Is there any way to prevent hard-water spots from forming on our ceramic tile shower walls?

The water spots are, of course, literally caused by the hard water. There are several silicone waxes that can be applied to the tile to help prevent them from forming. A vinegarand-water mixture works well for removing these spots.

TIP If this spotting is a constant problem I would consider having a water softener installed. This will eliminate the minerals in your water that are causing the spotting. Check in your local yellow pages under water softeners.