At-Home Remedies for Hard Water Stain Removal
How to Remove Hard Water Stains
Hard water buildup and stains can be a nuisance on any surface they appear on. Hard water stains can also be known as limescale, mineral deposits, mineral buildup and hard water deposits. They appear as a chalky white residue. Hard water stains are a result from buildup of excess minerals that are present in hard water.
You commonly find hard water stains on shower doors, faucets and shower heads throughout your home. When water evaporates, the minerals in the water are left behind on the surface of wherever the water has touched.
Common Cleaning Products for Hard Water Stains
There are several common household products that can be used to clean hard water stains. One item is vinegar. Using an empty spray bottle. Create a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water. Spray the mixture on any surface of your home where you find hard water stains. Let the mixture sit for five to fifteen minutes before wiping it off. By letting the mixture sit, this allows the minerals in the hard water stain to break down.
In some cases, you may not be able to simply wipe the hard water stains away. Some hard water stains require a little more attention to be removed. Another method you can try is to create a paste using water, vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar and baking soda for hard water stains are two great household items to use. Apply the paste you created to the area with hard water stains and let the mixture sit for as long as needed. You can use a toothbrush, larger bristle brush or a non scratch abrasive sponge to scrub the paste into the water stain buildup. After scrubbing and wiping the mixture away, you should see the hard water stains disappear.
Removing Hard Water Stains From Plastic
Hard water stains are easy to spot on plastic surfaces because they create a cloudy film over the clear plastic. Start by laying the plastic pieces flat if possible before trying to remove the hard water stains. Combine equal parts of white vinegar and water into a spray bottle and spray the stained area with the solution. Allow the solution to soak on the plastic for at least 15 minutes before wiping it off. If you are unable to lay the plastic piece flat, you can soak a cloth that has been moistened with the water and vinegar solution and place the cloth on top of the stains. The longer you can let it sit, the easier the stains will be to remove. Some stains may need to have the solution soaking on them for several hours or overnight.
If you find that the water and vinegar solution is not cleaning off the hard water stains, you can try a few other options. One option is an enzyme digester that can be found where cleaning products are sold. You can also try cutting a slice of lemon and rubbing it over the hard water stains. After rubbing the lemon on the stains, use a scrub brush to scrub the stained areas. Rinse the area clean and your plastic should be free of hard water stains.
Removing Hard Water Buildup From Faucets
Faucets will easily show hard water stains if they are not cleaned properly. Your sinks and showers will never look clean if the faucets always have hard water stains on them. Wipe your faucets with a lemon slice or lemon juice. The acid from the lemon will dissolve the minerals left behind that create the hard water stains. This method can be used on chrome, brass or copper faucets. After you rub the lemon all over, rinse thoroughly and dry the faucet off with a soft cloth.
If the lemon method does not work on your faucet, you can try using vinegar. Soak a paper towel or a cloth in vinegar and wrap it around the stained faucet. Let the vinegar soaked cloth sit around the faucet for several hours before rinsing and wiping the faucet.
One other method you can use to remove hard water stains from your faucet is to pour 1/3 cup of vinegar into a plastic bag and secure the bag around the faucet with a rubber band. Leave the bag of vinegar on the faucet for two to three hours before scrubbing the stains with a toothbrush. Rinse and wipe the faucet after removing the plastic bag.
Removing Hard Water Buildup From Glasses
Do your dishes come out of the dishwasher with hard water stains on them? Using a good dish washing soap can help ensure your glassware is clean and bright after every wash. However, you still may have to deal with hard water stains on your glassware from time to time.
One way to remove hard water stains from glasses is to use an old black and white newspaper to wipe down the glass. You can either use the newspaper dry or soak it in water before wiping down the glass. The newsprint can reduce the minerals left behind by hard water making it possible to scrub the stains away.
If this does not work, you can try using a vinegar solution to wipe down the glassware. You can mix white vinegar with baking soda to create a paste that can be applied to the stained area on the glass. After letting the paste sit on the stains, simply rinse or wipe the paste away.
Drying your glasses right away after washing them will also help prevent hard water stains from building up. It is important to use a towel that is lint free to ensure the best results.
