How to remove hard water spots from shower glass
About 6 minutes to read. Published . By the House & Hedge team.
Hard water is the reason a shower screen looks cloudy within weeks of being cleaned. Each time the water is used, it dries on the glass and leaves behind the minerals it carried, and soap scum builds up on top of them. The result is a film that makes the glass look dull, and it is harder to remove the longer it is left. The good news is that the same few products work on most shower glass, and a squeegee used after every shower will keep the buildup from forming in the first place.
What you need
- White vinegar, or citric acid powder for descaling
- A spray bottle and warm water
- Microfiber cloths, one for cleaning and one for drying
- A non-scratch scrubbing pad
- A squeegee, ideally one with a rubber blade
- Mild dish soap for the frame and the seal
Checking the glass first
Before you start, look at the glass in good light and find out what it is. Plain glass can take any of the acids described here. Glass with a protective coating, often sold as easy-clean or water-repellent, may not. Coatings can be damaged by strong acid, and a damaged coating looks patchy and holds water in the wrong places.
Check the care sheet that came with the screen, or the manufacturer’s website, before you use any product. If you cannot find advice, test a small area in a hidden corner, such as the edge near the hinge, and check it after a few minutes and again the next day.
Removing the spots with white vinegar
- Clean the glass first with a soapy cloth to remove any surface soap and oil. Rinse with warm water and dry it. This lets the vinegar reach the mineral layer.
- Spray a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water across the glass. Make sure the whole surface is wet.
- Wait five minutes for the vinegar to soften the mineral layer. For heavy build-up, lay a cloth soaked in the vinegar mix over the worst areas and leave it for fifteen minutes.
- Scrub gently with the non-scratch pad, working in overlapping strokes. Concentrate on the spots, and do not press so hard that you scratch the glass.
- Rinse the glass thoroughly with warm water to remove all the vinegar, which can leave its own streaks if it is left on the surface.
- Dry the glass with the microfiber cloth, or better still, squeegee it from the top down, wiping the blade clean between each pass.
Vinegar leaves a strong smell while it is on the glass, so keep the bathroom ventilated during the job.
Removing the spots with citric acid
Citric acid is a good choice if you want a milder smell or if the screen has a coating that you want to protect. Dissolve a few spoonfuls of citric acid powder in a liter of warm water, following the strength on the packet, then use it in the same way as the vinegar mix. Let it sit for the time the packet gives, and rinse well.
Citric acid works more slowly than strong vinegar on heavy deposits, so you may need a second application. It leaves less smell behind, which some people find easier on a shower that is used every day.
Removing soap scum and film
Soap scum is a different substance from hard water deposit, and it usually lifts more easily. Use a mild dish soap and warm water with a non-scratch pad, and rinse well. If the film is stubborn, a cleaner made for shower glass will often lift it without the need for acid. Follow the label, and avoid any product that contains bleach or ammonia on glass that has a coating.
Clean the frame, the tracks and the seal too. A quick scrub of the tracks with an old toothbrush removes grime that otherwise drips back onto the glass. Dry the seals after cleaning, because wet rubber collects mold.
Sliding doors and the tracks
Sliding shower doors collect grit in the track along the bottom, and the grit grinds against the glass every time the door moves. Clean the track with an old toothbrush dipped in warm soapy water, working along the whole length, then rinse with a cup of water and dry it with a cloth. A dry track runs more smoothly, and it is less likely to leave a dark line on the glass.
Check the wheels at the top of the door too. Wipe them with a cloth, and remove any hair wrapped around the axles, which can stop the door running cleanly. A little silicone lubricant on the track helps the door slide, but use one made for shower doors, and wipe off any excess so it does not attract dirt.
When the cloudiness will not clear
If the glass stays cloudy or patchy after every method above, look at it closely from an angle. Hard water deposit lifts with acid, and it looks like a white or gray film that sits on the surface. Etching is different: it is a permanent change to the glass itself, usually caused by a long period of hard water and acid cleaning, or by a product that was too strong. Etched glass looks frosted or matt, and it does not come off with any cleaner, because the surface has been changed.
If the glass is etched, it cannot be restored by cleaning. Some glass specialists can polish light etching, but deep etching needs new glass. For the future, keep acid cleaners brief, rinse them off promptly, and use the squeegee habit so the water does not sit on the surface long enough to etch it.
Protecting the glass
Prevention is far easier than removal. The most effective habit is a squeegee run across the glass after every shower, which takes thirty seconds and removes most of the water before it can dry and leave deposit. Keep the squeegee hung near the shower, so it is easy to reach.
A daily spray of diluted white vinegar or a dedicated shower cleaner, followed by a wipe, keeps the film from building up. Ventilate the bathroom by running the exhaust fan for twenty minutes after showering and by leaving the door open to dry.
Some people use a water-repellent product on the glass. Follow the instructions carefully, and check that the product suits the glass and the coating. Reapply it on the schedule the label gives, usually every few months.
What not to use
- Razor blades. They can scratch the glass, and the scratches collect soap scum.
- Steel wool and abrasive powders. These scratch the glass and leave a dull finish.
- Bleach. It does not remove hard water deposits, and on some coatings it causes damage.
- Mixed cleaners. Never combine vinegar with bleach or with an ammonia cleaner. The combination can release dangerous gases.
Keeping the shower looking clean
Clean the glass once a week with a vinegar or citric acid spray if the water in your area is hard, or every two weeks if it is soft. Squeegee after each shower. Once a month, go over the glass, frame and tracks with a deeper clean. If you notice cloudiness that does not lift with acid and scrubbing, the cause may be a mineral crust that has bonded to the surface, and a specialist glass cleaner or a professional may be needed.
With a squeegee habit and a weekly spray, shower glass can stay clear for a long time, and cleaning it takes a few minutes rather than an afternoon.
