One of the biggest things to clean in your bathroom (unless you have a tub) is your shower enclosure!
Unfortunately, showers aren’t self-cleaning, even if they do see lots of soap and water. And a particularly tedious cleaning task is getting rid of calcium buildup (aka limescale) on shower screens.
Looking for what removes hardened limescale on shower glass? Your best options are:
Don’t ruin your shower concerts with the sight of chalky glass screens! With proper maintenance, you can get limescale off easily.
What Causes Limescale on Shower Glass?
Limescale is caused by a buildup of mineral deposits on the glass surface — in this case, your shower screen! It’s also referred to as hard water stains, since it comes from the high mineral content in hard water.
When the water dries, it leaves minerals (mainly calcium carbonate) behind, which harden into a white, chalky residue.
If left to accumulate, the residue turns the shower screen cloudy and can become difficult to remove. Eventually, limescale can cause hard water etching, which cannot be cleaned off. Instead, you’ll need to have the glass resurfaced or replaced.
Besides your shower door, minerals can build up anywhere water runs: cutlery, sinks, dishwashers, and even washing machines.
Limescale is different from soap scum, which is an accumulation of residue from soaps and shampoos.
Cleaning Mild Limescale Off a Shower Screen
For mild cases of limescale removal, there are two methods you can try:
- Soapy water and a scraper
- Baking soda paste
The scraper should be silicone or plastic, like a cooktop scraper. Avoid metal tools like razor blades, which can scratch or damage the glass.
Wash the area with some hot, soapy water to loosen up the limescale. Hold the scraper at an angle and carefully chip off the mineral deposits from the surface.
Wipe away the residue and clean your shower glass as usual.
Alternatively, the mildly abrasive nature of baking soda can help scrub off the limescale! Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, then apply it to the limescale with a damp sponge.
Wait a few moments before working the paste over the surface in small circular motions. Rinse the shower screen afterwards, then wipe it dry to prevent further water spots.
How to Remove Thick Limescale from Shower Screens
For thick or stubborn limescale on shower glass, you’ll need stronger DIY solutions or a commercial limescale remover.
Remember to wear rubber gloves while cleaning, so you don’t irritate your skin! Also, open the windows or switch on the exhaust fan to keep the room well-ventilated.
Removing limescale with white vinegar
One natural shower screen limescale remover? Paper towels and white vinegar! The acid in vinegar reacts with the minerals, dissolving them so they’re easy to wipe off.
Heat up the vinegar, either by warming it in a pot or mixing it with equal parts hot (not boiling!) water. Dip the paper towels in the vinegar, then stick them to the glass shower surface.
Leave the paper towels to sit for at least 30 minutes, keeping them damp with the vinegar solution.
If you’d rather not use paper towels, spray the vinegar directly onto the shower screen and let it sit for up to half an hour. Wipe off the residue with a damp microfibre cloth or rinse it with the showerhead.
Repeat as needed until the limescale buildup is removed.
NOTE: This will also work with lemon juice!
Removing limescale with a lemon
Instead of using just the juice, this method uses half a lemon with some cream of tartar. Only use this for small patches of very stubborn limescale on shower screens (unless you’ve got lemons to spare)!
Cream of tartar is both mildly acidic and mildly abrasive, so it combines with the lemon to dissolve the mineral deposits.
Simply slice a lemon in half, then sprinkle some cream of tartar on the cut end. Use the lemon to scrub the affected area of the shower screen, adding more cream of tartar as needed.
Rinse off any residue, then dry the glass surface right away.
Removing limescale with citric acid
For more stubborn limescale on a shower screen, try using citric acid. It’s one of the best limescale removers for shower glass as the acid reacts with the minerals (just like vinegar).
Because it comes in powder form, you can control the concentration of your solution — aka make it stronger for tougher deposits.
Mix 1 part citric acid powder with 10 parts warm water in a spray bottle. Saturate the shower screen with the solution and leave it to work for up to 15 minutes.
Wipe off the solution with a damp cloth, then rinse the shower screen clean. Be thorough, since citric acid may leave a residue if not washed off properly!
Dry the area with a microfibre cloth afterwards so you don’t leave water stains.
NOTE: The paper towel trick will also work with this solution.
Using commercial limescale remover
One of the best ways to get limescale off shower glass is with a commercial limescale remover!
Commonly-used products include CLR Bathroom Cleaner, Viakal Spray, or Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser.
Follow the product instructions closely for use. For example, CLR needs to be diluted with equal parts warm water for cleaning.
Using WD-40 for limescale
Surprisingly, WD-40 can be good for shower screens, and reportedly even protects the glass from water damage for a while. If you don’t like the scent, try the low-odour WD-40 Multi-Use Product!
Spray a small amount of WD-40 onto the mineral deposits, then wait a few minutes for the product to work. Scrub off the limescale with a damp sponge, before wiping off any residue with a clean, moist cloth.
What NOT to Use for Removing Limescale from a Shower Screen
Besides razor blades, there are a few things to avoid when cleaning limescale from shower screens.
Skip the steel wool (except the ultra-fine, 0000 type) as it can scratch or scuff the glass. The same goes for coarse, abrasive powders.
Don’t leave acidic cleaners on too long — half an hour is usually enough. Prolonged contact may eventually cloud or mar the finish.
Meanwhile, dishwasher tablets sound like a good hack, but they can easily scratch the glass if they’re too dry. Save those for your dishes!
How to Prevent Limescale on a Glass Shower Screen
If you get a lot of hard water stains in your shower, consider installing a water softener. This filters the water to lessen the mineral content and slow down the accumulation of limescale.
It’s also best to clean your shower regularly — at least once a week. That way, you stay ahead of any buildup before it clouds up the glass.
You can also keep a spray bottle filled with equal parts vinegar and water in the shower, alongside a squeegee. Spritz the shower screen and dry it with the squeegee after your bath (or at the end of the day).
Overwhelmed by all the things you need to clean in the bathroom? Leave it to a Maid2Match domestic cleaner! Then you won’t have annoying white stains in your shower, and you can bathe in peace.
