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.
Hands-down, a simple white vinegar and water mixture is the best hard water stain remover, according to cleaning pros.
For a tried and true cleaner to tackle hard water stains, we recommend Bio-Clean Hard Water Stain Remover. It's easy to use, efficient, and it smells pleasant, too. For a more budget-friendly but still effective pick, check out CLR Multi-Use Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover.
What happens when you mix vinegar and baking soda? Pouring vinegar over baking soda causes an acid based reaction that cuts through hard water stains. This is why it can be a good cleaner for those pesky hard water stains.
The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a disinfectant and reacts with the baking soda to lift stains. This combination is also great for brightening whites. With a little bit of scrubbing and leaving the paste to set for 30 minutes, I was able to almost remove the stains completely from my white jeans.
Place the shower head in the container and leave it to soak for 20-30 minutes. Lemon will be stronger and require less time than vinegar. Vinegar may need multiple 30-minute stints of soaking. Remove the shower head and rinse it in water, brushing off any leftover limescale.
Translation: mixing vinegar and baking soda into a paste is a really great way to tackle particularly tough and stubborn hard water stains. If you find that vinegar alone isn't quite getting all the hard water spots out, make a vinegar and baking soda paste and scrub. Those stains never stood a chance.
Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Create a paste that is one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts baking soda. Apply the paste and allow it to work its magic for at least 30 minutes. Now scrub with a sponge or nylon brush and rinse with warm water. This works wonders on red or black 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.
Hydrogen Peroxide & Cream of Tartar
Ordinary hydrogen peroxide works wonders on stubborn soap scum and water stain combinations that accumulate on bathtubs and metal fixtures. For added cleaning power, make a paste using cream of tartar, a type of baking powder, and apply it to the stained area.
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.
That's right. The fizzy drink can actually remove hard-to-clean stains on the inside of a toilet bowl. You can either pour cola directly onto the stains themselves or cover the entire inside of the bowl by putting cola into a spray bottle and spraying on a light coating.
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.
Mix salt and water.
The salt will act as a scouring agent. Use a circular motion as you wipe the mixture on the glass. Once you have scrubbed the glass, use a clean, soft cloth to wipe off the saltwater, rinse the glass off completely, and wipe dry.
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.
No matter how clean you keep your shower, hard water stains are going to accumulate. And they can be very difficult to remove from your shower doors. But if you have a can of WD-40 Multi-Use product on hand, you can remove hard water stains from shower doors quickly and easily.
'The Pink Stuff paste can be used to remove limescale off of taps and shower heads,' explains Laura Mountford. 'For shower doors or stainless steel that may be more prone to scratching, consider buffing the surfaces with a microfiber cloth and The Pink Stuff multipurpose spray to remove watermarks with ease.
For really tough stains, another natural way to remove limescale is to gently rub a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into the tap after the lemon has dissolved the deposits – this acts as a mild abrasive.
Before reaching for harsh cleaning chemicals, use white vinegar. This tried-and-tested household product is the best way to clean a shower screen and is highly effective at removing limescale. Always use distilled white vinegar as malt or cider vinegar won't clean as thoroughly and may stain surfaces.
Baking Soda (Bicarb)
Baking soda is naturally abrasive, which makes it great for cleaning stubborn limescale. Using a damp cloth, you can rub a small amount of the bicarb onto the shower screen and then wipe it clean.
For safety reasons, never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide or bleach. When you combine them with vinegar, these cleaning chemicals create dangerous gasses that irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. Your trusty vinegar cleaning solution can also be harmful to certain materials around the home.
Getting rid of limescale doesn't require expensive cleaning products! Lemon juice and vinegar can help you tackle most of your limescale problems — a win for your pocket and for the environment. Lemon juice and vinegar are both acidic, meaning that they can break down the calcium carbonate that limescale is made from.
To get rid of limescale deposits on steel surfaces, pour white vinegar over them and then add baking soda (the kitchen one is fine), allowing it to sit for at least half an hour. Then, with a sponge, wipe the treated surface and then rinse with plenty of water.