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Triple master contractor Ed Del Grande
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By Ed Del Grande
Q. Hi, Ed. Your column is a wonderful home-improvement resource, and I need some information! I have a clear glass shower door (well, it used to be clear glass) and it has mineral deposits from the water all over it. It's practically all foggy glass now! I have tried all kinds of glass cleaners and nothing seems to work. Do you have any suggestions for me? Thanks for your time and help. Karla (Florida)
A. Karla, you are not alone. Most people with clear glass shower doors complain about water spots on the glass. The reason is that clear glass is a very unforgiving surface for a shower door and will highlight almost every drop of water or debris on the door. That is why frosted or distorting glass is a popular choice for shower doors. A door that can hide water spots and droplets will be easier to keep clean because it tends to cover up the water spots instead of highlighting them. Plus, it will offer a little more privacy while you're taking a shower!
If you do have a clear glass shower door, a good idea will be to keep a small squeegee handy and wipe down the door after every shower. This will cut down on deposit stains because the water is removed right away. However, good luck in getting the kids to clean up after every shower!
The only advice I can give you is to find a cleaner that is specially formulated to break down water deposits with a chemical reaction and is safe to use for showers. As you found out, normal glass cleaners usually cannot break down mineral deposits. Other than that, you may want to look into changing the door to a new clear glass door that you can start to maintain from the get-go, or better yet, change to a frosted or distorted glass that will be easier to keep clean.
Remember though, sooner or later all glass shower doors will get old-looking and eventually will have to be changed out. So the next "deposit" your shower needs is putting some money down on a new door!
Ed Del Grande was born and raised in a family-owned plumbing business. With more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of construction, he holds current Master licenses in pipefitting, fire protection and plumbing. If you have a question for Ed, send him an e-mail at eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.
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