Limescale is the primary culprit responsible for giving shower screens an unwelcome cloudy appearance. It occurs when hard water flows through your shower, leaving a powdery residue on each use.

The high mineral content, with calcium and magnesium, leads to those conspicuous deposits which undermine your cleaning efforts. These minerals remain attached to the water as it evaporates, creating those obstinate marks that cloud your once pristine screen. What’s more, soap seems to bond with these minerals and stubbornly sticks to your shower screen.

Initially, limescale and soap scum might just seem an eyesore in an immaculate bathroom but left unchecked, it becomes tougher, attracting grime-like mould and mildew.

Limescale doesn’t stop there; it can also damage glass by causing tiny pits and scratches.

A savvy cleaner, Charlotte Ward, recently shared her preferred method for dealing with stained shower screens with the Mrs Hinch Army Cleaning Tips Facebook group. She stated: “So many people ask about cleaning cloudy, stained shower screens.”

She added: “I’m a cleaner and never stop learning methods. I had the opportunity to do a before and after this week at work.”

Charlotte is a firm believer in the power of a wet magic sponge, as she explained: “I do this method and the stains vanish every time. I use a wet magic sponge (my holy grail!), wipe down with a wet microfibre cloth and buff to a shine with a glass cloth. Takes less than a minute. Hope it helps you all.”

In the comments, one intrigued user questioned the need for additional cleaning sprays.

Sarah Bendall enquired: “Thank you for sharing! No products sprayed on the screen? No bleach or anything with the sponge?”

Charlotte replied, assuring her: “Not a thing, and it beats vinegar and other home remedies! Just water on the sponge. A toothbrush is handy round fixings though.”

Kelly Abbot added her praise: “I love these sponges. They work fantastically for nearly all stains.”