One of the most tedious activities when it comes to cleaning the home is undoubtedly cleaning the bathroom. Specifically, cleaning the shower screen. There are many products that promise to get rid of the limescale and dirt that remains on it in the form of drops or stains. However, the reality is that the chemicals we find in supermarkets are not entirely effective. This is stated by chemical engineer Diego Fernandez in his Manual of Uses and Applications of Household Chemicals, as well as on his social media. According to chemical engineering, there are two types of residues that stick to glass: inorganic limescale and organic residues from soaps.
That is why, according to Fernandez, the best way to clean the partitions is to “apply a degreaser or a solution of 500 milliliters of water with a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, wipe with a sponge, and clean. Next, use the acid, which could be industrial or cleaning vinegar. Then clean or rinse.” In case of prolonged abandonment, the solution can become more complicated, as residues end up attacking the surface of the glass, creating what is called chemical etching. In that case, one must turn to a professional to remove such stains by polishing the glass with cerium oxide.
House cleaning
Very few people enjoy doing household chores, but there are many of us who still have to do them anyway. From dusting, to sweeping, vacuuming, or washing the dishes, cleaning the house can take us an entire morning. One of the most hated tasks is undoubtedly cleaning the bathroom. It doesn’t matter the size; even cleaning a small bathroom is often quite tedious. The situation is even worse for those who have shower screens, which, unlike curtains, require constant maintenance.
What do the experts say?
Diego Fernandez is a chemical engineer and author of the Manual of Uses and Applications of Household Chemicals. Moreover, he has explained on his social media profile how to properly clean a shower screen, clarifying which products are the most effective for this. This is not advertising, but he uses a chemical reaction-based approach to clarify the most common questions that arise in household cleaning.
Stains on the shower glass
Despite what we may see at first glance, there are two types of different residues that accumulate on the surface of the shower glass. According to Fernandez, it is inorganic limescale, generated by the evaporation of water and composed of microscopic crystals of calcium and magnesium. On the other hand, there are organic residues left by soaps, creating what is called soap scum. Fernandez explains that “conventional cleaners usually clean well the organic part, but not the inorganic”.
How to get rid of them?
Given that there are two types of waste that are generated and dirty the glass, there will also be two procedures to follow to clean them. The chemical engineer explains in one of his videos the following, “The correct way to clean the glass in your shower is this. First, apply a degreaser or a solution of 500 milliliters of water with a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, use a sponge and clean. Next, use an acid, which could be industrial or cleaning vinegar. Then clean or rinse”.
Another situation that can occur is prolonged neglect of cleaning. In this case, you have to proceed differently, as the accumulation of layers generates a micro pH that ultimately dissolves the silica in the glass. This chemical process has a name, chemical etching, and the only way to get rid of it is to see a professional and polish the glass with abrasives like cerium oxide. That is why Fernandez recommends regular maintenance of bathroom fixtures, especially shower screens, if we don’t want to resort to more abrasive and, above all, more expensive methods.
Did you know this trick to keep your sheets dry and wrinkle-free?