Like the weather stripping that keeps drafts out of your home, Shower door sweep or seals  break down over time — and they should be replaced periodically. Generally speaking, you can tell it’s time to replace your sweeps when they are torn, cracked, brittle, discolored or no longer effectively keep water out of your bathroom.

A shower door sweep is a long, thin strip of rubber or plastic attached to the bottom of your shower door. It creates a seal that prevents water from escaping the shower and onto the floor, keeping your bathroom clean, dry and free of mold. In fact, a good quality shower door sweep can extend the life of your shower doors and reduce the amount of water damage that can occur over time.

You may also wish to consider a drip rail, which is similar to a shower sweep but has one side fixed towards the inside of your shower and the other pointing outwards. This is especially useful if you have frameless glass shower doors, as the drip rail will effectively deflect water from the edge of your glass and back into the shower stall.

In addition to preventing water damage, shower door sweeps can help keep your shower cleaner and more comfortable. When you can keep water where it belongs – in your shower, rather than on the floor or your walls – you won’t have to worry about the mess and extra cleaning that comes with it.

Depending on the type of shower door you have, you may need to choose between a bottom seal, side seal or door jamb sweep. Bottom shower door sweeps are the most common, and they are designed to be installed on either framed or frameless glass shower doors. Side shower door sweeps are intended to be installed on hinged or swinging glass shower doors, and door jamb sweeps are designed for installation on a framed door with a door jamb.

When purchasing a new shower door sweep, you’ll want to make sure that the length of your new seal is the same as the height of the old one. If you have trouble determining the correct size for your replacement, simply measure the old one and use cutting pliers to cut the new seal to the correct length. Once you have the right size, simply snap it into place and you’re good to go!