Some Facts about Hard Water and LimescaleYou may have heard about limescale ...
You may have heard about limescale and how it’s a problem for your home’s plumbing… but you weren’t quite sure what it is, or what you can do about it. In this post, we’re going to go into the details of limescale and how it creates trouble for your home’s plumbing. And of course, we’ve got a solution as well. That’s what our plumbers are here for!
What is limescale?Limescale is the white outside layer left from the presence of hard water. Hard water is when any water contains higher mineral levels than usual: magnesium, gypsum, and various calcites. These often find their way into municipal plumbing through ground seepage. The most visible place where you’ll see limescale is on faucets and other fixtures, such as showerheads. If you notice the nozzles a showerhead are either blocked or firing off at odd angles, it’s probably due to limescale buildup.Why is limescale a problem?Aside from messing up your showerhead? Limescale buildup is a serious issue for other water-using appliances, especially your geyser. One of the big reasons for water heaters failing early and needing replacements is because of limescale buildup, which serves as an insulating layer in the tank causing the tank to overheat. Limescale also builds up in pipes and creates spikes in water pressure.What can I do about it?There are some basic home remedies for getting rid of limescale deposits on showerheads and faucets, such as detaching a showerhead and placing it in a solution of water and vinegar overnight. Lemon juice also has the appropriate acidic power to remove limescale. But if your home is experiencing hard water trouble, the issue goes deeper than anything a few home remedies can solve. It’s best to contact our plumbers to see what repairs we can do to help, and to see if you can benefit from the installation of a water softener, which removes the root of the problem: hard water. |
8 Quick and Easy Ways to Keep Your Glass Shower SpSo you’ve decided to make ... So you’ve decided to make the move to a glass shower and now you want to know how to keep hard water stains and spots out? There seems to be a misconception that glass showers require higher maintenance than shower curtains, which often deters people from choosing a shower curtain over a glass shower, even then though they’re aware of the obvious health drawbacks from the shower curtains. Tips for a Squeaky Clean Shower1. I squee, you squee, we all squee…gee! Squeegeeing after each shower makes a significant impact on the clarity of your shower, eliminating spotted water droplets and the possibility of mildew growth. It only takes a few minutes of your time following your shower and is the easiest way to maintain a spot-free shower without using any added products. Keep your squeegee hanging in your shower stall with a suction cup hook for easy access, and the bonus is that you’re already in your shower, so you don’t have to make time to get in and do the work. 2. Air Circulation. Ensuring your bathroom is well-ventilated will help prevent mildew and mould growth and requires virtually no effort on your part. You can keep the air circulating in the bathroom by keeping the fan on during and after your shower for about 30 minutes, opening a window, keeping your shower door open after your shower so air can filter in or plugging in a dehumidifier. Defensive Sprays. If you can’t be bothered to squeegee, you may be happy to hear that you can buy or make some sprays to decrease the deposits and repel the water. 3. Daily Shower Spray – Branded daily shower sprays specifically designed for preventing soap scum and hard water prevention. They are made for daily use, so you just spray it and forget it, but if you’re not keen on the potential harmful chemicals these sprays may have, take a look at the do-it-yourself option below. 4. DIY Sprays – If you want a more economical option that doesn’t contain too many harsh chemicals. Here’s a simple recipe for a daily DIY Spray: 2 cups of vinegar, 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of a dishwashing agent. Store in a reusable spray bottle or purchase one from the dollar store to spray on after each shower. Use What You Already Have. Chances are you already have the cleaning solvents and tools you need to keep your glass shower gleaming. Many of the products we use in the laundry room and kitchen can be used to keep the bathroom sanitary as well. 5. Dryer Sheet – One of my clients told me that she uses pre-used dryer sheets to wipe away soap residue on her shower doors. Simply dampening the used dryer sheet and using it as a cloth on the glass surfaces works amazingly well on surfaces that have accumulated build-up. If your residue build-up has been caked on for a while, you may want to use a scrubbing brush to break up the deposits on your glass, before wiping it with the dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are made to soften water deposits, which is what forms the build-up on your glass shower and draws the residue on to the fabric, much like how it absorbs static from clothing in the dryer. 6. Equal Parts Vinegar and Dawn – I’ve tried heating 1 cup of vinegar in the microwave, followed by mixing with 1 cup of dawn and emptying the contents into a spray bottle to use to clean the glass and it works beautifully. Spray, scrub and rinse with your shower head and you’re done. 7. Lemon Aid – Once you’ve cleaned your glass shower, cut a lemon in half, dip in baking soda (apparently sea salt works too) and rub over your glass door. This should help repel the oils and residue in the water from sticking to the glass. I hope you have the chance to test out some of these tips for yourself and do let me know how successful or unsuccessful they are. |
