Learning How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Glass Shower Doors is possible! A few simple steps, tools and a whole lot of elbow grease is all it takes to get your glass shower doors looking like new in no time! Show
It’s no secret that I live in an area flowing with hard water. A couple years ago I shared How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets, but I was still stuck with hard water stains on my glass shower doors. What is the difference between hard and soft water?
How then does water become “hard water”? Great question! I’m so glad you asked. Water becomes hard as it makes its way through the ground and into our waterways. Along the way, this water picks up minerals like chalk, lime, calcium, and magnesium. Pros and Cons of hard versus soft waterWait. There’s a pro to hard water? Oh yes! read on… Given that hard water contains all these essential (and super important) minerals (remember the calcium and magnesium?) and tastes significantly better, one may wonder why we even think of softening our water. I mean, if hard water is better for you and it tastes better, why mess it up? Well, aside from these obvious benefits, hard water is hard on appliances (dishwashers and washing machines) and is hard to clean. Clothing feels unclean even after washing and since soap reacts negatively with magnesium and calcium, even your hair may feel dirty and sticky after washing. In short, hard water is less effective and uses more energy due to the mineral buildup that is left behind. Ok, wonderful….so what about soft water? Hard water, when treated, removes the magnesium and calcium that was picked up to, once again, create soft water. Unfortunately, while most of the ions are removed from soft water, the negatively charged sodium ion remains. And, well, we all know what sodium is, right? As a result, treated soft water not just tastes salty, but actually increases your sodium intake each day. And this, my friends, brings me to my next point… What is causing those ugly spots on my glass shower doors?Hard Water. Period. The end. Yes, each time you take a shower and allow the water to dry on the glass, those spots and stains are the minerals left behind. Depending on how bad your hard water is, or how long your buildup has been building up, will likely determine how bad your shower doors look and how difficult they will be to clean. Now, let’s fix this problem. Kay? Methods that did not clean the hard water from my glass showers
None of these things worked. So, for a long time I gave up and, as a result, the stains continued to get worse and worse until one day I just COULD NOT ANYMORE. So, I started thinking along the same lines as my toilet solution which uses fine-grit drywall screens to clean the hard water buildup. Maybe, just maybe, there was something out there that I could use on glass? Lucky for us, there is!
What you need to remove hard water from glass
Guys, there is no way around it. In order to remove those ingrained mineral deposits stuck to your shower doors, you will have to use some serious elbow grease. This is not a gentle once over and done type fix. My advice is to work in sections and ask your husband or stronger significant other to help if you get tired. Please, do not be discouraged if you still have some hard water spots after the first round of scrubbing. For those really tough spots, you may need to go over it a couple times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yay! Sparkling Glass Shower Doors! Just in time for the new year!
In order to remove those ingrained mineral deposits stuck to your shower doors, you will have to use some serious elbow grease. This is not a gentle once over and done type fix. My advice is to work in sections and ask your husband or stronger significant other to help if you get tired. Please, do not be discouraged if you still have some hard water spots after the first round of scrubbing. For those really tough spots, you may need to go over it a couple times. Is Barkeepers Friend Septic-safe? Yes. Keyword: How to Clean Glass Shower Doors, How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Glass Shower Doors What removes hard water stains from glass shower doors?The best way to remove hard water stains from your shower doors is to do so using regular household items such as white vinegar and baking soda.
What is the best cleaner for hard water stains on glass?Use Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a mild acid (acetic acid) that will help break the bonds the hard water minerals have formed with the glass surface. You can also substitute fresh lemon or lime juice (citric acid) in the cleaning solution.
How do you remove stubborn hard water stains from glass?A vinegar spray is more useful for removing hard water stains from other surfaces, like glass shower doors and shiny faucets. Like vinegar, the acidity of lemon juice cuts through dried minerals, eliminating the stain.
How do you remove heavy limescale from shower doors?Apply an ample amount of baking soda to a damp cloth or sponge and gently wipe down the shower door. Make sure not to scrub too forcefully to avoid scratching the glass. Use distilled water to rinse the baking soda and vinegar from the shower door.
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