How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Commercial Glass (2024)

FAQs

How do you remove impossible hard water stains? ›

Vinegar is a safe, all-natural household cleaner with the amazing ability to combat hard water stains. Pour some in a spray bottle and squirt any surface where you find hard water stains. Let it sit for five to 15 minutes to give the vinegar time to break down the minerals in the chalky, white stain.

Because glass is porous, it's important to remove these stains as quickly as possible. Otherwise, these mineral deposits can make their way within the structure of the glass, causing permanent damage and shortening the glass's lifespan.

Soak a small rag or dish towel in vinegar, then rub a portion of the glass with the rag. A glass that's milky from hard water buildup should become clearer with each wipe.

You can clean water marks off of clear glass with CLR® Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover.

No matter how clean you keep your shower, hard water stains are going to accumulate. And they can be very difficult to remove from your shower doors. But if you have a can of WD-40 Multi-Use product on hand, you can remove hard water stains from shower doors quickly and easily.

Use Distilled White Vinegar and Baking Soda Paste

If vinegar alone did not remove the spots caused by hard water, add baking soda as a gentle abrasive. This paste also works well on water-spotted drinking glasses and other glassware.

Hard water stains won't come off with a basic glass cleaner, but luckily pantry staples, like white vinegar and baking soda, will effectively remove the unsightly spots.

STEP ONE: WET YOUR MAGIC ERASER.

Water activates the tough micro-scrubbers, so they can dig deep and remove hard water stains from glass and the toughest soap scum, making cleaning shower glass easier than ever.

Before reaching for harsh cleaning chemicals, use white vinegar. This tried-and-tested household product is the best way to clean a shower screen and is highly effective at removing limescale. Always use distilled white vinegar as malt or cider vinegar won't clean as thoroughly and may stain surfaces.

Rubbing Alcohol: Mix water with rubbing alcohol and wipe the window with it. The mixture may remove mild water spots, and it's great for window maintenance.

Does CLR remove hard water stains? ›

Does CLR get rid of hard water stains? Yes, for stubborn hard water stains on shower walls and tiles, bathtubs, sinks or faucets that need more scrubbing power, you may have to use something stronger than vinegar, like CLR Brilliant Bath Cleaner, a top-tested product that won a 2020 Good Housekeeping Cleaning Award.

Mix two tablespoons of white vinegar to one cup of water and, either using a spray bottle or a paper towel, apply the solution to the glass. The acid within the vinegar will break down any cloudiness. It will also give a more sparkling finish to the glass.

If lime deposits are not yet very thick, they can be removed quite easily with the steam cleaner – without the need for tiresome manual scrubbing.

Dawn as a substitute glass cleaner

One of the most effective ways to clean glass is dish soap – it's what professional window cleaners use when cleaning exterior windows. Dish soap can remove stuck-on dirt and cuts any hazy build-up. It also works well on cloudy mirrors.

Don't leave CLR for longer than two minutes.

Again, CLR is acidic, which makes it effective, but also means it can cause damage if left in contact with surfaces for too long. Always rinse away with cool water after two minutes of contact.

Vinegar is better for everyday dirt, while CLR works best on soap scum. But if you have issues with rust and hard water stains, you might want to reach for that bottle of CLR first! CLR and vinegar are both used for cleaning different types of stains.

Small Appliances. The plastic and glass surfaces on most small kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters, are safe to clean with vinegar, but you want to avoid any rubber parts or metal that vinegar can corrode.

Rubbing Alcohol or Ammonia

Mild mineral stains can be wiped up with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. It's good for mineral stain maintenance. For more difficult spots and stains, try soaking a rag in an ammonia and water solution. This can also work for hard water stains on glass windows.

One of the most common is a solution of 50 percent vinegar mixed with 50 percent tap water. For extremely tough stains, you may find you need a higher concentration of vinegar. It's important not to spray any solution directly onto the glass (see “How to Keep Your Door Glass Clean”).

Can you use steel wool to remove hard water stains from glass? ›

Steel wool doesn't scratch glass, and actually polishes it. Lots of car owners use steel wool to clean their windshields when water spots form on them. You may use steel wool in combination with whatever cleaner you want, whether vinegar or a commercial window cleaner.

“You can carefully use SOS pads to clean shower doors, but you should never use them on the actual shower or bathtub floor,” Carpenter says.

“Baking soda is an abrasive cleaner, so there is a chance that it will scratch your glass or mirror,” says Marcos Franco, an employee of Mighty Clean Home. If you're looking for an all-natural cleaning substance, he suggests using vinegar on your glass surfaces instead.

You should use straight vinegar. If your windows are really dirty, it's good to use an extra strength solution to wash them. Just warm 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar. It can be applied directly to the glass and it's best to use a spray bottle for this specific solution.

You can also use water from a bucket. Then fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and completely saturate the glass. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes—longer if there's serious buildup. Next, dip a scrubbing sponge into baking soda and scrub the glass.

Soak glass in white vinegar.

If your issue is hard-water minerals, all you have to do is soak your glasses for five minutes in white vinegar. Since it's acidic, it'll dissolve the minerals. For very heavy spots, you can warm the vinegar before soaking.

The best way to remove hard water stains from your shower doors is to do so using regular household items such as white vinegar and baking soda.

Soak the glasses in a vinegar and soapy water solution.

Vinegar is acidic and therefore great at breaking down limescale. Mix a solution of warm soapy water, and add two cups of white distilled vinegar. After 15-30 minutes of soaking the glasses in this solution, scrub them with a soft cloth or sponge and rinse.

Get an old spray bottle and mix up a solution with half water, half vinegar and spray on to your shower screen. Depending on how bad the problem is, you may need to use the rougher side of a non-scratch scouring pad with a dollop of elbow grease, before wiping it off and buffing it up with a dry cloth.

Does WD-40 remove calcium deposits? ›

When cleaning a toilet bowl, WD-40 works by softening the rust and lime deposits, so they can be easily wiped away. You don't need to use much of it. Simply spray on the affected area, wait a minute or two and brush it away with a regular toilet brush.

CLR® Brilliant Bath is about the only cleaner you need to keep your bathroom clean and for cleaning your shower doors. “Wanted to say I just tried CLR Brilliant Bath and was thrilled. It took the hard water residue off of my glass shower doors and bench in an acrylic shower with ease.