How to remove hard water stains easily?
Hard water makes surfaces dull, whitish and difficult to clean. Whether on glass or on plumbing fixtures, limescale stains can be difficult to remove!
As I live in the country and my water is hard, here are my own tips and tricks for removing hard water stains from different surfaces. Happy cleaning!
1. What exactly is hard water?
Hard water is water that contains a lot of minerals, but mainly a lot of magnesium and calcium. It is these two minerals that cause hard-to-remove lime stains and other whitish deposits on surfaces.
Here are some unpleasant effects of this too hard water at home:
- The whitish stains on the dishes after taking them out of the dishwasher.
- Dull, dry and dull hair.
- Limescale stains in the toilet, the shower and on the faucets.
- Dull, rough and inflexible clothes.
2. Homemade recipe to remove hard water stains
For very stubborn hard water and limescale stains, I have a great grandmother’s recipe that works really well!
- Mix in a bowl 1/3 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup liquid dish soap and 1/2 cup Epsom salt.
- Apply the mixture to a sponge or cloth and scrub the hard water stains.
- Rinse the surface with a damp cloth and dry well to avoid new water spots.
This trick of baking soda and epsom salt is effective for cleaning hard water stains on glass, in the shower, faucets and kitchen sink.
3. Clean hard water stains on the shower head
If the water at home is very hard, very calcareous, then the shower head risks getting stained and deteriorating if you don’t take the time to clean it regularly.
To remove limescale stains from a faucet and a shower head, I have a great trick:
- Remove the shower head and soak it in a bowl with white vinegar.
- Leave to act for several hours and scrub the shower head with a brush to remove limescale residue.
- Rinse and dry the shower head to complete the cleaning.
4. Tips and Tricks for Removing and Preventing Hard Water Stains
Finally, here are some practical and easy tips and tricks to avoid the formation of lime stains caused by this too hard water:
- Take the time to dry the faucets, the glass shower door, the dishes and other surfaces likely to stain.
- After using the shower, bathtub and sink, rinse them and dry the surfaces.
- Repair water leaks, because a simple drop that falls from time to time may stain surfaces and faucets.
Finally, the only real long-term solution to no longer have hard water and thus no longer have lime stains is to install a water treatment system.
To continue reading, I offer you my other article on lime stains. You will find several practical and easy tips for removing and dissolving limescale!