Question: Removing lime scale from glass shower screen

Thu 2 Sep 2010 - 5:17 pm UTC

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ANSWERED on Sun 21 Oct 2007 - 12:57 pm UTC by nancy

Question: Removing lime scale from glass shower screen

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Asked by eppy on Sun 21 Oct 2007 - 10:09 am UTC:

I live in a hard water area and my glass shower doors have become coated in
hard, white lime scale. So far, based on my own online research, I have
tried spray on lime scale remover, vinager, and glass cleaner with steel
wool pads, all to no avail. 

Could you please find me a short list of suggested methods for removing the
lime scale.

Uclue Researcher Answer by Researcher nancy on Sun 21 Oct 2007 - 12:57 pm UTC:

Hi Eppy.

Here are some suggestions. You can Google various product names to learn
more about them and where to buy them.

12 Tips on Removing Hard Water Stains from Creative Homemaking:
http://www.creativehomemaking.com/cleaning/removing-hard-water-stains.shtml

Among the recommendations: Bounce dryer sheets, Shout laundry stain
remover, Kaboom, and Lemi-Shine. (Btw, Someone here suggested rubbing
alcohol, but I have found comments from others who found that only made the
problem worse, so perhaps that's not worth trying!)

From the Once Upon a Life Forum:
http://www.onceuponalife.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-1310.html
Zap, CLR, and Mr. Clean Erasers are recommended.

Here's a press release about two new complementary products, Bring-it-On
and Pro-tect Shield, to remove and prevent lime build-up:
http://www.lvrj.com/home_and_garden/8146742.html
The product's website:
http://www.BringItOnCleaner.com
(Click on "Remove Water Spots" in the menu at left for easiest navigation
at the site.)

ThriftyFun forum on lime and hard water stains:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf351538.tip.html

Many of the posts here contain detailed explanations of how to get good
results using such products as polishing compound and Barkeeper's Friend.
AMAZ and Orange Pledge are also among the recommended products.

iVillage's GardenWeb
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cleaning/msg060305218484.html

Don Aslett's Once-Over Hard Water Remover, Glass Wax (now marketed as
No-Streek Gel-Gloss), and Hope's Perfect Glass are recommended. There's
another endorsement of using a wet dryer sheet and soap to remove film.

I saw some favorable mentions of another Aslett product, Showers-n-Stuff.
Aslett's items appear to be available only via his site:

Showers-n-Stuff
https://stores.myregisteredsite.com/user1409769/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CC&Product_Code=44-SNS&Category_Code=BATH

Once Over
https://stores.myregisteredsite.com/user1409769/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CC&Product_Code=44-332&Category_Code=WNDG

As you can see, products that worked great for some people didn't work well
for others, so you're probably going to have to try several products to
find the one that works best for you.

Good luck!

Best regards,
Nancy

Accepted and rated by eppy on Sun 21 Oct 2007 - 1:05 pm UTC:

Comprehensive answer - and a nice summary of each link on answer page. It
is obvious that Nancy actually read each link to make sure that it was
relevant before posting the answer.

Its so nice to have a professional research service again!

Uclue Researcher Comment by Researcher tlspiegel on Sun 21 Oct 2007 - 4:29 pm UTC:

Nancy's answer is quite good.  

I'll tell you what I do.  I live in the desert where the water is also very
hard. Once a week while the glass is still wet, I take an old terry cloth
small towel and soak it in rubbing alcohol.  Give the shower doors a
rubdown and they are as clear as a bell.  Additionally, after my daily
showers, I use a towel and wipe down the shower stall walls and the shower
doors to keep them dry - (I do this while in the shower before putting on
my lotion.)

Best regards,
tlspiegel / TL

Uclue Researcher Comment by Researcher nancy on Sun 21 Oct 2007 - 5:57 pm UTC:

Thanks Eppy! Hope you find a product that works for you!

Nancy

Comment by User donrowlett on Mon 14 Jan 2008 - 2:25 am UTC:

Bring-It-ON cleaner made short work of my calcified windows. And Pro-Tect
Shield prevents build-up.

Comment by User tml1x on Tue 8 Apr 2008 - 12:20 am UTC:

Use a foaming product that contains phosphoric acid.  Phosphoric acid will
lower the pH.  Lower pH levels have a tendacy to go after rust and scale. 
I believe "Scrubbing Bubbles" contains this chemical.  Spray it on and let
it foam up.  The more it goes after the scale, the more foaming you should
see.  The lime and scale will neutralize the phosphoric acid very quickly,
so you may have to apply and reapply until it disolves all of the scale
that may be accumulated in the micrscopic pits and scratches in the glass.

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