How To Clean Cloudy Water Stains On Shower Doors
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Shower doors are a cute way to accent your bathroom and they are completely customizable. Whether you cull a frameless door, or maybe a sliding door, glass is usually the material of choice when it comes to showers. With such constant and connected use, how can we keep these shower doors pristine? Over time, hard water build up and soap scum can take a toll on those shiny shower doors. Did you know though, there is an easy mode to foreclose this from happening? Something every bit simple as a hydrophobic coating tin continue those shower doors squeaky make clean and visually appealing.
What is a Hydrophobic Blanket?
If you aren't familiar with hydrophobic coatings, you'll exist presently surprised. It turns out, these coatings can be used on a whole slew of glass products, including shower doors. Hydrophobic means, "To exist afraid of water." A hydrophobic coating won't make your shower door scared of water, but information technology volition repel it. These coatings are usually made with silica gel since it tin be practical to multiple surfaces. Alternatively, it tin also be made with oxide-polystyrene; however, the manufacturing cost is high leaving this option the less popular used of the 2.
Removing Difficult Water Stains
Drinking glass naturally contains tiny pores. Over time, these pores tin can fill with difficult h2o, lather, bacteria, dirt and a host of other grimy substances that can make your shower door lackluster. Before applying a hydrophobic blanket to your shower drinking glass, you'll need to super-clean the glass to remove any hard water stains.
To do this, you'll want to exist armed with microfiber towels, high-quality glass cleaner, and a difficult water spot remover.
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The Advantages of a Hydrophobic Shower Coating
When applied to a shower door, the hydrophobic coating creates a smooth surface by filling in these microscopic pores. The coating's polish surface repels the water, not allowing h2o drops or dirt to fall into the glass pores. This non only keeps the glass relatively free of grime, it also allows for easier and less frequent cleaning.
Less frequent cleaning means, fewer cleaning chemicals, such as bleach, are washed down the bleed. This makes for a healthier environs in streams, oceans and rivers.
In addition to a healthier outdoor environment, these coatings tin can also make for a healthier and safer showering environment. Hydrophobic coatings tin can cut down leaner, mold and mildew growth. The coating causes the bacteria and fungi to roll down the shower door, not giving it a identify to thrive since those tiny pores are filled up. This can create a cleaner and safer shower space.
Installation Options
Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
If y'all're the do-it-yourself (DIY) type of person, then you may wish to install a coating yourself. The blanket products are typically sold as kits. The kits should include detailed instructions and everything you demand to complete the coating job. Follow the instructions closely, or you may run a risk sub-optimal results.
Think, prep piece of work is key, and so additional products such as glass cleaner, and difficult water spot removes may need to exist used prior to the coating process.
Keep in mind, DIY coatings don't typically last as long as a professionally installed coating. Nonetheless, at that place volition be less upfront price and they tin can last many months, or fifty-fifty years, with proper care. They will still be useful in reducing difficult water spots and the frequency with which the drinking glass must exist cleaned.
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Talk With Your Shower Dealer
Did you know hydrophobic coatings are normally applied by your local shower door dealer? That'south right! Many dealers offer options to coat your shower doors when you lot buy them. Coating in the factory allows for the coat to proceed at the door's cleanest phase and in a controlled environment, ensuring you lot get the all-time quality. Your Drinking glass.com affiliate tin tell you what kind of coatings they offer and details specific to their coatings.
Hydrophobic Shower Coating Frequently Asked Questions
After deciding a hydrophobic blanket is the manner to go for your shower door, you may observe yourself asking a few questions. How can you ensure the blanket stays on? Or possibly even, do I demand to clean the coating? Here are some factors y'all may detect helpful when deciding:
- The durability of shower door coatings: An important factor to consider will be how long your coating will last. When maintained according to weather condition set by your shower door dealer, some of these coatings terminal a lifetime. Nearly come up with a warranty, so if for some reason it'due south not as durable equally advertised, your dealer tin can remedy the problem.
- Cleaning shower door coatings:In order to extend the life of your coating, well-nigh dealers recommend wiping down your shower door after each employ. Some dealers even recommend just spraying the door with a water and vinegar mixture and then squeegeeing information technology clean. One thing to stay away from is cleaning the door with harsh chemicals. These chemicals volition actually break down your hydrophobic blanket and exit your shower door unprotected. These are of import factors to notation in social club to get the most out of your blanket.
