Hard water stains and limescale are a constant battle in British households – but there’s one cheap and easy way to banish it from your bathroom taps for good. The home and bathroom experts at Vidalux.co.uk have explained why hard water stains settle – as well as their tips on how to get rid of them on shower screens and faucets.
Hard water has a high mineral content, particularly calcium and magnesium, and when it evaporates the minerals are left behind. These minerals are what cause ugly stains on shower doors, showerheads and taps. The longer the stains are sat on these areas, the more they cling to the surface, making them tougher to clean.
Andy Ellis from Vidalux.co.uk said: “Hard water stains can be a real nuisance to get rid of especially if they have been sitting there for quite some time because they cling to surfaces.
“The trick with hard water stains is to use something that is acidic and abrasive enough it can break down the strong minerals.
“Some of the best cleaning products you can use are likely to already be in your home.
“Toiletries such as shaving cream and toothpaste both contain properties that help cut through the minerals left behind from hard water.
“To prevent a build up of hard water stains returning, rub some candle wax onto faucets and shower heads. The wax will act as a barrier between the surface and the water and will prevent hard water from being able to settle onto the surface.”
You can also use a mixture of lemon and salt for the same effect. The acidity of the lemon and abrasiveness of salt will cut through and break down stains To use this trick, just cut a lemon in half and pour some salt on it then rub at the stains – use enough pressure to remove the stains but not so much that it scratches the glass.
Another way to banish stains s by using toothpaste. It’s abrasive enough to clean but gentle enough that it won’t damage any appliances. Make sure to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride as this is the key ingredient that will help break down the stains. Apply toothpaste to the stains and let it sit for five minutes before rinsing. If you find the toothpaste is too stubborn to spread across the stains, add some water to loosen it up.