What’s that crusty white or greenish stuff on the glass shower door? That hard residue is limescale deposits that build up over time on tile, shower heads, glass, and other fixtures. Find out how to remove limescale from glass the easy way and leave the surface sparkling.
Limescale and hard water stains are unsightly. They start as water spots on the shower glass, eventually growing into large patches of chalky material. The more you allow them to accumulate, the harder they are to remove. What began as a quick clean is now a chore.
Regular glass cleaner isn’t strong enough to clean limescale from the glass surface. Spray and wipe the cleaner on the hard water deposits as much as you like, but they won’t budge. You don’t need an expensive cleaner to remove hard water stains from car windows or glass inside the home. Instead, several home remedies clean limescale from glass and other materials.
Ways to Remove Limescale From Glass
Hard water stains turn an otherwise clean and shining bathroom into something less desirable. Learn how to get hard water stains off windows with vinegar, toothpaste, lemon juice and baking soda.
What Is Glass Limescale?
Hard water and limescale stains appear out of nowhere. What was once a clear glass surface and shiny fixtures now have a coating of powdery residue. You keep a tidy bathroom and shower, so where do these stains come from, and what causes them?
Limescale
Limescale stains are deposits left behind from hard water. As the water evaporates, it leaves calcium carbonate, a chalky white, hard material on the glass. It occurs anywhere with a water supply, from the shower and bathroom sink to a dishwasher and washing machine.
Limescale can clog pipes and appliances if left unchecked for too long. It also leaves a shower door and wall looking pretty gross. Therefore, getting limescale off glass is essential to keep it looking its best.
Remove Small Limescale Spots With Toothpaste
As weird as it sounds, the best calcium remover for faucets and glass is toothpaste. It’s a simple way to clean water stains without all the fuss. Find out how to get limescale off glass with white toothpaste and an old toothbrush.
Squirt white toothpaste directly onto the limescale stain and scrub it with a toothbrush. Use small, circular motions and moderate force to scour the spot and wipe away the residue with a sponge. Check for remaining stains and repeat if necessary. Otherwise, clean the area with warm water and dry it with a towel.
Removing Limescale From Glass With Vinegar
Vinegar is naturally acidic and dissolves many stubborn stains, from grime and grease to hard water deposits. It’s a smart alternative to harsh chemicals and safe for bathroom glass and fixtures. Discover how to get limescale off glass with a bottle of white vinegar.
Transfer white vinegar from the jug to a spray bottle for simple application and spray the liquid onto the hard water stain. Leave it for a few minutes and scour the area with a scrub brush. Scrub until the stain is gone, rinse it with fresh water, and dry it well with a towel.
How to Get Limescale off Glass With Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate is an alkaline powder that is great at removing limescale from glass. It is mildly abrasive, scouring away hard water from the glass without damaging the surface. You likely have a box in your kitchen right now – baking soda.
Prepare a cleanser by combining just enough baking soda and hot water to form a paste. Apply the cleaning paste to the stained area with a brush using a firm, circular motion.
Let it sit for 20 minutes, and wipe away the powder with a wet sponge. Check to see if any of the limescale remains. If the limescale is gone, rinse the glass with water. Dry it with a lint-free cloth. Repeat the steps if the stain remains.
How to Remove Limescale From Glass With Lemon Juice
Another way to get lime off glass is with the juice of lemons. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which breaks up stubborn stains naturally. It cleans a hard water stain off a shower screen or glass door while filling the space with a pleasant scent.
Fill a spray bottle with lemon juice to clean the glass and spray it over the stain. Scrub the spot with a scrub brush or old toothbrush with moderate force. You may want to wear cleaning gloves since the acidity of lemon juice may cause skin irritation.
When all traces of the stain are gone, rinse the glass with fresh water and dry it with a microfiber cloth.
Combine Baking Soda and Vinegar to Remove Limescale
Sometimes removing limescale from glass is more challenging, and you need something a little stronger. Combining white vinegar with baking soda creates a powerful cleaner. The two ingredients make a bubbling reaction that loosens limescale from the surface.
Mix baking soda or sodium bicarbonate with warm water to form a thick paste and smear it over the limescale stain. Fill a sprayer bottle with white vinegar and spritz the liquid directly on the cleaning paste.
Wait until the baking soda and vinegar stop bubbling, and scrub the stain with a cleaning brush. Use circular motions for optimal results, and rinse the glass with water. Repeat the steps until the limescale is gone, and dry the area with a soft towel.
Can You Prevent Limescale on Glass?
Nobody wants to spend a weekend scrubbing limescale and hard water in the bathroom. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent limescale from accumulating. Discover how to soften your water and stop hard water from building up on tiles, glass, and fixtures.
The ideal way to stop limescale is to replace hard water with soft water. If you’re a homeowner and have the budget, install a water softener. Water softeners trap calcium and other minerals and exchange them for potassium or sodium.
Keep a dry towel or squeegee in the bathroom if you cannot install one of these units. Remove water droplets from the glass with a squeegee and a towel to absorb moisture. Another way to stop hard water from staining the glass and tile is to spray vinegar in the shower after each use and dry it with a towel.
Window cleaning is relatively easy. Yet, removing crusty bits of hard water spots from a glass shower door is another matter altogether. The stubborn limescale stains refuse to budge no matter how hard you scrub.
The ideal key to removing hard water spots is to use the correct cleaners for the job. You only need a little baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, and elbow grease.
We hope that learning how to remove limescale from glass keeps your bathroom surfaces clean and shiny, and we’d love it if you’d share our tips for cleaning limescale off glass with your family members on Pinterest and Facebook.