- Safety:While these coatings are extremely helpful, they will exist used in a sensitive place. Earlier choosing to coat, exist sure information technology is non toxic and safe for use effectually you lot and your family. Sprays made with oxide-polystyrene may non be the safest choice to take around children. If consumed, the spray is highly unsafe, then always use with caution and keep out of attain of children. Talk with your dealer before you lot decide to become with a blanket. They volition know how to use the coating effectively, and safely.
A Person Attestment to Hydrophobic Coatings
A hydrophobic shower spray can be the difference between a pristine door and an eyesore. My parents have had a glass shower door in their principal bath for almost 2 decades. For years I thought it was a tinted drinking glass shower door, considering it's more than foggy than clear.
Turns out, it's a tempered drinking glass shower door that has just never been coated. My mom has used ordinary cleaners on the door, only even that has not stopped years of buildup from showing itself. If that strikes a chord with you at all, consider a hydrophobic coating for your shower's drinking glass. A glass door is meant to highlight the beauty of the shower, not years of nasty gunk.
Transcription of Hydrophobic Shower Coating Options and Maintenance Video
Daniel: For the homeowner, now that this is finished and this is theirs, what can they do to go on the glass cleaner over time?
Dustin: So that's a great question. You tin can typically practise a couple of things. One, if you're someone who doesn't mind using a squeegee, you tin can bound in here every time yous're done and squeegee information technology off. Super clean. The glass volition truly concluding you forever.
The other option is at that place's a hydrophobic coating that's now taking place in our manufacture and in that location'southward a couple of versions of it. There's some that actually go on with the tempbering process. And and so there's some other pieces that your glazing contractors tin actually put on.
Daniel: And it kind of smooths out the pores of the drinking glass because fifty-fifty though we can't see information technology or feel it, glass is somewhat porous, correct? And so the hydrophobic coating smooths that right over and makes the water just repel right off of it.
Dustin: That's exactly right.
Daniel: Do you lot all the same need to squeegee drinking glass if it has a hydrophobic coating?
Dustin: I would say it's probably still an option. You're still going to have some water molecules that are still attached. Once more, it's not maintenance free. But for the most part information technology becomes a whole lot less to go along.
Daniel: And then as far every bit using cleaning products on hydrophobic coatings, are you able to apply some of those harsher cleaners that you would normally use? Or are there special cleaners to use on hydrophobic coatings?
Dustin: Some of the brands have special after care products. Only for the nearly office, just don't use annihilation with an amonia in information technology. It won't strip it down, it won't tear it off. And most things have a reasonable life span.
Daniel: Awesome. Alright, well let'due south go this cleaned up for the homeowner.
Dustin: Awesome, sounds proficient.
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Posted by: pierremagards.blogspot.com
Thanks for explaining that hydrophobic coatings are commonly applied by the companies that sell drinking glass shower doors. My husband and I desire to help our bath feel more spacious by having glass shower doors installed shortly. I'm glad I read your article considering now I know I should ask shower door dealers about extra coatings and protection for the glass.
Your advice on where to purchase shower door coatings does not make sense. If like in my case my dealer/installers did non apply a coating at the mill. And so y'all practise non address that. Where do I purchase a coating product?
Hi Doug,
Deplorable for the confusion! To clarify, if you already have perfectly skilful glass installed and are looking to add a hydrophobic coating, a good shower door dealer can typically assistance with applying aftermarket coatings also.
I had a new clear drinking glass shower installed yesterday. Is there a hydrophobic blanket available for diy application? (I've heard that coatings applied by the drinking glass door companies are extremely expensive and cost equally much as the glass door itself). I've read about a Rainex production, but it has some very bad reviews. Whatsoever suggestions? Don't desire to ruin a $5000 investment.
I have v twelvemonth erstwhile shower doors which I think has a hydrophobic coating chosen Clearview. Unfortunately information technology has broken down then that the doors are clear when wet merely patchy opaque when dry. The supplier gave us ShowerGuard to effort and clean the glass but information technology didn't piece of work? Tin yous aid?
Hullo Dr. Catchpole,
Cheers for reaching out with your question regarding your shower coating. It sounds similar some of the coating has worn off over time, and some coating still remains on the glass. This would explicate the splotches that you see. Some blanket products bear warranties so you may desire to inquire with Clearview to see if the blanket is still under warranty. If non, they may be able to provide guidance about how to remove the remainder of the existing coating.
Outstanding.. your outlook on this is amazing