Limescale is a common sight in many UK homes. This chalky white residue can appear as a result of hard water build-up, especially around areas like taps, showers and baths.
Not only is it an eyesore, but it’s a pricey problem too. Limescale build-up can reduce the efficiency of taps and shower heads and cause weaker water flow, forcing the appliances to work harder and can increase annual bills up to £500. That’s according to the shower specialists at Vidalux.co.uk, who have named some household staples that can help break down limescale deposits.
Andy Ellis, steam shower expert at the company, said: “Limescale can be a real pain and unfortunately shower heads and faucets are common places for this build up to occur especially if you live in an area with hard water.
“This is because hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium.
“When the water heats up like in a kettle for example, or dries out in your bathroom, those minerals get left behind and settle, leaving you with white, chalky limescale.”
But before you reach for the vinegar to get rid of limescale, you might want to try a different method that’s said to rid your home of ‘stubborn’ marks fast.
Andy has hailed the benefits of orange peel and baking soda if you’re struggling with limescale at home.
This is because of the citric acid that’s present in the fruit, which has plenty of powerful natural cleaning capability.
In fact, he even called it the ‘holy grail’ for limescale marks – and it couldn’t be easier to try this trick for yourself.
How to get rid of limescale
Take an orange peel, sprinkle some baking soda on the inside of it and begin scrubbing the limescale. The citric acid from the orange will loosen stubborn limescale while the baking soda will help to scrub it off.
Lemon juice can also be an effective cleaning agent – not only will it remove limescale but it will smell fresh and leave surfaces shiny. Soak a cloth in some lemon juice, and wrap it around your shower head or faucet.
Let it sit between 30 to 60 minutes and then gently scrub away the limescale before rinsing with water.