hard water off glass

[tryme]

Hi how do you get hard water droplets off glass, I need to clean my steno's glass for better viewing.

 

[Julirs]

Vinegar-and rinse well.

 

[Pure]

To quicken things I hit it with a razor blade scraping first then use vinegar to finish the job.

 

[Jonas]

I prefer citric acid, you buy it at the grocery store (often used to clen coffee machines).
It doesn have that "acetic acid smell" and is quite effective for calcium deposits.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Or some fresh squeezed lemon juice, or you can buy products I think one is called
Lemon Oil or something.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

The best thing I have found is SoftScrub with the finest steel wool grade 0000. You can also use the white scrubby pads, not the green or red. But Soft Scrub has bleach in it so you probably cannot use it inside an enclosure that has a reptile already in it.
We were cleaning up a bunch of aquariumsjust last night to use for reptiles ( not chameleons) and some of them had water spots that looked like the glass was almost frosted. We wanted to use these aquariums for showcase settings in our home. The SoftScrub make the glass like brand new. I plan to use it on some of our house windows and our automobile windows too. Elliot

 

[tryme]

I'll try the vinegar thing with a scowering pad might work, thanks guys.

 

[Miss Lily]

It depends how bad the deposits are - sometimes I can get away with using a scouring pad and hot water alone. If there is a lot of depsoit I use a limescale remover spray then rinse well, dry, and follow with a squirt of a cleaning disenfectant antibac spray escpecially made for reptiles. I make sure that the glass is completely dry and aired before putting Amy back in. The shop where I get all my supplies from use Viakal on their glass vivs, but I've never tried that.

 

[xanthoman]

clr should take it right off but be sure everything is thoroughly rinsed and wiped

 

[tryme]

does it have to be white vinegar?

 

[Jonas]

Its a chemical reaction that turns calcium carbonate into calcium acetate due to the acetic properties in vinegar. It doesnt have to be wite, but there is probably some more cleanup job if you use a red one or balsamic...

I still think everyone should try the citric acid (you buy iy as a crystalized powder).

Using all sorts of pads, rubbing it off, may seem like a effective way, but I asure you that you are putting microscopig scratches in the glass that will eventually show AND will cause the calcium carbonate to attach better/faster in the future.

 

[Miss Lily]

Its a chemical reaction that turns calcium carbonate into calcium acetate due to the acetic properties in vinegar. It doesen have to be vite, but there is probablu some more cleanup jub if you use a red one or balsamic...

I still think everyone should try the citric acid (you buy iy as a crystalized powder).

Using all sorts of pads, rubbing it off, may seem like a effective way, but I asure you that you are putting microscopig scratches in the glass that will eventually show AND will cause the calcium carbonate to attach better/faster in the future.

Do you mix the citric acid crystals with water? How do you apply it to the glass? Do you spray it on?

 

[Jonas]

Do you mix the citric acid crystals with water? How do you apply it to the glass? Do you spray it on?

You use a pad!
Mix with water. Just spash it on somehow and wipe it of. Extreme amounts is reduced with a razor blad first.

 

[Jerm]

I just cut a lemon in half and use it to wipe the glass squeezing it as I go. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse it off with water. I have removed stains that have been on one of my tanks for 17 years this way, it is pretty amazing.

 

[tryme]

sounds like a plan jerm

 

[Jonas]

I just cut a lemon in half and use it to wipe the glass squeezing it as I go. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse it off with water. I have removed stains that have been on one of my tanks for 17 years this way, it is pretty amazing.

Maybe so, but lemons are expensive in Sweden...