How to Clean Glass and MirrorsGlass windows and mirrors easily... Glass windows and mirrors easily collect dirt, even if you clean them too often. Moreover, in spite of all the meticulous cleaning and elbow grease, the glass does not seem sparkling clean because of the streaks and lint. Thus, apart from the elbow grease, you also need to use the right tools. For instance, it is best to clean mirrors, glass windows, shower stalls, and glass furniture with a microfiber cloth, chamois, or a squeegee rather than a paper towel because the latter is likely to leave behind streaks. Steps for Cleaning1. Gather all the cleaning supplies such as white vinegar, water (preferably distilled water), spray bottle or a large bowl, microfiber cloth/soft lint-free cloth/newspaper, and cotton swabs/soft toothbrush.2. In case you are cleaning a glass window, lay towels on the window sills. This is particularly important when cleaning a window with wooden windowsills. 3. Create a cleaning solution by mixing one part white vinegar and four parts water. 4.Spray it on your cleaning cloth, or simply dip the cleaning tool in this solution and wring out the excess fluid. In case the size of the glass is too large or if you are using a newspaper for cleaning then it would be better to spray the solution on the glass itself. 5. Rub the glass surface in a circular motion to remove all the spots. Next, wipe with vertical strokes, followed by horizontal swipes to make the glass clean and shiny. 6. Clean the corners and edges with a cotton swab or a soft toothbrush. 7. Finish off with a quick buff using newspaper, or an old cotton t-shirt/cloth diapers to polish the glass. For cleaning extremely dirty glass, begin by cleaning it with a microfiber cloth soaked in a cleaning solution, whether it is homemade or store-bought. Finally, polish the glass by rubbing it with a crumpled-up newspaper sheet. When using a commercial glass gleaner, prefer to use a product that does not contain ammonia. Mirrors and glass can be cleaned using club soda, too. Coffee filters are also considered effective in this regard. If there is a waxy film on the glass, you can mix two cups of water, a quarter cup of vinegar, and a half cup of liquid dish soap. In case the glass is cloudy, you can use a mixture of a half cup of rubbing alcohol, two tablespoons of ammonia, and a quarter teaspoon of liquid dish detergent. Another easy way to clean cloudy mirrors is to use a little shaving cream (not gel). For cleaning a glass table, you may use a little lemon juice and then rub it with a newspaper. Do not rub too hard, or else it may cause scratches. Moreover, tiny scratches on glass can be polish using a little white toothpaste. Additional Tips
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Toughened vs. Laminated GlassThe classic image of glass is so... The classic image of glass is something that shatters under the least amount of stress. As they say, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. But not if the house was made out of a safer type of glass. We actually encounter these safer glass surfaces everywhere: from windscreens to balustrades to windows to coffee tables to the floors of raised walkways. Even though it’s unnerving to step onto a glass surface high above the ground, you can do at a new bridge in China. Glass can be very tough. How Laminated and Toughened Glass are madeLaminated glass is created by bonding several sheets of regular glass with sheets of plastic in between them. The effect is that, if the glass breaks, it still stays together, creating a web-like effect. You can make a hole in the glass surface, but otherwise it stays intact. One common example is a windscreen: Toughened glass is quite different. This is glass that was baked at very high temperatures, making it incredibly strong – hardy enough that it cannot be shaped or cut afterwards. Toughened glass is more flexible, and can shatter, but creates many small pieces that are unlikely to cause serious cuts. The other windows on a car are typically toughened glass. The differences between Laminated and Toughened GlassOther than how they are made, the important differences between these two glasses are in their uses. Toughened glass can be installed without a frame, but laminated glass requires a frame to protect it from delamination. Which to use depends on several factors, including safety regulations. If you want to ensure someone can’t fall through a pane of glass, such as a large window or shower, laminated glass is often the choice. Toughened glass may be stronger, but once it breaks it leaves a hole, creating an ongoing hazard. But if glass is freestanding, in other words not supported completely by a frame, it often has to be toughened. Toughened glass is distinctive enough to have its own standards: by law each toughened panel must have a stamp on it, identifying the company and other information such as numbered codes. The same is true for laminated glass. Acoustic glass is usually treated with acoustic vinyl, which like a laminate is applied to the glass. So it is entirely possible to have safety glass that also manages sound. |