Summary of "Your Shower Glass Can Look New Again - Here's How"

Problem

Hard-water deposits (lime scale / calcium carbonate) build up on shower glass, leaving a white, rough, sandpaper-like residue. This residue is difficult to remove and easy to scratch if you use mechanical abrasives.

What was tested and outcome

Bleach: no effect on lime scale.
Supermarket “post-shower” glass sprays: designed for maintenance; ineffective on heavy deposits.
Viakal (commercial limescale remover): worked better than the above but not perfectly; produces strong fumes.
White vinegar (~5%): inexpensive, pleasantly scented option; removed a lot of the deposits and outperformed most supermarket products.
Concentrated vinegar (high-strength) mixed with alcohol (approx. 3 parts vinegar : 1 part alcohol): best result — quickly cut through grease and heavy limescale, giving the clearest glass after a 5-minute dwell and rinse.

Practical step-by-step method

Apply the chosen cleaner to the glass (spray or wipe on).
Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with water.
Dry with a paper towel, then polish with a microfiber cloth to remove streaks and remaining water.
Repeat on stubborn areas as needed.

The concentrated vinegar + alcohol mix cleans both grease (alcohol) and mineral deposits (vinegar). A 5-minute dwell usually produces the clearest results.

Tips, precautions, and additional advice

Avoid mechanical abrasives (scouring pads, wire wool, sandpaper) — they will scratch the glass and make the problem worse.
Use good ventilation (open a window) when using strong chemical cleaners to avoid fumes.
If you decant homemade mixes into spray bottles, label them clearly.
Regular maintenance sprays are useful to keep glass clean once restored, but they won’t remove heavy limescale.

Notable products, items and context

Products/items: bleach, supermarket shower glass sprays, Viakal (limescale remover), white vinegar (~5%), concentrated vinegar, rubbing alcohol, spray bottle, paper towels, microfiber cloth.
Location: UK (hard water areas mentioned).
Speaker: DIY homeowner demonstrating and testing products in his own shower (unnamed).