How do I remove hard soap scum on my shower door?

Question

I have a problem with regards to my frameless glass shower door because I don't usually clean it regularly. What happens is that the lower edge of the glass door is already very cloudy and is very coarse in texture. I tried to use some vinegar and water dipped with newspaper since I prefer using natural cleaners but it just won't work. Maybe it has accumulated too much that it can hardly be removed.

Do you have any other idea on what natural method to use for removing it? If possible, I don't want to use the common glass cleaners sold on the market. That's the last choice for me.

Answer 1

Try using straight vinegar, right from a spray bottle. It may work better if it's heated first. Then try wiping with a used dryer sheet.

If that doesn't work, then you'll probably have to resort to something like CLR, at least for the initial cleaning.

Answer 2

For major buildup of insoluble calcium and magnesium salts, including soap scum, citric acid is a better choice than acetic acid.

Unlike acetic acid, citrate is a pretty good chelator. It binds tightly to metal ions, and remains soluble. That allows the counterion of your soap scum complex free to dissolve too.

However, unlike vinegar, citric acid dries to a powder, so you have to clean that up after you clean up the soap scum. Also unlike vinegar, citric acid doesn't stink. I use vinegar for light work, and citric acid for when things get nasty.

Citric acid is sold in the gricery store as coffee maker cleaner (check the label) and in coops and health food stores that sell bulk spices etc.

Answer 3

I've found that the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers work well on this.

I am in no way associated with this product, I've just had good experiences using it