Replace a Shower Door Sweep

By B. E. Conrad

There are many important components of the bathroom and shower, but one of the most critical, and one of the most often overlooked, is the door sweep. The door sweep, or door bottom, is the small rubber strip that lines the bottom of the shower door. If the floor in your bathroom is sopping wet after every use, chances are this door sweep could use replacing.

Replacing a worn out door sweep or door bottom is important, since the water that seeps out during every shower can seriously damage the floor of the bathroom, resulting in costly and time consuming repairs down the road. It is much better to nip the problem in the bud by replacing that worn out door sweep with a brand new one. Doing so is not all that difficult, and the tools you will need are minimal, consisting mainly of a good pair of scissors, a screwdriver, a jar of petroleum jelly and of course the new door sweep.

Steps for installing that new door sweep:

1. Open the shower door from the inside and leave it propped open.
   
   
2. Carefully grasp the edge of the door sweep, pulling it towards the outside of the door until the strip has come loose from the track. Depending on the door sweep, it may be necessary to unscrew the door sweep from the track.
   
   
3. Take the old door sweep along to the hardware store or home improvement center. This will help ensure you get a new one that matches the size and height of the existing sweep. There is a slight variation in size for various kinds of door sweeps, so taking the old one with you is the best way to avoid a wasted trip and unnecessary returns.
   
   
4. Using the old door sweep as a pattern, cut the new door sweep to the same length as the old one.
   
   
5. It is now time to install the new door sweep in the track. If the door sweep is designed to fit in the track, the edge of the sweep should be coated lightly with petroleum jelly.
   
   
6. Test the new door sweep by taking a quick shower and assessing the condition of the floor afterwards. If there is still water on the floor, you may need to add more caulking around the shower door to remove any leaks.

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