Limescale help?

[ptcruiser51]

My sister and I are trying to stage our parents' house for sale; we lost both of them within five weeks of each other at the end of last year.  Cleanout has been progressing slowly what with the nasty weather here of late, but we finally have a number of closets empty and can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

We have hit a major roadblock at the stall shower, however.  The area where they live has MAJOR lime/calcium sediment issues.  My BIL managed to get the scale buildup off of the faucets and toilets using emery cloth and car polishing compound.  The shower is just filthy with grey buildup. 

 

I work at The Home Depot, and have tried everything I could think of that we sell.  Lime-away, CLR, and several other products.  Scrubbing and soaking have only had minimal impact.  Once the weather breaks, we can take the glass doors outside and probably scrape them after soaking with vinegar.  The lining of the stall is plastic, I don't think it's fiberglas, and is textured.  The stuff seems to be really embedded. 

 

Pals at work suggested muriatic acid.  The town where our store is located doesn't allow us to sell it due to toxic issues.  Can this be used on plastic surfaces?  I always thought it was for tile only.

 

Any other suggestions greatly appreciated!

 

[austinado16]

For the glass, #000 Steel Wool with Windex or even Simple Green as the lubricant......then repeat with just water and the steel wool. You can probably use #00 or even #0, or #1, as long as you're using it with water. I use this method on ours, as well as on my aquarium all the time. #000 and #0000 are safe for use on automotive glass and chrome, and even some stainless. Oh household chrome and stainless you need to carefully do a test area first......for example, I can't polish the stainless frame of my vintage aquarium with even #0000, as it's too soft and will scratch.......but I can polish the stainless side body trim on my vintage British car.

So that'll take care of the glass. [this post was last edited: 2/15/2011-18:24]

 

[mattl]

sudsmaster posted in another thread:

<blockquote>
 


<p>You can still get muriatic acid by the gallon at Home Depot.

I use it to remove scale from the removable plastic drip tray under the water dispenser in the side by side fridge door.

Nothing else seems to work quite as well.

</p>
</blockquote>
So you might be able to use it on the shower.

 

[yogitunes]

I get the ACID that is found in toilet bowl cleaner, maybe the same type, unsure, but found it at a restaurant supply center, used for industrial places like airports, banks and institutions, the one I use is thick blue liquid, spread it on, wait a few minutes, and scrub with a brush or textured sponge and rinse well, it works where nothing else will.......

 

[ironrite]

When I first moved to Las Vegas the dishwasher in my rented condo was horrible, caked full of calcium deposits, plus it needed some repairs. When the service guy was out, he let the dishwasher fill, opened the door and poured about a cup of pool acid in the water. He then let it cycle through. I was surprised that it came out clean and didn't have any other problems or leaks the two years I lived there.

 

If you try that, just be careful and wear goggles and gloves and it's best to add acid to water and not the other way around.

 

[sudsmaster]

The muriatic acid at Home Depot can be found - as I recall - in the cement department.

 

And another good product is a phosphoric acid cleaner I found at Smart & Final. It's called Lime-Gone and has a pleasant minty scent. I find the Lime-Gone works best at cleaning soap scum and scale out of the shower (haven't tried the muriatic acid on it though). I put it in a spray bottle, which makes application easier.

 

As for the muriatic acid, it's sold in plastic jugs so there shouldn't be much problem using it on plastic surfaces. In fact, you don't want to leave it on tile or porcelain enamel too long because it will start to eat away at the glaze in time.Same for another acid cleaner, Zud (which has oxalic acid in it). And the phosphoric acid will probably do the same.

 

 

 

[ptcruiser51]

Thanx to all!

We got the muriatic acid and it worked! Nasty stuff, though. It even took care of one of the fixtures that we thought was a lost cause. We saved the rest in case it needs a touch-up on the way to the house sale.