone over clear because it blends with the tub. To get a clean edge against the dark tile, we taped off the top edge, applied the caulk, smoothed it with a finger, and peeled the tape off while the caulk was still wet for a crisp line.
Much better.
After the caulk dried we installed an extra-long fabric shower curtain on a tension rod and it transformed the space. A curtain that reaches to the ceiling adds headroom visually, makes the small bathroom feel less cramped, and lets light pass through white fabric so it never feels dark.
Our 95″ waffle-weave curtain is 100% cotton and has held up well over the years; it’s machine washable and came with an extra-long fabric liner to block spray. We tend to take shower curtains with us when we move because they’re a universal size and work in different bathrooms, unlike some fixed window treatments.
A little new caulk and a clean curtain made a surprisingly big difference in how the bathroom looks and feels. There are still things to address later — some tile damage around the toilet and sink, wear at the top corners of the shower, and an outdated wallpaper — but for now we’re comfortable living with the tile and taking our time planning a larger redo.
Long term we’re considering expanding the bathroom into the sink nook so it becomes one larger, more functional space with a double sink instead of a split layout. Until then, we’re enjoying the improved light and openness, and I’m oddly fond of the blue hex tile that stays for now. Renovations will happen when they make sense — and until then, this small update made the bathroom feel fresh and much more pleasant to use.