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How to get rid of stuff » Stain Removal » How to Get Rid of Hard Water Stains
 

How to Get Rid of Hard Water Stains

February 13th, 2007 by admin
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What is Hard Water?

The term “hard water” is used to describe water that is high in certain minerals, usually calcium and magnesium (Tips on how to get rid of hard water). A high enough concentration of these metals in your water can cause white lime scales on surfaces which the water comes into contact with. This can be anything from your showerhead to your tea pot or coffee maker. The scales build up over time and can become a real eye-sore, in the case of showerheads and spray-nozzles, they can even clog the small holes and reduce their efficiency.

Hard Water Stain Removal

Hard water stains are nearly impossible to remove with ordinary cleaners – but are amazingly easy with the right approach. Regular soaps are worthless against lime scale, but the right acid will dissolve those pesky deposits without any scrubbing at all. Following are some simple instructions for the most common hard water stain victims. In the following sets of instructions I’ve specified the use of vinegar (For other uses of vinegar, read 25 other uses for vinegar), but if you don’t have any handy, lemon juice will also work.

Showerheads

Removable Showerheads:
  1. Remove the showerhead.
  2. In a pot large enough to submerge the showerhead, bring equal parts white vinegar and water to a rolling boil.
  3. Place the shower head into the pot and simmer it for 15-20 minutes.
  4. Allow the shower head to soak in the mixture for a few hours (or overnight).
  5. Replace the showerhead.
Fixed Showerheads:
  1. Fill a plastic bag large enough to cover the shower head with equal parts white vinegar and water.
  2. Secure the bag over the showerhead with rubber bands, duct tape, hardware clamps, whatever is around the house that will hold it well.
  3. Let the showerhead soak in the solution overnight.
  4. Remove the bag, repeat as necessary.

Faucets

  1. Fill a plastic bag large enough to submerge the faucet with equal parts white vinegar and water.
  2. Secure the bag over the faucet with rubber bands, duct tape, hardware clamps; whatever is around the house that will hold it well.
  3. Let the faucet soak in the solution overnight.
  4. Remove the bag, repeat as necessary.
For level areas, such as the base around the edge of the sink, you can use a towel soaked in the vinegar solution to dissolve any hard water stains. Stubborn stains can be scrubbed with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda (just enough vinegar to make a paste).

Sinks, Bath Tubs and Toilet Bowls

  1. Fill the basin as high as you can with water.
  2. For sinks, add 1 cup of vinegar. Tubs, 1 liter. Toilets, 1 cup.
  3. Let the solution soak in the basin overnight.
  4. Drain and rinse.
  5. For extra-stubborn stains, make a paste from baking soda and white vinegar and scrub. Continue nightly soaks until they’re gone.
Be aware that not all hard water stains can be removed. Mineral deposits can be dissolved, but sometimes the metals in the water bond with surfaces (most commonly glass) and leave permanent white stains.

Cookware, Glasses and Tea Pots

Lime scale on metal or glassware can be soaked away using a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Glasses and bowls should only require 15 minutes to an hour of soaking while cookware like pots and pans may require longer (Try heating up the solution on the stove if your cookware isn’t coming clean).

Coffee Makers

  1. Fill the reservoir with white vinegar.
  2. Run the coffee maker through a brewing cycle and allow the vinegar to run through the system.
  3. Follow up with one or two brewing cycles using regular water to remove remaining vinegar.
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Previous Tips »
  1. March 20th, 2011 at 6:14 pm    Shay Says:

    OMG this really works I used the water and vinegar as directed and than I let it soak for 2days in the tub only because the kids weren’t home lol..but after that I sprayed the shower with some vinegar and water inside of a spray bottle and than used a brillo pad to scrub the lime out of the tub but wait I also used a very cheap product that is inside of family dollar or dollar general its call awesome and that worked also great with the lime I love this method and will truly be sticking to it thank you so much *muah muah*

  2. March 4th, 2011 at 8:03 am    Shower Doors Says:

    Shower DoorsI read somewhere that hydrogen peroxide & cream of tartar mixed into a paste (left to sit a while) works

  3. February 26th, 2011 at 10:12 pm    2Sense Says:

    Hard Water Stain Removal

    I read somewhere that hydrogen peroxide & cream of tartar mixed into a paste (left to sit a while) works (SEE WARNING! BELOW!!)

    *** WARNING!! *** Like most popular commercial OTC bathroom cleaners, test a small non-visible area 1st. (Hydrogen Peroxide remove the color/bleaches/stains clothing, fabric, etc so test to ensure there will be no loss of color, especially if you plan to use on a material that is acrylic, porcelain, etc.) Best to be safe rather than sorry. Good Luck! (I’m going to use it myself – nothing to lose at this point, afterwards, when I get a chance, I’ll post the result, unless someone else does between now and the next time I check this site.

  4. January 26th, 2011 at 3:54 pm    Sara Says:

    My mom used to be a housekeeper and one day she came to my house and started cleaning my glass shower door that was very water stained all she used was some dishwashing liquid and a razor.She just put some dishwashing liquid in a bowl mixed it with some water(make sure the area of glass you are working on is wet) and the stains came off quickly!The soapy mixture makes the razor blade slide on the glass.Did not leave a scratch!

  5. January 6th, 2011 at 10:00 am    Nasir alfares Says:

    Steam vacum is almost blocked because of warter stain probably due to using salty water. Is tere a way to remove the stain kowing that the steamer has “L” shape Pipe?

  6. January 1st, 2011 at 9:08 pm    robert dailey Says:

    I need to remove hard water from my truck caused by sprinklers–help

  7. June 13th, 2010 at 2:18 am    CeCe Says:

    I was search Hi an Low to find a way to get rid of water build up. I am happy to report that because of the tips her I found the answer on my first try.

    I used a sponge with a medium to soft side with pure vinegar and it took of the stains with little effort. The only time I had to scrub hard was in creases and hard to reach places. I found a nice hard tooth brush did the trick.

    I will admit that the smell was a bit much but it was well worth it. Now I put it in a spay bottle and before getting out spray the shower a bit and wipe it down with a soft cloth and no more troubles for me any longer.

    Thank you all, I am so happy my shower looks like new again.

  8. April 5th, 2010 at 1:41 pm    T.K Says:

    I have a major ring in my toilet. It is clear and the only way to get rid of it is a pumice stone. Is there a product that will work onit? LIme-a-way and the clear product just laugh at it. Ihave a water softner but it still comes back after I use the pumice stone.

  9. February 24th, 2010 at 2:27 am    Amber Says:

    I have a severe hard water stain at the bottom of my toilet. I was on vacation for two months and I guess from having the water sit there so long, the result is a nasty brown area of the inside of my toilet bowl. How can I possibly get this gone? I have tried so many things and nothing works. Please help!

  10. October 21st, 2009 at 5:50 pm    brandy Says:

    i second shaz’s suggestion of using dryer sheets. i just tried this myself after scrubbing the hard water on our shower doors for 20 minutes and getting absolutely nowhere, and it worked perfectly. Just rub down the doors with the dryer sheet, then go over it with glass cleaner and it will look brand new!! I’m so glad I found this tip!

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