Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals, such as lime, silica, and calcium. When the water dries, the mineral deposits linger, leaving unsightly stains on glass or ceramic surfaces, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. If you're tired of seeing white or brown stains (scale) around you, you can use vinegar, baking soda, or something stronger to clean them. Check out Step 1 below to find out how to brighten up your kitchen and bathroom in no time.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Light Stains
Step 1. Make a vinegar solution
White vinegar-which is cheap and natural-is a powerful ingredient you can use to fight everyday hard water stains that keep your surfaces from sparkling. Prepare a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar in a spray bottle.
- If you're using a spray bottle that used to contain chemicals or other ingredients, make sure you wash it thoroughly before pouring the vinegar and water mixture in.
- Make sure to use plain white vinegar. Using apple cider vinegar and other types of vinegar will not give the desired results.
Step 2. Spray the vinegar on the stained (crust) surface
Whether the surface is your bathroom glass door, bathtub, or your tiled floor, go ahead, and spray the stains with the vinegar. Vinegar has a strong odor, but is perfectly safe to use on surfaces other than wood. Spray the area thoroughly, and make sure you don't miss a single stain.
Step 3. Wipe the surface with a towel
Mild hard water stains will disappear. If you want, you can instead pour the vinegar solution into a bowl, and soak a washcloth in the solution, then use it to clean the surface.
Step 4. Rinse and clean the area using a squeegee, which is a glass cleaner made of rubber
Then rub it dry with a clean cloth. Make sure the surface is completely dry-otherwise the water will leave more stains!
Step 5. Clean the faucet and shower head
Remove the faucet aerator and shower head periodically, and soak them in vinegar. The brush will help remove stubborn mineral deposits.
Step 6. Also clean the toilet
Toilets can also be stained with hard water. Vinegar is also effective at cleaning these stains. Pour 11/2 cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl, along with cup of baking soda. Use a toilet brush to scrub the stain until it's gone. Flush the toilet to remove any traces of vinegar and baking soda.
Method 2 of 3: Getting Rid of Stubborn Crust
Step 1. Try letting the vinegar soak the hard water stain
If you let the vinegar soak and soak the stain for a few minutes instead of wiping it off right away, it will have more time to break down the mineral deposits that make up the stain. Let the vinegar soak the stain for 5-10 minutes, before you try to wipe it off. Use a scrub brush to remove thicker mineral deposits.
You can also soak a towel in the vinegar solution and cover the stained surface with the towel. This method is very successful for bathroom floors and bathtubs (bathup)
Step 2. Use a cleaner with hydrochloric acid
Look for a bathroom cleaner made to remove hard water stains and soap scale. This should be a last resort, as hydrochloric acid is a harsh chemical. Make sure your room is well ventilated-open the windows and turn on the fan-then spray the stained area with an appropriate cleaner. Clean with a cloth, and then rinse the surface with water and dry.
Make sure you wear gloves when handling hydrochloric acid
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Hard Water Stains
Step 1. Dry the surface of all objects after use
After you shower or bathe, or splash water in your kitchen, use a dry towel to wipe down all the surfaces. This method will clean the mineral deposits, before they dry out, and leave marks or stains.
Step 2. Use a water softening powder or liquid
You can add a water softener to your washing machine to prevent calcium deposits from forming. Water softening powders or liquids are usually available at hardware stores.
Step 3. Install the water softener system
If your water is very high in minerals and you're tired of dealing with the stains it leaves-they cause damage to your hair and skin, as well as bathroom surfaces-consider installing a water softener system that will remove mineral deposits from your water. This is an expensive option, but it may well be worth the price.
Tips
- In the future, try to spot water stains and remove them as quickly as possible, as they'll be easier to remove when they're fresh.
- Try using a cotton strip roll to wrap around the faucet. These rolls of cotton strips are common (durable) and can be purchased at beauty supply stores. Wrap it around the faucet and then cut the cotton. Soak it in the cleaning solution and wrap it around. The cotton strips won't tear easily like tissue paper.
- Cleaning around the faucet can be a bit tricky. Try soaking a few sheets of toilet paper in the cleaning mixture, and sticking them around the faucet. Leave the tissue in there for a few hours, then remove it, and wash the faucet thoroughly. An old toothbrush is also effective for cleaning around this faucet.
- Use car wax in the form of a paste after cleaning bathroom doors, walls, and faucets. This wax is very helpful in preventing the formation of soap scales and hard water stains. Do not apply car wax to floors and carpets.
