Hard Water Stains - The Ultimate List of Ways to Remove Them

There are some weird and wonderful ways to remove hard water stains and limescale. The methods range from using fizzy drinks to get rid of the stains to vegetables that grow in your back garden! All of them work to some extent, but they are not all easy and safe to use around the home, and some are downright dangerous. In this article I'd like to outline the entire range of chemicals and ingredients that I personally know of that are used to remove the stubborn white stains that anybody living in a hard water area will know about all too well!

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Firstly are the Acids:

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- white vinegar
- citric acid
- hydrochloric acid
- oxalic acid
- muriatic acid

The Chemicals:

- bleach
- hydrogen peroxide
- CLR
- Mr Clean "Magic Eraser"
- Lime-Away
- Windex

The Abrasives:

- baking soda
- steel wool
- pumice stone
- clay bars
- scrubbing brush/pads

Food and Drinks:

- coca cola
- lemon juice
- rhubarb
- salt

It is clear that there a range of methods that can be used to tackle hard water stains and limescale. Before we had all the manufactured chemical products, we still had the same cleaning issues that we do today. There was no way we could go to the cupboard and pull out the latest product we'd seen on TV to solve the problem. We had to used the natural goods around us to get the job done, and they were used because of just that, they got the job done!

If one picks any of the items above it becomes perfectly clear that they work in only one of two ways. They are designed to either remove the stains by dissolving them by the action of the acid, or by an abrasive action and a bit of elbow grease! And I suppose the next question has to be, "Which is the best and safest method to use?". Well, if one wishes to use a proven technique that has been tried and tested time and again, the one that pops out on top has to good old white vinegar and baking soda.

Both of these items have the dissolving and abrasive actions required to remove hard water stains and limescale in no time. The white vinegar is very effective at dissolving away stains while its partner, the baking soda, gently scrubs away the rest of it leaving fixtures and fittings sparkling like new. When used together in specific combinations, they are highly effective at cleaning even the most stubborn hard water stains and limescale.

Hard Water Stains - The Ultimate List of Ways to Remove Them

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How to Remove Hard Water Stains From Glass Doors

Since hard water contains minerals which stick on substances, lack of frequent cleaning leads to stains. Stains are much harder to remove especially when left there for a long time. Vinegar, lemons and Calgon can be used to remove hard water glass stains. Glass doors, especially shower doors get hard water stains from the water we use and the best solution would probably be to soften the water we use. But once the damage has been done, we now have the option of looking for ways and means to remove the stains. To remove hard water stains from glass, we have to first determine how long the stains have been there and how hard the water is.

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Hard water glass door stains can be removed using a variety of ways hence the most convenient method will depend on what you can easily get around you. There are water stain removers available at glass replacement stores that you use with a scrubbing pad that is lightly abrasive to rub on the stain areas.

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You can also remove water stains from glass by spraying it with a laundry stain remover or with eyeglass cleaner. The eyeglass cleaner is sprayed after you have wet the door. Wet fabric softener sheets can also work wonders on hard water glass door stains after scrubbing thoroughly so is vinegar which is applied to the stain with paper towels. Depending on the stubbornness of the glass door stain, vinegar should be able to remove it, if not alone, with a glass cleaner spray.

For those of you who love everything natural, there are natural products that you can remove glass door stains with. Natural products include lemons, distilled water for rinsing, baking soda, cotton balls and food-grade vinegar. An equal measure of vinegar and water is the most used natural cleaner.

The best approach to remove hard water stains from glass doors is to identify the method that will be easy and safe to use. You can inquire from relevant source to know what is readily available in your locality that can remove glass door stains. Regular cleaning of the glass door will ensure the stain does not build up.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains From Glass Doors

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Hard Water Stains - The Cheap Ways To Remove Them!

Hard water stains can be very difficult to remove with ordinary cleaners, however, with the right approach they are easily eliminated! Using soap and elbow grease is a poor weapon in the fight against lime scale, but with some basic chemistry knowledge it becomes much more obvious how to dissolve those annoying hard water stains in no time at all.

Acids will remove hard water deposits and are typically found in toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, metal cleaners and kitchen/bathroom cleaners that remove mineral deposits.

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Abrasives may scour off stains, and if used regularly, harsh abrasives will gradually scratch the finish of sinks, bathtubs and other items. Coarse abrasives will damage plastic, glass, plated and highly polished metals. Chlorine bleach can help remove stains. However, it can dull shiny finishes of porcelain enamel surfaces.

Abrasive Cleaners

Abrasive cleaners like scouring powder may remove or lighten stains. Regular use of harsh abrasives scratches the finish of sinks, bathtubs, or other fixtures. Once the surface is dull and rough, it will get dirty faster and stain more deeply. Even mild or fine abrasive cleaners may eventually scratch or dull surfaces. Do not use abrasive cleaners on fiberglass, ceramic tile or glass.

Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine bleach can help remove some stains, however, don't leave it standing for long periods of time, as this will dull shiny porcelain enamel surfaces.

Acid Cleaners
Phosphoric acid is often found in cleaning products that remove hard water deposits. Hydrochloric and sulphuric acids are sometimes used in diluted concentrations in toilet bowl cleaners.

There are some commercial domestic products that scour off stains or use bleach to remove hard water stains and have some major drawbacks, and that is not even taking into account the potentially dangerous products they contain that may harm your children or pets.

The SIMPLE ways to remove hard water stains:

There are some simple ways to remove hard water stains quickly and easily that will remove even the most stubborn stains and make your fixtures and fittings literally sparkle like new!

One of the most overlooked factors when dealing with hard water stains is realizing that they contain either calcium or magnesium. Therefore, they can be tackled by using completely natural acids that are found all around the home, are totally safe to use and could save you hundreds of dollars on expensive cleaning products.
white vinegar and lemon juice!
White vinegar, a weak acid, is about 5 percent acetic acid. It will remove hard water deposits from glass, rust stains from sinks, and tarnish from brass and copper, and works perfectly all around the home when combined with the correct ingredients. Lemon juice, another weak acid, contains citric acid, which can be used in much the same way as vinegar.

By using these simple, natural ingredients that are found all around the home - and in some cases combining them with other natural products for really stubborn stains, it is possible to remove limescale and water stains cheaply and in a way that doesn't harm our planet.

Hard Water Stains - The Cheap Ways To Remove Them!

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