Mix equal parts white vinegar and fresh water in a spray bottle. Once a week, fully saturate surfaces, let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Wipe clean with a clean, dry microfiber towel. (You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, too.)
These hard water stains are not permanent; however, if they're allowed to build up over time, you could end up with layers of scale in your bathroom plumbing or around the valves of your dishwasher which could lead to costly repairs down the line.
Use an acidic cleaner for best results.
Because hard water stains are alkaline, it's best to remove them with a powerful acid. Look for a cleaning product that contains either phosphoric, sulfuric, or hydrochloric acid, as these acids should be able to effectively break down the stains.
Lay paper towels on the hard water and soak them with vinegar. Let the vinegar work on the stains for two hours. Remove the paper towels, rinse, and check to see if the stains are still visible. Use a baking soda and water paste to tackle stubborn stains and rinse again.
In a small bowl, mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil. Apply the mixture to the water stain using a cloth. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain until the stain is gone. The vinegar will help remove the stain while the olive oil acts as a furniture polish.
Removing Hard Water Deposits From Faucets
Use vinegar to help loosen the hard water film and buildup before scrubbing. Soak a clean rag in vinegar and drape it over the faucet, making sure there is direct contact with all of the hard water deposits. Let the rag sit for at least 30 minutes; an hour is better.
For really tough hard water stains, try scrubbing with some hydrogen peroxide. Yep, the same stuff you have in your first aid kit. Hydrogen peroxide plus some elbow grease should banish even the most stubborn of hard water spots from your metal fixtures.
Use Dawn and some hot water and a cloth or sponge to get into those nooks and crannies where grime and scale tend to build up. You can also combine Dawn with vinegar for stronger cleaning power, especially when tackling hard water stains.
The best ways to remove hard water stains
Depending on the surface you can use vinegar, a combination of baking soda and vinegar or cleaning products specifically designed to eliminate hard water stains.
Removing hard water spots.
It's so annoying when your hard water leaves unsightly spots on your shower door or dishes, or porcelain, tile and metal surfaces. But spritz a little WD-40 on those spots, and you'll be able to easily wipe them away.
If you want to try removing hard water spots on windows yourself, here are some tricks that may work: Rubbing Alcohol: To remove mild hard water spots on windows, mix one part water with one part rubbing alcohol and apply it to the glass with a soft cloth. Be sure to dry the window when finished.
Regular glass cleaner won't help at all. We tried both Windex-style ammonia-based window cleaner, and also vinegar-based auto glass cleaner and found that neither has any effect on the stains.
Use Vinegar & Baking Soda
White vinegar is a natural solution that can be utilized to dissolve calcium buildup. Sitting overnight, you will be able to remove lime buildup from the drain while avoiding the harsh chemicals in traditional drain cleaners.
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”
In a well-ventilated area, mix equal amounts of CLR and warm water. Test on a hidden area before applying to the entire surface and apply directly to the stain with a brush, cloth, or sponge and let soak for 2 minutes. Rinse promptly with cold water.
When using Dawn Powerwash, you should avoid cleaning porous surfaces such as marble and other soft natural stones or untreated wood. It is also best to keep Dawn Powerwash away from painted surfaces, too. Always make sure to test new cleaning products on inconspicuous areas of surfaces first.
Hard water deposits are alkaline, so an acid-based cleaner is the best way to clean them. Phosphoric acid works well and is safe for most surfaces. Grocery store cleansers with phosphoric acid contain 4 to 6 percent acid.
Vinegar works well on dirt, mold and mineral deposits as well as on other acid stains including coffee. Therefore, you may have found vinegar did a good job removing your coffee or tea stain. Hydrogen peroxide works differently than vinegar and is better at removing different types of stains.
Don't mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together in the same mixture. This can create peracetic acid, which may be toxic and can irritate your throat and lungs, eyes and skin. You can, however, alternate spraying hydrogen peroxide and vinegar on a surface. Just make sure to wipe the surface between sprays.
Does Epsom Salt Really Clean Hard Water Stains? In short, yes. Epsom salt works best with baking soda and water and can remove even the most stubborn of hard water stains from your bathroom. Whether it's your faucet, shower, or toilet that's stained, an Epsom salt solution can help get them looking as good as new.
But common pantry essentials that are often used for cleaning — like baking soda and vinegar — shouldn't be mixed either. Unlike the bleach-ammonia mixture, combining soda and vinegar won't hurt anyone — but don't expect the mixture to do a good job cleaning, either.
Grab a spray bottle and mix equal parts water and vinegar (you can also add a teaspoon of Dawn dish soap for more clinging power). Spray the solution on the bathtub stains, let it sit for at least 15 minutes, then wipe clean. Let the solution sit longer depending on the severity of the stains.