A professional cleaner has recommended citric acid as a natural alternative to white vinegar for removing limescale from shower screens, with a simple spray solution that can be left on the glass for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.
Cleaner's recommendation sparks agreement
Posting on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, Michelle Davis asked for the "best cleaning product recommendations to attack the shower screen", prompting almost 100 responses. Cleaner Anna Crucitti replied: "Hello, I'm a deep clean specialist. I'd spray a strong limescale remover (a citric acid solution is my choice), let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse well. I prefer citric acid to white vinegar as it's powerful on the glass but not on the chromed areas."
A fellow group member, Marsha Leach, agreed, commenting: "Citric acid, cut in half with water. Spray the glass. Leave it even overnight if needed. Wet the scrub daddy and use it to clean the glass. Rinse. Game-changer. The screen will be limescale-free and gleaming."
DIY citric acid spray recipe
Sophie, a cleaning blogger at Sustainable Lazy, has also shared her DIY citric acid spray recipe for combating limescale and soap scum. She noted that "citric acid is effective" at eliminating limescale, soap scum, rust and tea and coffee stains, as reported by the Express.
Since limescale is alkaline in nature, "it can be dissolved by an acid", such as citric acid. Sophie explained: "If your limescale has built up, it can become stubborn to remove. The easiest solution is to combine citric acid with hot water and leave it to soak. If it's particularly bad, it may need more than one attempt."
How to make and use the spray
For creating a citric acid spray, the ratio should be one tablespoon of citric acid to every 250ml of water. This formula can be scaled according to your bottle's capacity – for instance, a 750ml bottle would require three tablespoons of citric acid.
On this occasion, Sophie chose to use 470ml of boiling water, into which she mixed two tablespoons of citric acid. The water's heat helps dissolve the citric acid crystals. After it has cooled, transfer your citric acid and water mixture into an empty spray bottle and apply it to your shower screen. Allow it to work for several minutes before wiping the screen clean.
Having cleared away the accumulated limescale, regular use of your homemade citric acid spray on shower screens and other problem areas "will prevent the limescale from getting bad again".
