Pesky hard water stains can ruin your cleaning routine. If you’re sick of cleaning crusty mineral build-up off of your faucets, sinks, shower doors and toilets over and over again, keep reading. We have a few ideas on how to cut through the grime and keep it from ever coming back.
Dry Surfaces Immediately
An effective way to eliminate hard water stains is to dry your surfaces immediately. When hard water settles on your shower doors or drinking glasses after washing, the water evaporates off and leaves behind visible mineral deposits. Use a dish towel to immediately hand-dry glasses after they’ve been washed. Pick up a squeegee or a microfiber cloth to wipe down faucets and shower doors in the bathroom.
Pro → Wiping up water from your surfaces is easier than scrubbing hard water deposits.
Con → This method is time consuming, labor intensive and doesn’t solve the root of the problem.
Vinegar + Baking Soda
Ready for an old school science experiment? This combo of pantry items can help you cut through hard water build up on your faucets and shower doors.
Vinegar is made up of acetic acid, which acts as a solvent on hard water stains. Essentially, it’s strong and acidic enough to break down crusty, stubborn build-up. Soak a washcloth in vinegar and wrap it around a faucet head to break down the mineral deposits, or spray vinegar directly onto your glass shower doors and let it sit. Use a sponge or scrubber brush to lift away the remaining residue.
Sometimes vinegar is enough on its own, but for extra stubborn stains, you might need a vinegar and baking soda combo. Make a paste with two parts vinegar and one part baking soda and let that classic fizzy chemical reaction lift away your hard water deposits. Your handy scrubber brush will help you scrape away any remaining residue.
Pro → These items are cost effective and commonly found in your home.
Con → This method will only temporarily solve your problem and is labor intensive.
Store-Bought Products
Products like CLR, Barkeepers Friend and Lime-Away are designed to help you effectively clean hard water stains. Similar to the vinegar and baking soda method, these products often contain an abrasive powder and acid to help break up the mineral deposits.
Pro → Products can be expensive and it may take a while to figure out how to fit it into your cleaning routine.
Con → Still labor intensive and only a short-term solution.
The Long-Term Solution
The only way to kiss hard water stains goodbye forever is to solve the root of the problem. Many private wells and municipal water sources have high mineral content. Keep those minerals from wreaking havoc in your home by installing a whole-home water purification system. They treat water as it comes into your home, giving you fresh, clean, softened water throughout your kitchen, laundry and bathroom. Not only will you notice improved taste and quality, but also longer use of your home’s appliances and a simplified cleaning routine.
Schedule your free in-home water test today to see how you can get rid of hard water stains forever.
