Get rid of limescale in seconds with this handy cleaning hack.
If you live in an area with hard water, you’ll know all about limescale. It is a hard, chalky deposit that is primarily formed of calcium carbonate, and it forms when hard water evaporates or is heated.
Because limescale requires warm water to form, it is often found in areas where you most commonly use hot water. This includes inside your kettle and areas of your bathroom, such as showerheads and taps.
Limescale isn’t dangerous, but it should be removed as quickly as possible because it can reduce the efficiency of your appliances, which can lead to increased energy consumption.
But if you’re struggling to get rid of limescale in your bathroom, then look no further – as cleaning experts have come up with a “magic” solution that could remove the pesky substance in no time.
The hack was shared on Reddit after a person asked for help cleaning their bathroom tap. They said the tap was in a rental apartment that they let out and they were trying to clean it before a new tenant moved in, but they were unsure what the marks all over their taps and showerhead were.
They said: “I noticed some spots on all the stainless steel material in the bathtub. I thought it was hard water stains, which I found weird because we have a water softener. But when I cleaned it, no matter how hard or what I tried, it wouldn’t come off.”
Commenters were quick to tell the person that the marks were water stains, which can become limescale when left to dry out. And one of the ways they suggested they clean the marks was to use a common cooking item – vinegar.
Cleaning fans said that even though the person used a water softener to lessen the effects of hard water, it won’t make the chrome fixtures immune from limescale.
One person suggested: “Don’t water down your vinegar. Use a paper towel soaked in vinegar to cover the surface of each spotted item. Spray the towel with more vinegar, but not enough to make it fall off.
“Wait a while (at least an hour), then remove the paper towels and wipe with a microfiber cloth.”
Another added: “Yes, the water softener prevents limescale, but it still deposits minerals that are even harder to remove than limescale. Without a softener, the minerals attach to the limescale, and you can remove it quite easily with stuff like vinegar. Without the limescale the minerals are really hard to remove.”
Commenters also suggested using washing up liquid, while more recommended avoiding harsh cleaners such as Barkeeper’s Friend, as while it does work wonders on stains, it’s too abrasive for delicate chrome finishes.
Someone commented: “It’s definitely water stains. I see this often. I try to use a soft rag and blue dawn dish soap to get it off. Little elbow grease.”
Another shared: “If it is hard water stains, you need to use an acidic cleaner. If the fitting is chrome, you need to test whatever you plan on using in an inconspicuous area first and don’t go in full guns blazing.”
How to remove limescale from taps and showerheads
One of the easiest ways to remove limescale is by soaking the affected area with white vinegar. You should mix equal parts white vinegar and water together, but if the stains are severe, you can use undiluted vinegar.
For taps, soak a microfibre cloth in the vinegar solution and wrap it around the tap. Leave it wrapped for a couple of hours to allow the vinegar to dissolve the limescale. Once soaked, use an old toothbrush to scrub the loosened limescale and then rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry with another microfibre cloth.
If your showerhead is detachable, you can soak it in a bowl of vinegar solution and then follow the same steps as your taps. If it is fixed, the easiest way to soak it is to fill a plastic sandwich bag with the solution and secure it around your showerhead with an elastic band or some string.
