CLR works well, but it can be pretty harsh on some materials. If you use it a lot or for a long time on sensitive stuff like natural stone, wood, or certain metals, it might cause some damage or discoloration. Vinegar is generally milder, so it's usually safer to use over time on most surfaces.
Vinegar is a weak (acetic) acid that will cut the lime deposits, but not very quickly. CLR is a strong (lactic) acid with a few other ingredients that help it do a much better job on lime deposits. I don't know what its environmental impact is, compared to vinegar.
Do not use CLR on wood, clothing, wallpaper, carpeting, marble, terrazzo, natural stone, colored grout, painted or metallic glazed surfaces, plastic laminates, Formica or aluminum.
Let the acid of the vinegar do its magic for 30 minutes; the vinegar will dissolve the calcium. Then flush.
White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.
Use Vinegar & Baking Soda
This process can be used on sink or shower drains. 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.
Soak a rag or a cloth in vinegar or lemon juice and wrap it around your tap, ensuring all areas are covered. Secure the cloth with an elastic band and leave for an hour. Occasionally squeeze the cloth to release more of the acid onto the tap. Remove the cloth and wipe away the limescale.
White vinegar is the best CLR substitute. It's great for the environment and it's super effective at breaking down rust and limescale. The secret? It's the acetic acid in it.
If CLR Grease & Oil Remover is left on a surface for too long it begins to dry and can be very difficult to remove.
Use in a well ventilated area. To use CLR Metal Clear, wearing rubber gloves, dip a damp cloth or sponge into the solution, rub briskly over the area you are cleaning, let it soak for two to three minutes and then rinse with cold water.
This paste is excellent for removing rust from iron, steel, aluminium and other metals. However, please don't leave it on any surface for too long, as vinegar can erode it, weakening the metal and making it more susceptible to rusting.
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.
Powerful Solvent: Rubbing alcohol is a potent solvent that can effectively dissolve dirt, grease, and certain stains. Its fast-evaporating nature ensures that surfaces dry quickly, leaving them clean and streak-free.
White vinegar
The mild acid can dissolve limescale and disinfect. All you need to do is pour a generous amount of white vinegar down your toilet bowl, let it soak in overnight, then scrub with a brush. Then flush to rinse, and voilà, your toilet is back to its former whiteness!
As a general rule, most natural cleaning experts suggest mixing one part vinegar to one part water. These recommendations typically rely on distilled white vinegar as the cleaning element. If homeowners are using cleaning vinegar, they may want to add a little more water to achieve a similar amount of acetic acid.
Both vinegar and lemon juice will do a great job of removing any limescale deposits and freshening up your machines' innards at the same time. In a washing machine, use a large cup of either liquid in place of your usual detergent and run a normal washing cycle (without clothes).
HG limescale remover concentrate is the ideal strong limescale remover for removing stubborn limescale. This heavy duty limescale remover also removes rust and urine stains as well as verdigris.
Many users appreciate its ability to restore the appearance of faucets, showerheads, and toilets, often noting significant improvements after soaking. However, some customers experienced mixed results, with certain stains proving difficult to remove even after multiple applications.
White Vinegar
You'll want to utilize the rags and place it over the fixtures to break down calcium buildups.
Vinegar is a fermented product and has an “almost indefinite” shelf life according to the Vinegar Institute. “Because of its acid nature, vinegar is self-preserving and does not need refrigeration. White distilled vinegar will remain virtually unchanged over an extended period of time.