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jenlutz82

Soap Scum Nightmare

7 years ago

We just recently moved into a house with hard water. The woman who lived here before us neglected the soap scum in the shower and now there’s a permanent haze and scum on the shower glass door. I’ve tried everything the Internet has offered: baking soda, vinager, dryer sheet, magic eraser and every product offered at the grocery store. Does anyone have another method or option?!! Bleach? Ammonia?

Help!

Comments (14)

  • 7 years ago

    It’s possible that the glass has been etched. One more thing to try would be glass cooktop cleaner

    jenlutz82 thanked kats737
  • 7 years ago

    try a few rounds of Lime-a-way spray and magic erasers before doing anything more drastic with harsher chemicals. Glass cooktop cleaner is good but will run a lot down the surface and drip.


    jenlutz82 thanked mpugs
  • 7 years ago

    I am a fan of the Bio-Clean, too. It's simply amazing. There are other products/brands with the name Bio-Clean, but be sure you get the one pictured that has the hyphen between Bio and Clean. I haven't used the lotion/bottle pictured, but have bought the stuff in tubs: Thei


    Their website says there are samples available at Ace Hardware if you have one near you. That's how I first found out about this product.


    https://www.bio-cleanproducts.com/product/buy-two-48-oz-bottles-get-one-free/

    jenlutz82 thanked Olychick
  • 7 years ago

    Heat a cup of vinegar in the microwave until bubbly hot, but not boiling. Add a generous squirt of dishsoap (I.e. Dawn original). Slosh onto scummy area with a rag. Wait...This is what makes it work...10 to 15 minutes. Use the rag to wipe away the scum. If it's really horrible, wipe with hot as you can stand it water, too. Make sure you turn on a fan and open a window. Hot vinegar stinks!

    jenlutz82 thanked LD
  • 7 years ago

    Try a straight edge razor to scrape it off. I use the razor on my glass cooktop for the stuff that will not come off with the cleaner.

  • 7 years ago

    Thanks everyone!!! I’m afraid it is etched! I just tried a razor and no luck. If it’s etched I wonder if that means it’s trashed?

  • 7 years ago
    I had the same problem in my “new” home. Tried every single trick out there. Bought all types of products. Soaked it with vinegar. I don’t believe you will ever remove it, sorry to say. It is the hard water stains that etched it. Our solution was to replace the doors and get the protective film put on it. We’ve had them for 7 years and no problem but we religiously wipe them down after every shower. The protectant can be reapplied every 6 months and we do that too.
  • 7 years ago

    I don't know if it will work, but what about that stuff used on car headlights that are etched. You just never know what will work. Just keep on trying. My brown vinyl garage door was faded and nothing I used for years would help restore the color. Just on a lark I picked up a can of tire blacking from the dollar tree. I applied it in the spring and it still looks like a brand new door. .

  • 7 years ago

    Go to ACE if you can and get a sample of the bio-clean. I didn't have any luck with a razor blade removing some hard water stains/build up that bio-clean dissolved in one minute. AND it seems to put some kind of protection for future build up, since the places I cleaned haven't gotten a build up again.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I use Lemi-Shine dishwasher booster. It is sold next to DW detergents. Pure citric acid so no noxious fumes. I sprinkle on a very wet sponge along with a little BKF. Works great for us, and worth a try in the industrial strength crud you've got. I use LemiShine to remove mineral buildup on faucets, refrigerator water dispenser, etc. Good luck!

  • 7 years ago
    Cavimum Lemi shine to the rescue. I'll have to try it myself. I bought a new dishwasher because of a terrible haze on everything. New one did the same. Looked online and found that it was because they took the phosphate out of the cleaner and hard water needed them to really clean. Found Lemi shine and was amazed. Love love love the product. Never thought of using it for shower doors. Thanks
  • 7 years ago

    I just Lime Away with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It works well.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    You could try CLR as well... I don't have glass doors but I use it to clean the showerhead...

    Good luck!