How to Remove Lime Buildup in Showers

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Lime scale is a common problems in areas with high lime content in their ground water. If you live in an area with high lime levels you will notice the corroding white scale that builds up everywhere water comes into contact including your shower. Lime scale can be removed with a little perserverance.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Vinegar
Commercial lime scale remover
Cloth or cotton balls
Paper towels
Pumice stick
Squeegee

Getting Down to Business

Step1

Try removing the limescale from your shower with vinegar. If you have a light coating of limescale you may be able to remove it by scrubbing the shower with a sponge soaked in vinegar. If the scale is stubborn or heavy, you will have to soak the shower in the vinegar for a number of hours or even overnight. In order to soak your shower in vinegar, saturate some good quality paper towels with vinegar and paste them onto the shower walls. They should stick to the walls as long as they remain wet. For smaller areas you can soak cotton balls and wedge them onto the areas with limescale. After your shower has had plenty of time to soak, scrub off the limescale.

Step2

Try a commercial limescale remover like Lime Away if the limescale in your shower is too stubborn for vinegar. Even with commercial products, you will need to soak the shower in the solution. You can use the same paper towel and cotton ball method with the commercial product but be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling the cleaner. Follow packaging instructions.

Step3

Resort to using a pumice stick if necessary to remove very thick limescale that is resisting even the commercial limescale remover. A pumice stick is a type of lava stone that is excellent at removing limescale. You simply wet the stone and rub it over the limescale and it rubs off like magic. Do not use a pumice stone on shiny or scratch-able surfaces like chrome. You can find a pumice stone or stick in most janitorial supply stores.

Step4

Wipe down your newly lime-free shower every time you take a shower. This will prevent the lime from re-forming. If the water does not sit on the shower walls the limescale will not have a chance to form. A squeegee is also a great tool for removing excess water from shower walls.

Tips & Warnings

Be sure to ventilate your bathroom when you're using lime removal products. The fumes can be hazardous to your health and are likely to cause a headache.