How to Remove Calcium Buildup. White vinegar, baking soda and even a lemon can be used to get rid of pesky calcium stains. Many homemakers already use vinegar to help clean difficult areas. It's also helpful when addressing hard water stains or calcium buildup.
Fill a plastic bag with half water and half vinegar, ensuring there is enough liquid to submerge the faucet head. Put the liquid-filled bag over the faucet head and secure it with a rubber band. Let stand for 30 minutes to one hour. For more sensitive fixture finishes, do not surpass 30 minutes.
To remove mineral deposits, Parobek recommends using a half-and-half solution of vinegar and water, followed by a thorough rinsing and then drying with a soft cloth.
TIP: If you come across particularly stubborn hard water deposits, wet the microfiber cloth with warm to hot water, and wrap it around the problem area. Let this sit for about 10 minutes. The moisture and heat should loosen the deposits enough to then gently and carefully (to avoid scratching) be wiped away.
Don't use abrasive, alcohol-based, acid or solvent-based cleaners on brushed nickel. These cleaners can damage the finish. Although vinegar does contain acid, you can dilute it for use on stubborn mineral deposits if other methods haven't worked. Do this carefully and by testing an inconspicuous area first.
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.
The acid in vinegar attacks the calcium carbonate, breaking it down. If you don't want to risk making a mess with a bag of vinegar, another option is to take a towel and soak it in a vinegar solution. Wrap the towel around your faucet or showerhead. Leave it overnight.
Then, slowly pour in the vinegar and leave it for 3-4 hours. Just to be sure, and to remove any grease, soap or leftover calcium, pour boiling water quickly down the drain afterwards.
Prolonged exposure to vinegar will damage chrome finishes by eating the finish right off of your fixtures.
Remove limestone stains with WD-40!
Spray the product directly on the faucet, showerhead, or sink and then wipe it with a cloth or an old toothbrush. It tackles the most stubborn limescale deposits quickly. Using the WD-40 Multifunction product also serves two more benefits.
Limescale and soap scum on taps & handles can cause white chalky, unsightly stains. CLR Bathroom & Kitchen Action Cleaner is the perfect solution for making your bathroom and kitchen areas looking fresh and clean.
Also known as limescale, calcium buildup is a result of water that contains dissolved calcium salts moving through your pipes and flowing through your faucets and showerheads. When you have water with a high levels of these calcium salts and other minerals, it is called hard water.
If your water is hard, you'll notice a lot of white buildup or scale around your faucets and drains, as well as in your appliances that use water. If your water contains a lot of iron as well, the buildup may take on a rusty or yellow hue and could stain your sink.
To deal with dull chrome fixtures like drains and faucets, mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar on hard water spots and let it sit for 30 minutes. Scrub it clean for a gleaming fixture.
Use a Water Filter
Another way of preventing limescale buildup is by using a water filter at your faucet or tap. You can purchase an inline filter, an under-counter filter, or a whole-house filter. Inline filters are cheap and can be installed on the water supply pipes of your home.
Muriatic acid is a strong hydrochloric-based acid, that is a great descaler. Because of the intensity of this acid, it has the ability to remove severe lime and calcium deposits found in pools and toilets.
The Best Value: CLR Cleaner
CLR stands for calcium, lime, and rust, and needless to say, this formula tackles all of it. It's also septic- and plumbing-system safe.
Make sure to use a 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and water. Spray it onto the sink, leave for a minute or two, then wipe and rinse. The solution shouldn't be left on the sink for longer because it can damage the stainless steel in the long term.
Is the CLR product nickel safe? We do not recommend that CLR products be used on any metals except for chrome or stainless steel. Any 'polished' finish usually has a coating and most nickel materials are combination metals (containing zinc) and CLR products could compromise the finish.
My Greener Living — Cleaning with Bar Keeper's Friend
“On my kitchen sink, I have a brushed nickel faucet, handle, and soap dispenser. These get a lot of water spots on them when I am washing dishes. Just a little Bar Keeper's friend on a damp cloth will polish the kitchen faucet and accessories very well.”