Remove Hard Water Stains From Glass

Hard water stains appear as white, hazy spots on glass surfaces. This is due to a build-up of alkaline and other minerals in your water. While these stains are notoriously tough to remove, there are several cleaning and prevention methods that can help get your glass back into sparkling condition.

Steps

Using Non-Liquid Cleaners

1. Start with some “elbow grease”. Before getting into expensive or potentially toxic cleaning products, try using these scrubbing techniques first.
   • Use “magic” and “eraser” cleaning pads or other non-scratching scrubbing sponges to safely scrub your glass surfaces. Try to remove as much as you can by scrubbing with one of these moistened sponges.
   • Never use hard-bristled brushes or abrasive cleaning tools when cleaning glass to avoid scratching or etching the glass surface.
   • Scrubbing works best on smaller hard water deposits, newer stains, and those that are not firmly set in.
2. Use baking soda. If you’re dealing with older stains or large areas of heavy hard water build-up, you will need more than just elbow grease. Baking soda is a very effective non-liquid home remedy that’s all-natural and probably already in your pantry.
   • Baking soda is a base (alkaline), so it can be used to chemically counteract the effects of hard water mineral deposits.
   • Because it is a natural, biodegradable product, baking soda is considered to be a safe, environmentally-friendly alternative to harsh chemical cleaners.
   • There are two schools of thought for using baking soda to clean: one camp claims that you can mix baking soda with vinegar to make an effective paste, while others claim that you should not use vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) at the same time because they will cancel out each others' pH benefits.
   • As a compromise, try applying some white vinegar to the stain first, waiting 30 minutes, and then applying baking soda before scrubbing and thoroughly rinsing away the stain.
3. Brush on some toothpaste. Many home cleaners use toothpaste as an alternative to baking soda.
   • Apply some regular toothpaste to a moist towel and rub it over the stain using circular motions.
   • Wait a few minutes, and then rinse off the paste with equal parts water and vinegar to remove all residue.
4. Use commercial paste cleaners. There are several commercial cleaning products for hard water stains that come in a paste formula.
   • The main benefit of using a paste over liquid cleaner is that the paste will not leave its own liquid streaks or water marks.
   • A downside to using paste products, though, is that they can leave behind a foggy haze if not buffed off of the glass. Be sure to follow all the label instructions to avoid this side effect.

Using Liquid Cleaners

1. Use white vinegar. Vinegar is an acid, which helps to loosen mineral deposits, and white vinegar is clear/colorless enough to not cause any staining. It’s also a natural liquid cleaner that isn’t toxic and won't potentially burn your eyes or lungs like other chemical cleaners.
   • Mix some lemon juice into the vinegar to increase the effectiveness and add a fresh lemon scent. Lemon juice (another an acid) has the same effect on minerals as vinegar.
   • Put your vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle and slightly warm them in the microwave, for 20-40 seconds depending on your microwave. Warmed cleaner can be more effective at lifting stains than cold or room temperature cleaner. Just be sure to remove the spray bottle top so that it doesn’t explode in the microwave.
   • Spray the vinegar solution on the glass and let it stand for about 2-3 minutes before wiping it clean with a dry, lint-free cloth or a paper towel.
   • To remove hard water stains from drinking glasses and other small glass items, fill a basin with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, and allow the items to soak in the solution for several hours before rinsing thoroughly.
2. Try adding some ammonia to basic cleaning products. You can try super-charging your regular all-purpose window/glass cleaner with some ammonia in order to cut through hard water stains.
3. Purchase a descaling chemical cleaning agent. If the above home remedies haven’t solved your stains, it’s time to bring out the big guns and go for specialized cleaning products with strong chemical and acid agents.
   • These types of commercial products are made for household use and are sold by several different companies under different names.
   • For the most part, they will contain an acid, such as sulfamic acid, as the active descaling ingredient.
   • Wear rubber gloves and eye protection when working with acidic cleaners, and follow package directions carefully.
   • These cleaners are safe to use on hard surfaces such as tile and glass, but should not be on natural marble, stone, terrazzo, aluminum, or colored grout. They might stain these porous non-glass surfaces.
4. Get help from your hardware store. If these commercial products still don’t give you the desired results, you can get even tougher products from your local hardware store. Be careful though, and be sure to follow all of the manufacture’s instructions since these will be very powerful products.

Preventing Future Hard Water Stains

1. Stop stains before they start. One of the best ways to get rid of hard water stains is to intervene at the source of the problem and try to correct the pH balance and mineral levels in your water.
   • You can try to remove the minerals in the water by attaching a filter to your water system.
   • Water softeners can also be added to counteract hard water.
2. Regularly wipe down and clean glass surfaces. Hard water should be removed regularly in order to prevent it from drying into stains.
   • Dry your shower doors after each use with a lint-free towel or with a squeegee to remove all water residue or streaks.
   • Clean your glass every week or so to stay ahead of build-up.
   • Act quickly: the longer a stain sits, the harder it will be to remove, and it can even become permanently etched into the glass’ surface.
3. Protect from future stains. You can also prevent hard water stains by sealing or protecting your glass surfaces.
   • For glass tables, be sure to use coasters under drinking glasses. They’ll intercept any drips and spills and keep them from leaving ring stains on the table.
   • For shower doors, consider applying a wax-based protective coat about once or twice a year. The water will run off the wax-treated glass and leave your door clear and clean.

Tips

• If you are uncertain of a product, test it in an inconspicuous place to avoid damage.
• If the stain persists, spray it again, let it sit and then wipe it down. Repeat the process as necessary.
• Try using cleaning sponges instead of a cloth; they tend to be stronger yet less abrasive.

Warnings

• Be sure to always follow the manufacturer's label instructions and wear the appropriate protective gear (gloves, eye protection, a face mask) before using chemical cleaners.
• Make sure you do not add ammonia to bleach.

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Sources and Citations

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• Clean Hard Water Spots Off Windows
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• Make Your Own Glass Cleaner
• Clean Windows With the Best Homemade Window Cleaner

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