No matter how well you take care of your bathroom, it wo not look clean in the event the shower doors have a muddy layer of mineral deposits. These deposits are mainly composed of lime scale, otherwise known as calcium carbonate, and if you’ve tried to wash them off with soap and water. You are aware that this method is futile. You will need something that dissolves lime, and you do not need to look far to find it.
Dissolving Lime Scale
The chemistry involved with cleaning calcium carbonate deposits is not that complex; most acids react with potassium carbonate to produce water, carbon dioxide and other compounds. Strong acids work faster than weak ones, however you do not want to spray your shower door using a strong acid like hydrochloric acid, that can burn skin and cause damage in the bathroom. It is not simple to discover a weak acid that could do the job, but you probably have several in your kitchen. Any soft drink that contains phosphoric acid, such as coke, is one option, however there are much better ones that won’t make your bathroom sticky.
Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Vinegar has many uses, and by virtue of the acetic acid it contains, among these is dissolving lime scale. Lemon juice is also similarly effective, since it comprises citric acid. Whether you take advantage of either one separately or blend them together, these acids require time to get the job done. Pour vinegar, lemon juice or a mixture of both at a plant-spraying bottle, mist the solution on the shower door and let it stay there for 10 to 20 minutes before washing it off with soap and water. The remedy is slender and runs off quickly, which means you may need to spray several times to keep the lime deposits moist.
Coping with Stubborn Deposits
If you haven’t washed your shower doors for a little while, there may be considerable lime accumulation, particularly on hinges and metal door frames. Either vinegar or lemon juice can eliminate it if it remains in contact long enough. To protect against running, create a glue with salt or borax — do not use baking soda, because it’s a foundation and reacts with either silicon to neutralize it. Spread the glue on the area you need to wash and scrub with a toothbrush, adding more as necessary. For problem stains, then spread the glue and allow it to work for an hour or two — or even immediately — before washing and scrubbing it off, using water in the shower.
Fast and Easy Alternatives
Should you would rather a faster-acting commercial product, you can locate a number of these in the hardware store. These tend to be more corrosive than vinegar or lemon juice, so wear rubber gloves and goggles when you use one of these products. You may also have success using the cleaner you use for your own bathtub. In a pinch, you can use oven cleaner, which also removes lime scale, and you may also have success using a laundry pretreatment. If the deposits have been mild, try rubbing them off using a fabric-softener dryer sheet.