Free shipping on every ordersee exceptionsNot sure which seal? Try our Seal Finder →Hinge? Hinge Finder →
Not sure?Seal FinderHinge?Hinge Finder 0Cart
Guide

Shower Door Drips on the Floor When You Open It? Here's Why

By the IDEAL install crew · Frameless glass showers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire since 2014 · Updated

The water clinging to the inside of the glass runs down and off the bottom edge as the door swings out. Two small changes stop it.

Why it happens

When the door swings out, the wet inside face of the glass passes over the bathroom floor. Water runs down the glass and drips off the bottom edge, outside the shower.

How to stop it

  1. Add a drip rail. A bottom wipe with drip rail like CRL P990WS (3/8") or CRL P912WS (1/2") catches water running down the glass and drops it back inside before the door opens.
  2. Squeegee before you open the door. A few seconds with a squeegee clears most of the water off the glass, and it prevents hard water spots too.
  3. Replace a worn bottom seal. If the fin on the bottom seal is curled or stiff, water runs past it. A new seal fixes both the drip and any leak underneath.
  4. Make the glass shed water. Untreated glass holds a film of water. Glass sealed with a water-repellent coating beads it up so it runs off before you open the door. The IDEAL Bath Kit restores and seals the glass, and a weekly pass with IDEAL Conditioner keeps the water-repellent shine going.
Not sure which seal you need?

Use our Seal Finder

Pick your door, point to where it leaks and we'll show only the seals that fit your glass. Takes about 30 seconds.

Start the Seal Finder →

Products in this guide

CRL P990WS Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 3/8" GlassMost common
CRL P990WS

Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 3/8" Glass

3/8" glass · 95" · 3 colors
from $18.90View
CRL P912WS Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 1/2" GlassMost common
CRL P912WS

Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 1/2" Glass

1/2" glass · 95" · 2 colors
from $21.00View
IDEAL Bath KitShips from IDEAL
IDEAL Glass Care

IDEAL Bath Kit

The same professional-grade system we use on your glass, now packaged for home. In three simple steps it lifts away built-up water spots and cloudy haze, seals the surface with a water-repellent protective coating, and buffs it to a brilliant shine.
$64.99$84.99View
IDEAL Conditioner 2-PackShips from IDEAL
IDEAL Glass Care

IDEAL Conditioner 2-Pack

Two 8 oz bottles, about $15.99 a bottle: one for the shower, one for the mirrors or the kitchen. Each cleans and polishes in a single pass, lifting everyday grime and oils and leaving a brilliant, streak-free, water-repellent shine. Soapless, eco-safe, and great on far more than just glass.
$31.98$39.98View
CRL MFW12 Microfiber Wipes (12-Pack)
CRL MFW12

Microfiber Wipes (12-Pack)

Streak-free cleaning for shower glass and mirrors.
$33.58/packView

Common questions

Why does my shower door drip on the floor when I open it?

Water on the inside of the glass runs down and off the bottom edge as the door swings out over the floor.

How do I stop a shower door from dripping when opened?

Add a bottom seal with a drip rail, squeegee the glass before opening the door, and seal the glass with a water-repellent coating so less water clings to it.

More guides

Shower door leaking at the bottomWater on the bathroom floor almost always comes from one of four places.Leaking on the hinge side or wallThe hinge side has a gap so the door can swing.Shower door won't stay closedFrameless doors have no latch, so a door that drifts open leaks.Gap between door and wallThe gap is on purpose: a glass door needs room to swing without hitting the wall.