How To Clean Hard Water Stains
It’s a known fact that most homes in the United States deal with some level of hard water in their home. According to most sources, 80-85% of American homes have water that contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. Some locations suffer more than others, though, and the resulting stains and buildup can be more obvious and troublesome. Hard water stains can be unsightly and lessen the appeal of your home to outside guests. A clean home can look icky very easily if there is hard water gunking up the appliances and the showers.
What Is Hard Water? What Do Hard Water Stains Look Like?
Hard water is water that is high in mineral content. Hard water is impacted by runoff and the elements which the water passes through – most regularly when water runs through calcium-heavy minerals like deposits of limestone, chalk, and gypsum, it’ll be considered hard to a certain amount.
The stains from hard water can collect on sink spouts, toilet bowls, shower drains, shower curtains, glass around showers, shower heads, and a lot more. Stains can look white and chalky and can sometimes be rusty and earthy in color. When dry, it can flake off as a dusty substance. While there are some minor health impacts, like dry skin or frizzy hair, hard water stains are primarily an aesthetic issue with how it looks on your appliances.
Steps To Remove Hard Water Stains
There are quite a few remedies that can chemically remove the hard water stains you see in your home. No need to buy anything special with these common household stain-fighters:
- Vinegar
As well as an ingredient for many recipes, vinegar is an all-natural cleaner that can neutralize and remove hard water stains and buildup. One thing to try is to fill up a spray bottle with vinegar and spray on the stained surfaces, and let it sit for 15 minutes or so. The stains should wipe away if scrubbed with an old toothbrush. Most types of vinegar are useful, but for very hard stains, you can buy special vinegar for cleaning which will combat tough stains.
- Baking Soda
With baking soda, you can also penetrate and remove hard water stains. Even the priciest tile can suffer from mineral stains and hard water, but if you wet the surface of the walls and apply some baking soda, let rest for 15 minutes, the stains should wipe away.
- Hydrogen Peroxide & Cream of Tartar
Hydrogen peroxide by itself can help fight stubborn stains by itself, but when combined with baking powder, a powder comparable to baking soda, the two compounds can tackle many more stubborn stains.
Overall, hard water is an issue that can be prevented preemptively with a water softener. Culligan is your solution for whole house systems, reverse osmosis systems, and plenty more that will eliminate the hard water buildup that can be so frustrating and unsightly.
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