I have used a lot of cleaning products on my glass shower walls and doors. After all the soap scum comes off, I still get streaks and a haze on them. Any ideas to make them not streak?
Tami from MI
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
My ex-mother in law cleaned these streaks, to my amazement, with a cloth dipped in Lemon Oil (I can't think of the brand). After you clean it with a normal shower/tub cleaner and let it dry, wipe the streaks with the Lemon Oil-soaked cloth. It has a light oily base, but those streaks and scum that have been left behind seem to just melt away and wipe right off. It worked on old shower stalls that seemed to be permanently streaked with soap scum. I didn't believe it could be done until I saw it with my own eyes!!
It's likely that these "streaks" are really a film of hard water deposits, and not soap scum, etc., at all. What I've used for decades on all glass, chrome and mirrors is a dry 0000 steel wool pad.
Through the sensitivity of your fingers/hand while you are scrubbing, you can tell when the glass is clean because as the pad takes off the mineral deposits the glass becomes very swift and smooth beneath your wiping pressure.
This method of glass cleaning has never failed me in my business.
The best for hard water spots or soap scum is Bath Butler made by Diamond Products Inc. in Helena, Montana 1-406-449-6570 I have tried just about every thing and this stuff wipes right off any thing.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
A client has clear glass shower walls and door. No matter how careful I am to clean them up and down in a very straight line when my client takes a shower the streaks are there when it fogs up. How can I make the streaks go away when it's steamy from the shower. This shower gets thoroughly cleaned 3 times a week.
Kim from Delaware
By denise w
First, ammonia. Nope-- same thing. Only this time everything smelled like ammonia with a dash of lemon. That lemon-scented stuff will do that. Second, isopropyl alcohol. No luck. Then, hydrogen peroxide. I figured what-the-heck, it's right there in the cabinet. It probably won't work but what-the-heck. Same story. Heck. wha-the-heck-is-on-this-mirror?)
So then I tried the white vinegar. That should work, right? Vinegar should at least make a difference. But no-- whatever what was on the mirror was not affected by vinegar. Now the room smelled like lemon-ammonia with a dash of tossed salad. And that took care of what was available in the house. Time to see what's in the garage.When I came across a quart can of mineral spirits, I remembered something a co-worker told me a long time ago-- that liquids will have a base. Some are alcohol-based, or they could be water-based, or ammonia-based, and yes, some are petroleum-based. Well, the mineral spirits are petroleum-based, while my previous attempts were not. Eureka? Maybe the mineral spirits will do the trick?
What-the-heck? Let's try it. (For anyone out there who may be from Vernalis, mineral spirits is also known as paint thinner.) :-)Wait a sec-- you were talking about streaks. Were these up and down streaks? Were these up and down streaks caused by a squeegee? If these were streaks caused by wiping, see above. If these were streaks caused by a squeegee-- never mind. Have you considered trying a defogger? (02/08/2008)
By Otis P Driftwood
Or: Apply shaving cream to the glass (or mirror). Rub it all around, then wipe and buff dry with newspaper. It should prevent fogging. No fogs, no streaks, I would hope! (03/05/2008)
I was cleaning the front on my etched glass shower doors and now they are streaked something terrible. I have tried barkeepers friend, soft scrub, baking soda and vinegar. Each try it gets worse. Has someone been able to fix this problem?
Sherry from Stockton, CA
Sherry, have you tried just a plain old microfiber cloth with only water, no chemicals? These cloths are pretty amazing. (05/16/2007)
By SL Edens
Mr Clean eraser works like magic try it. (05/16/2007)
By septembergal
Have you tried Pledge dusting spray. Works wonders and removes soap scum. Works for me! (05/17/2007)
By busdrivr
I used to swear by Castrols Super Clean for everything like that but I cant find it anymore. There is something called Purple Power that seems to work as well. You can buy it at Walmart in automotive by the gallon for about $5.00. This lasts and lasts as you can dilute it. For anything really stubborn I use it full strength in a spray bottle. I feel it will take off those streaks. It is also the very best grease cutter. The Super Clean was made for degreasing car engines. These cleaners will take wax up too if sprayed on floor full strength then I use a broom to scrub it around but be careful as the wax turns loose its very very slick. Then mop it up well with plain water.
By Elaine
Sherry,
Most of the products you mention are abrasive and likely to do more damage than good. One of the best things I have ever come across (by accident!) to clean scum, streaks, etc. in the shower is Scruples Shampoo. It is a "stripping" shampoo that was recommended to me by my beautician to strip hairspray buildup, etc. out of my hair on occasion. I can't use a lot of chemical cleaners due to asthma, and I put this on a micro-fiber cloth (great even without cleaners on it!) and scrub away. If the buildup is heavy letting it sit on there for a minute or two would probably help (same for your hair!), then rinse. I "maintain" my shower by doing this almost daily while I am taking my shower - just a swish and swipe. I hate having to clean bathtubs and showers when I am not in them due to all the stretching and reaching, it is just easier this way. (05/17/2007)
By Karla
Ditto the Magic Eraser...but spray the glass with Windex 1st. (05/17/2007)
By Karen
