11 July 2008

Cleaning Tip

Since we arrived in Switzerland there is one thing in the house with which I have constantly struggled.

Hard Water Stains


This is the hardest water I have ever had to deal with. It discolors our clothes, dries my skin and hair and leaves a strange scum on surfaces in the kitchen and bathrooms.

I have figured out some ways to overcome it. I use Calgon water softener and a special enzymatic clothing detergent for the clothes. I use Body Shop Shea Body Butter for my skin and Aveda Sap Moss Shampoo and Conditioner for my hair. And I scrub kitchen and bathroom surfaces repeatedly in hope of keeping it under control.

But the glass shower in the bathroom remained cloudy no matter what I did.

GLH is very good about using a squeegee after he showers. That helps. But I have tried every chemical I could find in the store to get rid of the scum and nothing worked to get it really clean.

Until now.

I decided to try something my mother used when she cleaned windows. White vinegar, water and baking soda.

Dontcha know! It actually worked! With a minimum of scrubbing even. Just rub it on then wipe it off with a dry cloth.

I highly recommend it.

9 comments:

Sara said...

vinegar is a miracle! the faucets in our bathroom were totally crusted over with hard water stains so very little water came out. i took them off and soaked them overnight in vinegar, good as new!

A Librarian said...

And it is good for the environment:)

Anonymous said...

Well at least your mother isn't a bad person to turn into - but I do believe you have done it.

Anonymous said...

160 proof vodka also does a knock up job. Some of my clients gave me funny looks when I pulled out the liquor bottle at their homes when I was cleaning, but they loved the results.

The Big Finn said...

When I began reading this, my first thought was vinegar. I'm glad you discovered it.

Also, for the skin...

I use plain old Vaseline on my hands, and then I wear cotton gloves when I sleep.

Miracle cure!

OMG...

Did I just say that in public?

Anonymous said...

Rain-X on the glass door really helps! Yes, vinegar and I are great friends...
Ashley

MW said...

I'm enjoying hearing about cleaning in Zurich before I even get there! Glad to know what to expect. May I ask a question? Can you find your Aveda shampoo and conditioner easily in Zurich or did you pack it with from the US. I'm considering bring a year's supply. ;)

Global Librarian said...

You can get it here, but it is lots more expensive. I usually get the enormous jugs of shampoo and conditioner. They last me about a year.

Welcome to Zurich!

Jul said...

Can't stop laughing at TBF's confession...