Friday, September 23rd, 2011
The relationship between water and your shower in your Kenton home is somewhat is paradoxical. You use the water in the shower to keep yourself clean, and you can use water to keep your shower (and everything else!) clean, but if left unchecked, the water itself will leave your shower dirty and spotty.
Those spots left on your shower door are mineral deposits from water that has evaporated, leaving its mineral passengers behind. They are especially problematic in areas with harder water. Here is how you can get rid of them.
The Natural Way
It may surprise you to know that with all the chemicals available on the market for cleaning the bathroom, the best remedies for hard water are actually natural ones: lemon juice and vinegar. They are both acidic, so they can dissolve the mineral deposits, and they rinse away clean.
To use lemon juice (or a lemon), apply it to a damp sponge and wipe the door. You can also squirt the lemon juice directly on the door and wipe it with a sponge. Use this technique and let the lemon juice soak in a bit for tougher stains. Your shower will not only be clean, but it will smell like lemons.
Although it doesn’t smell as nice as lemon juice, vinegar also works well. Don’t forget the cleaning power of vinegar and baking soda, which generates a powerful chemical reaction that helps break up tough stains. For water spots, mix up a paste of vinegar and baking soda. Use a small brush, like an old toothbrush, to spread the paste around the edges of the shower door and on any tough stains. Wipe it clean with a damp sponge.
You can also use vinegar or lemon juice weekly to keep tough deposits from building up.
Other Ideas
There are some other methods you can use if the spots are really stubborn. CLR, for example, can break up very stubborn mineral deposits, but it is also toxic, so use it sparingly. Daily shower cleaner sprays work well to stop water spots from forming if used regularly.
If you are worried that your water too hard (has too many minerals), you can always ask your plumber about awater treatment system.
