The pumice stone is a type of rock that is formed by cooled lava and is quite commonly found in homes. This stone at a glance appears heavy, but in essence, it has a lightweight but still strong enough to be called an abrasive.
Shower doors are often overlooked while cleaning the bathroom meanwhile, they harbor enough stains formed from water drops.
Although it may not be commonly used for cleaning, Pumice stone is a very delicate abrasive that can be used to give a shiny finishing on glass surfaces without using cerium.
It is also one of the most effective domestic tools for cleaning hard stains. However, while using pumice stone extra care is required so that the surfaces are not damaged.
Can You Use Pumice Stones on Glass Shower Doors?
After having a bath, wax likely settles on the glass which creates stains that should be removed.
It is even worse if the water used for showering is hard water because hard water easily leaves stains on any surface it touches. Hard water spots become tough to remove because the water has evaporated leaving just mineral deposits behind.
A pumice stone could be effective for cleaning glass shower doors since it easily passes as an abrasive but there is a high chance that it would cause scratches. This is not to defeat the fact that pumice stones can clean off stains.
Why Pumice stones are Better in Bathrooms than Many Cleaning Products (Healthwise!)
Products like aerosol produce fumes that are injurious to the lungs. Cleaning agents with bleach content too are not entirely safe as they contain acids that can irritate the respiratory system.
Since the bathrooms are usually the smallest rooms with relatively lesser ventilation, it might not be safe to use these products while cleaning your glass shower doors.
Pumice stones are void of harmful contents, unlike the aforementioned products so they can be used for exfoliation and cleaning surfaces especially, glass doors.
What Can I Use Instead of a Pumice Stone? (Alternates!)
Rather than use pumice stones which could easily scratch your glass shower doors; there are several alternatives that are easily affordable and accessible for cleaning.
The following items can serve as good cleaning agents:
1- Ammonia
Ammonia is a colorless pungent gas used as fertilizer and in the production of textiles, pesticides and even explosives.
It breaks down stains and prevents long thin lines of stains called streaks from appearing on surfaces.
Although Ammonia is a powerful stain remover, especially for glass shower doors, it can be very injurious to health.
2- Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is more effective than ordinary white vinegar for cleaning. It is made from a mixture of grain and alcohol and its harsh flavor makes it an effective abrasive.
Distilled vinegar stands out as the best type of vinegar for cleaning because it is less likely to stain surfaces where it is being used on.
Bathtubs, showers, and glass shower doors can be thoroughly cleaned using distilled white vinegar. Distilled vinegar can be used alone for cleaning or mixed with dish soap for a quicker effect.
It is pertinent to note that vinegar, no matter the type, is capable of damaging stones. Endeavor to keep stones in the bathrooms far away while using vinegar.
3- Baking Soda
Baking soda is a well-known ingredient used while baking. When added to the mixture, it gives pastry foods a fluffy texture.
Baking soda has proven to be useful in cleaning too. It is used as a mouth wash, teeth whitener, and kitchen cleaning agent among other things.
Mixing baking soda with distilled vinegar and rubbing on the affected surface with a soft cloth also gives a sparkling finish.
The baking soda can also be mixed with clean water to form a paste and applied using soft cloth. Either way, its efficacy is satisfying.
4- Magic Eraser
As the name implies, magic erasers are simply melamine foams in rectangular shapes with cleaning agents inside. These erasers are safe to use on glass surfaces.
Even though it appears to have a soft texture, it contains tough stain removers which make it suitable for cleaning stains on different kinds of surfaces without leaving a scratch. These erasers are not made up of any kind of bleach.
Once the foam is wet and gently rubbed on the stained areas, the abrasives contained therein wipe off dirt without causing any damage.
5- Lemons
Lemon is a multipurpose fruit. It can be used as a weight-loss remedy, acne remover, effective stain remover, and beneficial for fighting several health challenges.
Lemons are usually mixed with baking soda or vinegar before cleaning. It also gives glasses a sparkling finishing touch.
6- Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are soft pads used to remove statics and water stains from shower doors. Unlike the aforementioned stain removers, it doesn’t need to be damp before it is used for cleaning.
Other Bathroom Uses of Pumice Stones
1- Oil Diffuser
Oil diffusers are devices that help disperse essential oils into the air to fill the selected area with a sweet fragrance.
Since the stone is porous, it can absorb a generous amount of oil in it. The stone can be set in a bowl with drops of oil on it. Gradually, the oils are released into the air.
2- Toilet Abrasives
Oftentimes, the water closet could have yellow patches which could be a product of poor maintenance.
After soaking the pumice stone for a minute or more, it could help wipe off such stains from the toilet.
It is true that the common pumice stones are without handles and this could be difficult to use while cleaning the toilet; however, you can find pumice stones that come with handles.
Tips for Using Pumice Stones
1- In order to ensure the durability and efficacy of the pumice stones, it is necessary to clean it appropriately after each use. They could be cleaned using hot water and an old toothbrush.
2- Pumice stones can wear down and be too smooth to serve as an abrasive. Therefore, when pumice stones are smaller or softer, they should be replaced.
Conclusion
Pumice stones are rough stones that are better used for hard surfaces or rough surfaces. Glass surfaces might be too delicate to withstand the pressure from rubbing pumice stones on them.
In a bid to search for a better alternative for cleaning glass shower doors, avoid bleach or other highly acidic substances which are prone to cause harmful damage to the glass. Vinegar has been pronounced to be highly effective for cleaning and removing stubborn water stains from glass shower doors.
Having seen that pumice stones are obviously not fit for cleaning glass shower doors, it could be used for other household purposes.
