The water around here is really hard, and after a couple of weeks the shower wall looks like a limestone quarry. I've already tried vinegar, but it only helps temporarily. Is there a product that actually works long-term and won't damage the glass?
Regular wiping with a squeegee right after showering is honestly your best bet - that way you prevent the water from drying and leaving spots in the first place. Vinegar only helps short-term because while it does dissolve the limescale, it doesn't stop new deposits from forming. If you really need a cleaning product, acid-based shower cleaners or specialized limescale removers are better than vinegar and won't damage the glass as long as you don't apply them too aggressively - just spray, let it sit, and rinse. But without doing that daily wipe-down, you'll never really get peace from it, no matter what product you use.
Have you thought about whether your water needs a water softener, or do you just want cleaning to be easier? If you want a permanent solution, you won't get around a water softener - that's the only thing that really works because the stains won't form in the first place. Until then, I'd try citric acid instead of vinegar - it's stronger and doesn't damage glass.
The important thing that often gets overlooked: no matter what product you use, you have to dry the glass immediately after cleaning, otherwise the limescale from the cleaning residue will build up again. It's really frustrating, but that's just how it is.
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