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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Calcium are off-white or brown spots on surfaces. Calcium is found where water is present, particularly hard water. Windows, Showers, toilets, sinks, walls and doors are common places for mineral deposits to collect. Calcium stains can be effectively removed with CLR Calcium, Limescale & Rust Remover.
Cleaning Toilets, Sinks, Tubs, and Showers
To remove hard water deposits from these surfaces, apply vinegar or a mixture of vinegar and Borax, then scrub with the most effective sponge, pad, or scrub brush that won't scratch the finish.
Solution 3: Using WD-40 to remove limescale
Yes, it's that simple. The best part about using a cleaning solution like WD-40 is that its specially engineered formula works its way under the build-up in no time, making the cleaning process easier and more convenient.
Apply vinegar or lemon juice directly onto a cloth and scrub the limescale until it comes away. Alternatively, mix one part lemon juice or vinegar to four parts water. Put the solution in a spray bottle and spritz it onto tiles and plugholes. Leave this to soak for up to an hour for stubborn scale deposits.
Professional window cleaners like Window Genie are trained and experienced in this battle. Window Genie uses a polishing paste specifically designed to fight the minerals that create these stains. The paste is applied to a non-abrasive cleaning pad and the window is lightly scrubbed.
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.
DO not use CLR on natural stone or marble, terrazzo, colored grout, painted or metallic glazed surfaces, plastic laminates, Formica, aluminum, steam irons, leaded crystal, refinished tubs or any damaged or cracked surface. CLR may etch older sinks, tubs and tiles. CLR is corrosive.
CLR or Lime Away? An acid-based cleaner is the best way to remove water deposits. Vinegar and lemon juice are two natural alternatives, but they just don't work as quickly and effectively. CLR uses similar ingredients to Lime Away.
Magic Erasers can be used dry, but adding water to the sponge will help it absorb dirt. You should perform a spot test before you use the Magic Eraser, as the very fine, sandpaper-like surface can alter the finish on some surfaces.
Hard water contains insoluble mineral deposits such as magnesium and calcium that can leave behind a stain on surfaces.
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.
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.