glass cancer?( watermark etching)

[Mardoc01]

on shower door most likely from stagnant minerals in water- it wont come off --what would retaining a professional to power grind down to the layer of glass to remove these stains cost ??

[sport]

Did you try to clean it with vinegar? The acid should dissolve most water minerals.

[Mardoc01]

yes and about forty other techniques incl 600 grit sandpaper no luck its in the glass

[neilpilot]

on shower door most likely from stagnant minerals in water- it wont come off --what would retaining a professional to power grind down to the layer of glass to remove these stains cost ??

Unlikely someone here can give you the cost. Suggest google services in your care, and also consider cost of replacement in lieu of repair.

[bberris]

Use about 5 % citric acid. Without seeing it, I could not say for sure that it's etched. Much more likely are calcium and magnesium deposits from hard water. Even with a water softener, you will have hard water at times if it is present in the water source.

It is particularly bad to use hot water during a regen cycle.

[dbr]

Wouldn't it most likely be easier and cheaper to replace the glass? But I could be wrong.

A hint for maintaining shower glass is to religiously squeegee the door (and the shower tile) with every use.

[Glasgow]

Have you tried scrapping water stain with utility knife or the like blade?

[dbr]

Have you tried scrapping water stain with utility knife or the like blade?

A single edge razor blade with water or oil for lubrication could work. One could also end up scratching the glass.

[Mardoc01]

scratcing the glass is my concern dont know how much replacing 3/8th shower door glass would be sounds cost prohibitive quoted about 225 for 1 door and 1 panel just now they use cerium oxide and specialixed drill pads ?? hope it works

[Glasgow]

I do it every year for our shower stall with 2 sides are glass. I make sure that I run orthogonal line to the blade, so no scratch. Add a bit of water to lubricate does help.

[Dottie57]

yes and about forty other techniques incl 600 grit sandpaper no luck its in the glass

Cleaner called CLR?

[DesertDiva]

Try my family's secret glass cleaner recipe:

• 2 cups rubbing alcohol

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1/2 tsp Dawn dish detergent

Combine the 3 ingredients in a clean, empty spray bottle, screw on the cap then lightly shake before using.

[Twood]

I haven't had that stubborn of mineral deposits myself, but have you tried a nonabraive cleanser? We use Bon Ami, others recommend Barkeepers Friend (I don't know the important differences between the two). Available at Target, but not necessarily at your local grocery store.

[Mardoc01]

Alltried except the razor. Again it seems as though these are I. The glass. Prob from sitting there without a squeegee

[lotusflower]

If you already used 600 grit sandpaper, I think you are done. Normally that's the first step in a polishing process using finer and finer abrasives (polishing compounds) but for glass you have to do the whole surface with a machine to get something that is even enough to look good. Even then, I'm not sure this even works for a whole sheet or anything bigger that an eyeglass or telescope lens. Making old-school large telescope lenses is a LOT of polishing work. My dad was doing one and I think he never finished since it was too much work.

If you really don't want to replace the glass you could consider etching it with an attractive design that hides the earlier mistake as best you can.

[chw]

I just cleaned clear glass shower doors with mineral deposits like you describe with a paste of baking soda and warmed up white vinegar (from the microwave). Rubbed the paste with my thumb over the stains for a few minutes, and then cleaned with a professional glass cleaner product- the glass came out nearly new! Hopefully the sandpaper you've already used on the glass didn't leave fine scratches on the glass.

By the way, the paste mentioned above was also used on some stubborn stains on wallpaper, with very successful results. If using on wallpaper, pre test on a less noticeable section to make sure the wallpaper isn't being damaged (the paste works better on vinyl papers).

[kevviedee]

I use a so-called Magic Eraser on my shower glass. Works well. Your problem sounds worse, but it is worth a try. You can use the erasers elsewhere in the home if they don't work well enough on the shower glass.

[sergeant]

So I'm dating this girl and she wants me to meet her mother. I go over to her house and we are all getting to know each other in the living room. Every 10-15 minutes people knock on the front door and her mother ushers them into the bathroom as they speak in Spanish. This happens at least half a dozen times during the visit.


I take the gal for dinner and ask her about the visitors. I learn that their glass shower door cracked a few years prior and when the sun comes through the window in the afternoon sunlight comes through the crack and casts an image onto the wall. Many people look at the image and see Jesus on the cross. Hundreds of people a year visit to leave flowers or other tokens.


So, what I'm saying is maybe don't fix it.

[Mardoc01]

Lol. That's funny

[dbr]

One might want to check out postings on Garden Web/Bathrooms https://www.houzz.com/discussions/bathrooms

or

http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/index.php

Some aspects of cleaning and restoring shower tile would apply to shower door glass.

[VaR]

What about steam cleaning? My steam cleaner got the hard water deposits off of my shower door.

[BIGal]

I use steel wool, you can get different grits, to clean the glass on our fireplace. I may just squirt on a little windex first and just scrub it with the steel wool. Always works for me....and the fireplace glass stains are usually baked on. Second also the use of CLR, that is a great product.

Good luck

[CaliJim]

If the chemistry (citric/acetic acid), steam, razor blade, and mr clean pads listed above doesn't work... then the next step is to try polishing it yourself, but with the right stuff. DO NOT USE SAND PAPER..Not 600. not 800. not 1000... just NO!

You'll need an orbital sander (<$100), glass polishing pads (<$25), and cream polish (<$25). All available ASAP from Amazon.

Look for Griot's Garage Glass Polish, or Chemical Guys Polish.

Chemical Guys have some good videos (but all about cars... still applies to you though): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... _TRCOsL94c

You could look into Cerium Oxide too. https://www.autopia-carcare.com/cerigla ... zg2G7hG2Uk
https://www.amazon.com/Cerium-Oxide-Gla ... B009XUAA4Y

[Mardoc01]

If the chemistry (citric/acetic acid), steam, razor blade, and mr clean pads listed above doesn't work... then the next step is to try polishing it yourself, but with the right stuff. DO NOT USE SAND PAPER..Not 600. not 800. not 1000... just NO!

You'll need an orbital sander (<$100), glass polishing pads (<$25), and cream polish (<$25). All available ASAP from Amazon.

Look for Griot's Garage Glass Polish, or Chemical Guys Polish.

Chemical Guys have some good videos (but all about cars... still applies to you though): https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... _TRCOsL94c

You could look into Cerium Oxide too. https://www.autopia-carcare.com/cerigla ... zg2G7hG2Uk
https://www.amazon.com/Cerium-Oxide-Gla ... B009XUAA4Y

Thx for the recs. I think that is what the professional is gonna do. Quote for 225. So. A little more than diy. But I'd rather let them do it

[CaliJim]

Post before and after pictures!