Anybody know of a good way to remove hard water buildup from ceramic tiles (shower area and pool tiles)? We've tried just about every store product and several internet "home brew" recipes. I'm getting real close to just replacing tile.

CLR or TSP ?

Baking soda and vinegar?

Of everything we've tried, vinegar works best so far. Practically have to wet sand using vinegar and 220 grit wet/dry to do anything. Hot vinegar works great except on vertical/wall surfaces. CLR didn't do a thing, same for most other store bought cleaners.

Get some lime away toilet bowl cleaner... it is a jell consistency so it doesn't just run off, you can let it soak. Its the real deal 10 times what vinegar will do.

I've got glass walls in the shower, and the only thing I've found that works is regular old shampoo. Every time you shower, take a sponge, put a little shampoo on it, and go over all the water marks. Leave it on there while you finish showering, and then rinse the walls. Over time, it'll start going away, but it takes a while. Only takes a couple minutes to do everything on the inside of the shower, tile, glass, brass, etc.

I started trying this after trying "Bar Keeper's Friend", polishing compound, rubbing compound, alcohol, CLR, and even straight gasoline (got desperate.)

Vinegar

Nothing anyone mentioned on here ever worked for me. I have a water softener but still get rings on my toilet. I while down my shower arter each shower. I'm getting ready to replace my toilets and have my shower painted. Hopely it will last until I expire or go to assisted living.

I use Tilex after every shower, works for me.

Simple green, tide, and clr... mixed like a slurry or paste, let set, brush, reapply , brush and rinse

There's some good ideas there....., will have to try a few.

In a pool, I'd think a lot before using CLR, it will affect chemistry. Simple green and tide won't affect it and might work alone, assuming there's water in the pool

Bill, for the toilet Home Depot sells a cleaner called iron out. Pour it in, (a powder) lit it sit for 5 minutes and then scrub with a sponge. Toilets get sparkling white.

Google a product called Vani-sol. It is a high acid toilet cleaner designed to eliminate hard water rings. I would imagine it would also work for tile. It works well on toilets.

How about one of those automotive buffer/polishers.
I bet it would work.
I`ve seen some cars that you would swear they would have to repaint come back and look almost showroom new.

# 0000 Steel Wool !! Use DRY, (no water, no chemicals!)
will remove EVERYTHING without scratching! Tiles will be like new.
Works great on glass too (including glass shower walls, & car windshields)!
Rub, flip over, repeat; can keep using a piece till it 'wears out'...
(buildup will 'flake off' as powder each time you flip)

Use ONLY 0000 (NOT 000 , 00, 0 or any numbered steel wool)


Don't believe me? get some, and try on a small spot; you'll become a believer!

An industrial product called Rydlyme will cut it. Just don't get it in the grout, as it will cut the calcium/lyme in it too. I have used it to remove years of water spots from fixtures. You will have to order it on the internet.

I just bought two new toilets for $100 each. I know I've spent that much on cleaners over the years. I'm not worrying about it anymore.

cut a lemon in half and rub the juice and oil from the rind on the spots. Let sit until almost dry and then use an eraser pad to wipe off the stains. Works great for soap scum as well. Plus shower smells fresh afterward!

I'm having my shower painted this spring.

muratic acid.
just be sure you have ventilation if indoors, fan recommended