Glass shower doors are integral aesthetic elements of contemporary bathroom designs. Design enthusiasts who admire minimalism love adding in glass doors to revamp the entire outlook of the bathroom space. The modernistic frameless and framed glass doors serve as a symbol of pristine elegance and unparalleled sophistication. Their exceptional visual beauty is what makes these doors unique and homeowners are always in search of ways to maintain their design exquisiteness.
However, these delicate shower enclosures are prone to soap scum and hard water stains that are incredibly hard to clean. These stains permanently damage the surface of the glass door and make it lose its unique aesthetic beauty with time. That’s why prevention against these stains must be the topmost priority of every homeowner and exquisite design lover. The proper maintenance and regular cleaning can help prevent these stains and keep the elegance of shower glass intact.
How Water Spots Originate on Shower Doors?
Hard water contains a high percentage of minerals such as magnesium and calcium carbonates. These minerals actively react with the deposits of chalk and limestone giving rise to a broad range of cleaning problems. This mixture of hard water and soap leads to the origin of soap scum which is the stains visible on the glass shower screens.
These little stains impose a lot of permanent damage to the delicate surface of the glass. It is also important to remember that prevention is far better than removal when it comes to hard water stains on glass shower screens. The soap scum and hard water stains can diminish the aesthetic beauty of the glass by etching the smooth surface of shower screens. Besides this, the porosity of glass also exaggerates the adverse effects of hard water minerals. These minerals seep into the surface of the glass shower door and often result in corrosion. That’s why it is always recommended to frequently clean the shower screens to prevent them from losing their aesthetic beauty in the long run.
Things to Consider Before Cleaning Water Spots Permanently
Cleaning water spots permanently can be made simple with the right use of cleaning tools and agents. On the other hand, the wrong choices such as traditional store-bought shower cleaners, magic erasers, or dishwashing additive often do more harm than good. Making the right choice of cleaning agent is the most important thing to consider before cleaning hard water spots permanently. It is essential to know what to avoid and what to use when it comes to cleaning glass as the majority of the conventional cleaners are too strong to use on the delicate surface of the glass.
Besides this, it is also important to remember that the expensive cleaners are not always the best. Made with hazardous-ingredients, their toxic composition may be adequate for other applications but are not suitable for the porous surface of the glass. This includes the likes of dryer sheets that are effective fabric softener but their toxic nature is not best suited for the shower glass. In addition to this, homeowners should also consider the following key things before cleaning water spots permanently.
- Always do a spot test on a small area.
- Abrasive scrubbing cloth is never a good option.
- Don’t directly clean the glass heated up by the direct sunlight.
- Don’t leave the cleaning solution on the glass surface for long.
- Clean the hard water stains on shower doors in all directions.
How to Permanently Clean Hard Water Spots on the Shower Door and Make Shower Door Long Lasting?
There are numerous home remedies that are highly effective for cleaning the hard water stains from the surface of the glass. Vinegar-based solutions often work the best when it comes to cleaning stubborn soap scum and hard water stains. A solution of hot water and mix vinegar can remove even the stubbornest stains with only gentle scrubbing in rapid time. A solution of mixed vinegar and baking soda is also highly effective. The mixture of vinegar and lemon juice can also serve its purpose. Besides this, a solution of apple cider vinegar and water also works well for cleaning the shower screens.
So, there are plenty of cool ways to clean hard water stains from the delicate surface of the glass and it is up to the homeowners to select the one which gives the best results. Spray bottle always comes in handy when using these home-based cleaning solutions and are used in tandem with a microfiber cloth or a squeegee. Following is the simple method to clean the hard water stains from the shower screens.
- Using a home-based cleaning solution sprinkle across the shower doors.
- Using a damp sponge, wipe clean the shower.
- Give the solution a few minutes to sit and clean.
- Rinse the glass shower screen with warm water.
- Use a microfiber cloth to dry out the surface of the glass.
- Go through the same process multiple times if needed.
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How to Prevent Shower Doors from Soap Scum and Hard Water Stains
Now that we know how to clean a shower glass effectively, it is equally important to know how to prevent the showers from these stubborn stains. Regular maintenance and care is the key to maintain the beauty and elegance of glass. Simple scrubbing is often all you need to prevent the accumulation of hard water on the glass surface which diminishes its smoothness bit by bit. Squeegees work the best for wiping water from the shower glass or any other soft microfiber cloth.
Consider Using treated/ Coated Glass which requires less Frequently Cleaning.
These are two options you can benefit with to get your shower door cleaning job hassle free.
- Apply Luxclear
Luxclear™ is a coated glass layer developed to protect the surface of the shower glass by preventing weathering and rust due to a different kind of pollutants related to water, heat and high moistness of environment. With the passage of time, surface decay and oxidization caused by this exposure can basically “age” the glass, which results in a dull and murky appearance that worsens the situation as longer the exposure exists. Unlike follow-on products, the Luxclear™ Protect coating permanently covers the glass surface so it will remain clear and new looking for the life of the product.
- EnduroShield
EnduroShield is an invisible coating that helps reducing cleaning time by up to 90%. The application process is very simple of spraying the liquid coating onto a clean surface of glass that provides a permanent shielding bond. With EnduroShield, the use of harsh chemicals is removed super easy.
If you plan on Buying any of the upper mentioned type of Treated glass, our honest recommendation would be buying it from Fab Glass and Mirror. The glass and mirror company offers a variety of glass types for shower doors including EnduroShield and luxclear. They offer you absolute control on the shape and size, starting from the dimensions, glass type to the thickness and the kind of corner finishing you prefer.
At all points, the comfort of the customer is the top priority of the company. If you feel uneasy about buying from an online space, you can get information by conversing with one of their representatives, through phone calls or through online website chat support.
They also have a custom cut expert on the site who is willing to offer you advice on the kind of cut you want, depending on the kind of glass product you’re buying.