The Easiest Way To Remove Stubborn Hard Water Stains From Glass Shower Doors

Glass shower doors are a go-to fixture in many homes as they are durable and not as susceptible to bacteria and mold like shower curtains and liners. Unfortunately, hard water stains, also known as limescale, can quickly cloud these glass panels — with more than 85% of US residents living in hard water areas, this problem is widespread. Regular glass cleaners like Windex can't power through these stubborn mineral deposits to properly clean glass shower doors, and a lot of limescale removers don't work as well as they promise to. Luckily, you don't need to shell out for a cleaner that only has one use or spend hours scraping away at the limescale as long as you have one tool: a Magic Eraser sponge. 

You've almost undoubtedly come across Magic Erasers before, and you might even have a box under the kitchen sink right now. There are many wonderfully unexpected uses for Magic Erasers around the house, including tackling limescale on glass shower doors. Unlike regular kitchen sponges, Magic Erasers are made from melamine foam resin, which is essentially a ton of super strong polymer strands packed down to a soft spongy form. When activated with water, these abrasive yet flexible strands do an amazing job of physically lifting and removing buildup without scratching the surface. 

It might be surprising that all you need to easily clean and remove hard water stains is a wet Magic Eraser, but that's the beautiful thing about this tip. Because Magic Erasers only contain melamine foam and no other ingredients, you don't need to worry about unpleasant chemical fumes. That being said, it's still advisable to use gloves when using Magic Erasers, as prolonged skin contact can cause irritation. Add plenty of water to the sponge and squeeze out excess before beginning cleaning. 

First, work the Magic Eraser in circles, then scrub up and down to ensure you're covering every inch of the shower glass door. It's not necessary, but some people like to add a few drops of dish soap to the sponge, which makes it a little easier to glide over the surface and can help pick up other buildup like soap scum. Once you've scrubbed the full panel, rinse it down with water and use a microfiber cloth to ensure a streak free shine. You can also use a shower squeegee to get rid of water droplets. And just like that, you should have a sparkling, clear shower door.