Indulging in a hot, steamy shower after a long day at work, or even after a day spent running around after the kids, is something many of us enjoy doing, but it’s not so pleasurable when the shower is full of hard water stains and soap scum.
To rid your shower of unsightly stains and get it spotlessly clean ready for you to enjoy, here are some simple cleaning tips:
Getting rid of hard water stains
Forming spots when hard water builds up on your shower door and walls, hard water stains leave an unsightly opaque film and while tricky to eliminate, are not impossible.
Note that stiff brushes, heavy duty cleaning tools or caustic scouring powders should never be used on a shower door as they can leave permanent scratches, instead invest in a good water spot removing product. If you prefer to use a natural, cheaper alternative to store bought products, you can make a highly effective hard water stain remover using vinegar and water. Mix a ¼ cup of white vinegar with a ¾ cup of water in a microwaveable bowl and heat for one minute. Then, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and squirt it all over the shower walls and door, before leaving it to sit and work its magic for around five minutes. With a microfiber cloth, you can then wipe the homemade solution off, with a little more elbow grease required for tougher stains.
The same vinegar and water solution can also be used on the shower tracks, too, by simply pouring it into the tracks and leaving it for a few minutes. If the tracks are stained, you can use a scrub brush to remove them, just take care not to scratch the glass as you do so. Once you’ve finished scrubbing, wipe the remaining solution away with paper towels.
additionally, you can remove your showerhead and soak it in vinegar and water to remove mineral build-up that may have accumulated over time.
Banishing soap scum
Both unsightly and dangerous, soap residue can be removed safely and easily with a combination of dish soap, vinegar and cornstarch. Here’s how to make your soap scum banishing solution:
Add a tbsp of cornstarch to a cup of white vinegar and microwave it for two minutes. While the mixture is being heated, add 2 tbsp’s of dish soap to a spray bottle, pour in the vinegar and cornstarch mixture and stir to combine it all. What you’ll end up with is a fabulously effective soap scum removing solution that is both cheap and easy to make.
Once you’ve made the cleaner (or have bought one from the store), spray it over all affected surfaces of your shower and leave it for around 10 minutes. Then, rinse it and the soap scum off, which may take more than go due to the bubbles from the dish soap.
Any leftover residue can easily be wiped away using a sponge or paper towels.
Can’t be bothered with the hassle of cleaning hardwater stains from your shower, but still want to be able to take a long, hot shower without slipping on soap scum? Why not ask a local cleaning company to come in once a week (or as often as required) to get your entire bathroom hygienically clean from top to bottom.
