Limescale is an incredibly tough substance that leaves crusty stains on your taps, and it can be a nightmare to scrub off. Limescale appears as flaky white deposits, resulting from minerals left behind when water evaporates, which must be tackled in taps because it can harbour harmful bacteria that render surfaces unsanitary.
Cleaning experts at Plenty noted that combating limescale stains could consume substantial time if you’re not armed with the right cleaning products. They said: “There are a couple of ways to remove limescale from taps that are effective while using simple cleaning ingredients.” If you’re looking for a natural way to remove limescale, “lemon is your new best friend”, claimed the experts.
High in acidity, lemon juice has the bonus of making your bathroom smell lovely.
The citric and malic acid in lemon juice are antibacterial and antiseptic, which means it is the perfect go-to instead of calling in a professional.
To descale your taps with lemon juice, start by cutting a lemon in half and squeezing the juice into a bowl.
Soak a paper towel in the juice and drape this over the faucet. Leave for at least five to 10 minutes to sit.
It’s important for the paper towel to stay wet with lemon juice and to cover the full surface of the limescale-affected area.
If it comes off, you may need to use a rubber band to make sure it sticks to the faucet.
Once the time is up, take off the soaked paper towel and wipe the remnants of the limescale away with a freshly dampened sheet. It should “slide right off”, claimed the pros.
Now that your sink taps are limescale-free, it’s worth doing a few things to prevent the stains from building up again.
Taps need wiping down after every use, with particular attention given to where the water comes out of.
Keeping items dry will prevent limescale by stopping water from evaporating and leaving mineral deposits.