How to remove hard water stains from glass when they appear as white, hazy spots on glass surfaces due to a build-up of alkaline and minerals in your water.
The hard water stains are known for their notorious toughness which is very hard to remove. You may have to use liquid and non-liquid cleaners, both to help get glass articles back to their pre-sparkling condition.
There are many ways to prevent hard water stains from returning after you once have successfully removed them. Let’s try to know and understand the process to remove hard water stains from glass.
- Using Liquid Cleaners
- Using Non-Liquid Cleaners
- Preventing Future Hard Water Stains
How to Remove Hard Water : Using Liquid Cleaners
Use an acidic cleaner for best results. It is best to remove them with a acid having a good strength because hard water stains are alkaline. try to locate a cleaning product which contains one of the chemicals like phosphoric, sulfuric, or hydrochloric acid, because acids should be able to effectively break down the stains. It is better to read the directions on the product’s label. Try to apply the acid cleaner to the areas that are stained as instructed. Acidic cleaning products are toxic. Ensure taking safety precautions while handling them. You must opt wearing eye protection and gloves. Never use them on surfaces coming in contact with food like that of counter-tops in kitchen.
Acidic cleaning products work well on acrylic & enamel surfaces. They may damage stone, natural marble, terrazzo, anodized or polished aluminum, and colored grout. Test the product in an area, which is a hidden one from the eyes of the onlookers, before using it on the whole of the stained area to prevent damage.
Mix salt and water. Mix salt and water to use the mixture for removing the mineral buildup. The salt will acts as a scouring powder. It can even cut through the stain. Put the mixture to the stained area . Hold a clean cloth and give a rigorous rub over the stain in a circular motion. Rinse the glass thoroughly for finishing and removing the saltwater residue.
Apply white vinegar. Vinegar is acidic in nature and can help loosen mineral deposits. White vinegar is clear and colorless to not to cause staining. It is a natural liquid cleaner too and non toxic chemical. It does not even burn eyes or lungs like any other chemical cleaners. Mix few drops of lemon juice into the vinegar for increasing the potential effectiveness of the vinegar and adds a fresh lemon scent to the cleaner. Lemon juice has the similar effect on minerals like the vinegar. Put vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle. It is better to slightly warm them in the microwave for 20-40 seconds fir activating the effect. The temperature can be adjusted depending on the microwave. A warmed cleaner can be more effective for removing stains than colder one. Ensure removing the spray bottle top or it may explode in the microwave. Let the vinegar solution get sprayed on the glass and stand for 2-3 minutes. Wipe it clean with a dry and lint-free cloth or towel.
It is better to fill a basin with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for allowing the articles to soak in the solution for several hours before rinsing thoroughly to remove hard water stains from drinking glasses and small glass items.
Add a rinsing agent to dishwasher. A rinsing agent like Jet-Dry help in removing hard water stains from the dishes. Pour it in the designated area in your dishwasher to fill it up with the rinsing agent, add usual dish washing detergent. Run the dishwasher for clear and clean glasses.
Add ammonia to cleaning products. Try super-charging regular all-purpose window/glass cleaner with ammonia to cut by hard water stains.
Get help from hardware store. In case, the commercial products are not able to give the desired results, try to get even tougher products from the local hardware store. But try to remain careful though, and ensure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions as these are very powerful products and sometimes toxic too.
How to Remove Hard Water : Using Non-Liquid Cleaners
Start with some “elbow grease.” Try using scrubbing techniques first. before taking up expensive or toxic cleaning products. Use “magic” and “eraser” cleaning pads or other non-scratching scrubbing sponges to safely scrub your glass surfaces. Try removing as much as by scrubbing with moistened sponges. It’s better to use baking soda as an abrasive. Avoid using hard-bristle brushes or any other abrasive cleaning tools while cleaning glass. The abrasive tools may damage the glass surface by scratching and/or etching it. Scrubbing always work better on newer stains, small harder, water deposits, and those which are not firmly set in.
Brush on toothpaste. Home cleaners use toothpaste as an alternative to baking soda. Apply regular toothpaste to a moist towel. Rub it over the stain in circular motions. Wait a few minutes and rinse off the paste with equal parts water and vinegar to remove the residue.
Use commercial paste cleaners. There are several commercial cleaning products for hard water stains which are available in a paste formula. The main advantage of using a paste over liquid cleaner is which the paste will not leave its own streaks or marks. The main disadvantage of using paste products is that they can leave behind a foggy haze on the glass. Ensure to follow label instructions to avoid any side effect.
How to Remove Hard Water : Preventing Future Stains
Stop stains before they initiate. The best ways to get rid of hard water stains is to intervene at the source of the problem. Correction of the pH balance and mineral levels in water is a necessary step. Try to remove the minerals in the water by attaching a filter to water system. Water softeners can be added to hard water for better results.
Regularly wipe down and clean glass surfaces. Hard water should be removed regularly in order to prevent it from drying into stains. Dry the shower doors after each use with a lint-free towel or with a squeegee to remove water residue or streaks. Clean glass every week to keep away the build-up. Work quickly as the longer you allow a stain to sit, the harder it will get to be removed. It can even become permanently attached or get penetrated into the glass surface.
Protect from future stains. Try to prevent hard water stains by protecting or sealing the glass surfaces. Ensure using coasters under drinking glasses for glass tables. They will take care of any drips and spills. This will keep them from leaving stains on the table. It is very helpful to apply a wax-based protective coat on the shower doors, twice a year. It is easier for the water to run off the wax-treated glass, leaving no stains on the door and helping them keeping clear and clean.