Get rid of shower stains – for good
The first signs of staining on shower glass are easily confused with soap residue. The difference is the small, milky spots won’t go away, not with detergent, over-the-counter bathroom cleaners, nor any amount of elbow grease.
The culprit might be surprising. It turns out nothing is tougher on shower glass than the water you wash with.
Tiny particles of minerals such as calcium and lime occur naturally in our water supply and over time become embedded in the microscopic pores of glass.
The stains that result can be the bane of spring cleaning efforts, which typically leads to a jump in demand for professional glass cleaning ahead of the summer social season.
Arguably the best cleaning product is that of The Water Stain Doctor, a New Zealand company whose patented ‘‘special drawing paste’’ is what competitors turn to when their own products are no match for deep staining.
Canterbury’s Water Stain Doctor, Geoff McClelland, brings a particularly effective two-step solution to shower salvation: restoration and then protection.
Over the past nine years, Geoff has treated hundreds of showers from Timaru to Hanmer Springs with only a handful proving too far gone to save. All up, the paste has an ‘‘incredibly good’’ strike rate, he says.
The product works by loosening the mineral deposits trapped just beneath the glass’s surface, allowing stains to be buffed away. Restoring a shower takes about two hours.
If the glass isn’t restored to new condition, there is no charge (usually about $250 for a typical shower).
Protecting the glass from future staining involves applying a Germanengineered sealant called NanoCoat Clear. This seals the pores in glass to prevent minerals from gaining a foothold.
The nano coating costs about $330 and is recommended for restored and new showers alike.
‘‘The bathroom is the second most visited room after the kitchen, so if you’re entertaining or you’ve got people staying over, it can be frustrating and quite embarrassing to have smears and staining you can’t get rid of,’’ Geoff says.
A lot of people find out the hard way that most of the DIY cleaners don’t work as hoped and won’t give you back that new look.
Geoff McClelland Canterbury’s Water Stain Doctor
‘‘A lot of people find out the hard way that most of the DIY cleaners don’t work as hoped and won’t give you back that new look. You can easily spend $100 and an afternoon scrubbing away and still have to call someone in.
‘‘We guarantee our results. But it always gets busier at this time of year, so anyone who wants their shower cleaned or protected before Christmas should get in touch now. Don’t hesitate.’’
While The Water Stain Doctor’s unique cleaning agent ensures an attractive bathroom, the Nanocoat sealant brings another long-lasting benefit: much easier cleaning.
Squeegeeing is no longer necessary, only a weekly wipedown of the glass using dishwashing liquid on a microfibre cloth. Then rinse the glass clean. The dishwashing liquid breaks down any oils and residue sitting on the NanoCoat.
‘‘Some people rinse the glass with water after a shower thinking that will help, but it doesn’t. It’s not actually the soap that creates the problem, it’s the minerals in the water,’’ Geoff says.
The Water Stain Doctor’s cleaning paste works on a variety of grades of glass, including glass found on boats, but it is ideally suited to showers.
❚ For a free quote or more information, call The Water Stain Doctor on 03 349 2272 or 0274 451
254, or email canterbury@thewaterstaindoctor. co.nz.