There are plenty of DIY natural remedies out there, but we find that the best hard water stain remover is a paste of white vinegar and baking soda. Spread over affected surfaces, let it sit for 30 minutes, then wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth to quickly brighten bathroom surfaces.
Hard water stains can be tough to remove, but the right approach makes it manageable. A mix of white vinegar and baking soda works well, apply it to the stains, let it sit for 15-20 minutes, scrub gently, and rinse. For stubborn stains, use a specialised hard water remover.
Black/Dark Brown Water Stains
Cause: Black or dark brown staining around your drains and fixtures is usually caused by high levels of manganese. While manganese is natural and in small amounts can actually be healthy, high levels in your water can be a nuisance to deal with.
White Vinegar works wonders on hard water stains. I use it for showers, old fish tanks, etc. Spray it on a few times over 30 minutes or so, then use a brush attachment for a drill to make the scrubbing easier.
Lemon juice, known for its natural bleaching properties, can be applied directly to the stains or mixed with baking soda to form a paste. Allow the mixture to sit on the fabric for a few hours before rinsing it off. Sunlight is another ally in stain removal.
Vinegar: One of the best ways to remove hard water stains is with vinegar. "This cleaning staple can remove water stains from about every surface throughout your bathroom," says Katie Dills, senior vice president of The Cleaning Authority.
Are water stains permanent? Water stains on clothing, bedding, carpet, upholstery, and other fabrics can become permanent if not treated quickly enough. Set-in stains can often still be removed if properly pre-treated and washed.
Murphy Oil Soap can also be used. Be sure to follow the instructions on the container and spray the product on a damp cloth and then to gently wipe the finish to remove the build up. It may require several applications.
Whether on glassware, faucets, or tiles, simply spray white vinegar on the affected area, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it away. The stains will soften and come off with minimal scrubbing, leaving your surfaces sparkling clean.
You can eliminate brown water from your home for good by running cold water from your tap for at least 20 minutes. If the water is still brown after this, contact your city's utility provider and request that they flush out the brown water with a fire hydrant. If the problem persists after this, call the professionals.
Unlike new water damage, which appears as dark and wet patches, old water damage stains are typically yellowish or brownish. These stains may have been present for a long time, indicating that water damage occurred in the past and was never adequately addressed.
You can also mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and apply to the stain with a cloth, wiping in the direction of the grain until the stain disappears. Afterward, wipe the surface down with a clean, dry cloth. Try placing an iron on a low heat setting over a cloth on top of the stain.
Clean the grime off your tub, shower or tiles
You can also combine Dawn with vinegar for stronger cleaning power, especially when tackling hard water stains. Just combine them in a spray bottle, spray down your tub or shower and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub it down.
Our favorite, editor-approved toilet bowl cleaner is the Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It's an easy-to-find cleaner that works great on tough stains, has a clean scent, and lasts for a long time.
Water is a natural solvent. Given the needed time and conditions, it will dissolve anything it comes in contact with. Depending on where you live, your water can contain iron or manganese, which can cause rusty-orange or black stains.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can work to remove tough hard water stains from your plumbing fixtures, bathtub, or shower. Spray a hydrogen peroxide solution onto the surface and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. After that, scrub the area with an old brush or sponge.
While Murphy's Oil Soap has been marketed as safe to clean anything for over 112 years, the truth is actually a bit more complicated. Many people say that the product leaves their hardwood floors greasy, sticky, discolored, and dull. The product will leave a residual buildup if used on a regular basis.
Vaseline can be a great quick fix if you are trying to remove a light water stain from wood. It's a good solution for wood table tops because they are a high touch surface!
Simply pour a kettle of almost boiling water into the bowl, follow up with 250ml of citric acid, and leave it for some hours – preferably overnight. The next day, scrub and flush. What's good for those caked-on pots and pans after cooking dinner is also good for removing a brown stain on the bottom of the toilet bowl.
Baking soda is an aggressive approach to removing water stains. However, baking soda is often the best and most successful way for removing stains from most surfaces. Follow these steps to remove stains with baking soda. Start by wiping the upholstery with a clean cloth.
Vinegar and baking soda work together and can “pull” the hard water deposits from the stain that caused the mark to appear in the first place. You would then blot the area with a clean cloth, rinse with water and dry vigorously with a cloth.
Run one cold-water faucet for 1-2 minutes and then turn off your water. If the color is still present, wait another hour and then check again. The discoloration will naturally decrease over time as the sediments in the water main settle down.
Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over five litres of gas!