Hard water stains are the bane of many a home, and not only do they look unsightly, but they can be hard to eliminate. Thankfully, there are ways of removing them, ensuring that your home stays fresh smelling and hygienically clean.
What causes hard water stains?
Well, I guess the clue is in the name: ‘hard water’. Water that has a high mineral content – containing more than the usual levels of calcium and magnesium ions – leaves a slimy residue on the surfaces of your home when it evaporates and is most commonly found in damp rooms of the home, such as the bathroom, or on porcelain, tiles and metal surfaces. Hard water stains can even be found on your crockery and on your clothes.
While hard water itself is not harmful to your health, it can certainly make soaps and detergents less effective, and the stains that get left behind can make even the cleanest bath tub or shower cubicle look decidedly grubby.
How To Eliminate Hard Water Stains From Your Home:
Eliminating hard water stains from your home is a whole lot easier if you tackle the problem as soon as it begins to occur. Hard water stains that have been left to build up over several weeks or months will be much tougher to clean, but of course anything is possible with good old fashioned elbow grease and some natural, affordable products!
- Cleaning with water and vinegar
You can firstly try mixing water and vinegar in equal measures in a spray bottle, and then coat the affected areas liberally with the mixture. You’ll need to wait a few minutes for the mixture to take effect before you wipe it clean. For less stubborn hard water stains, this should work perfectly well.
- Baking soda and vinegar paste
Combine baking soda and vinegar to make a thick paste that you can smear onto the affected areas. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing it clean and rinsing it off with water.
- Lemon juice
The juice from a couple of lemons on their own is sometimes sufficient to clean hard water stains. Spray or smear it around affected areas such as faucets, wait for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
However, if hard water stains persist and you are struggling to remove them with natural substances and elbow grease alone, then you may need professional help. Cleaning companies will be able to come in and eliminate tough stains with their wealth of knowledge and experience, not to mention special tools that the average home cleaner may not possess.
