If you’ve stayed in a good hotel and taken a look at their bathrooms, it’s likely that you will have been impressed by how clean they are. Hotels have systems to make every process fast and efficient, and cleaning their bathrooms is no exception. Of course, it helps that they clean every day, but they get that sparkle with some very specific cleaning techniques. In this article, we will take a look at how you can improve your bathroom cleaning to get a hotel style finish.
Hard Water Problems
When your glass shower doors are looking dull, it’s likely that the cause is soap scum. This is the sticky material that seems to accumulate on the surfaces of your sinks, tubs, shower stalls, and glass doors. Soap scum is formed when your home is supplied with hard water, which contains elevated concentrations of certain minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and also iron. Water is a very effective solvent, it passes through layers of soil and rock on its journey to your home, and that material is added to the makeup. This is a natural process, but if you live in or near an area that’s rich in these types of minerals, you will receive hard water. Aside from the creation of soap scum, hard water will leave a layer of limescale in your pipes, fixtures, and water using appliances-
Understanding Soap Scum
Soap scum has a pale color, and the texture can best be described as “waxy.” This material is formed when soap comes into contact with hard water. One of the most annoying properties of hard water is that it inhibits the creation of soap suds which lowers the potential cleaning power. Most people attempt to compensate for this lack of cleaning performance by adding more soap or detergent. But, this is not an effective technique, and it simply leads to the formation of more soap scum. Another annoying aspect of soap scum is that it creates stains on the glass shower door and stall. This material can be scrubbed away, but it always returns because the underlying cause (hard water) is not dealt with. Soap scum is also bad for your showering experience because it acts as a breeding ground for bacteria.
How Do I Remove Soap Scum Stains?
There are cleaning products that you can purchase to deal with this problem, but you can save some money and get good results when you make your own cleaning solutions. When you clean regularly, you can keep the soap scum under better control, but if you don’t get a chance to clean for a while, it will return. Let’s take a look at four things that you can use to clean your shower doors to a very high standard:
- Vinegar
You can use white or distilled vinegar to clean many surfaces in your home, and that includes your glass shower doors. Vinegar is an inexpensive cleaning solution; it’s easy to use and non-toxic. Many people have vinegar in their homes already, and it will not present any danger to your family or the environment. The acidity of vinegar is extremely effective at preventing the buildup of soap that causes soap scum. The best way to use vinegar is to mix ¼ cup with ¾ distilled water in a spray bottle. Then spray this solution onto the shower door glass, around the fixtures, and along the edges. Let the solution sit on the surfaces for at least 15 minutes, and then rinse with a little warm water. After a few minutes, you can dry the surfaces clean with paper towels, old newspapers, or a microfiber cloth. If you want to use dish soap in your vinegar cleaning solution, mix it with white vinegar in a 1:1 ratio and use it in the same way. The final wipe down in both cases is essential if you want to remove and prevent further water spotting for a classy finish.
- Baking Soda
Baking soda can be found in many homemade cleaning recipes online because it reacts with water and vinegar to remove dirt and grime. Baking soda is non-toxic, it’s easy to apply, and you don’t need to panic if you get any on your hands. When you want some extra cleaning power, pour the baking soda on a cloth and wipe down the glass shower door when it’s damp. This will create some gentle abrasion action that will shift stubborn deposits of scale and soap scum. Once you’re done, simply rinse the glass door clean with warm water and dry with a microfiber cloth. If you want to use baking soda with vinegar, mix ½ a cup of each together, stir until combined, and then spread the paste where needed. Leave this cleaning paste for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water and dry the surfaces.
- Combining Salt, Vinegar, and Baking Soda
For even greater cleaning power, you can use salt with your baking powder and vinegar cleaning techniques. Start by pouring ½ cup of vinegar into a clean spray bottle, spray the glass shower door and leave it for at least 10 minutes. Then speak ½ cup of baking soda mixed with one tablespoon of salt over the surface of the glass with a damp cloth. Leave the salt and vinegar for at least 5 minutes and then rinse and dry as normal.
- Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is acidic, it’s a natural option, and it can be used to clean your glass shower door. Mix four tablespoons of lemon juice into a cup of distilled water and pour this solution into a clean spray bottle. Apply the solution to the shower door and stall, as usual, leave it for 5 minutes and then rinse and dry as usual.
Only Use Microfiber Cloths
If you scrub at a glass door with a poor quality cloth, it can cause etching because you’re cleaning away soap scum. This is a similar process to the action that takes place on glass in your dishwasher. The best way to avoid this is to only use good quality microfiber cloths when cleaning glass surfaces.
The best way to improve your cleaning results is to switch to soft water for your home. If you want to install a water softener, contact your local water treatment specialist today.