Hard water is defined as any water that contains a large amount of minerals. While it is completely harmless, it can have some really serious consequences on your home over the course of time. This is because these minerals will permeate surfaces and become very difficult to remove if you don’t do so quickly. It can also develop in your plumbing and obstruct the proper flow of water. For these reasons you are going to want to invest in a way to remove hard water stains as soon as possible.
Where To Find Hard Water Stains
Hard water stains are mainly found within the bathroom since this is where we use most of our water. It will look like a thin film of rough powder on your shower, tub and sink. This is because mineral-based water will not dissolve soap. However, it becomes more serious whenever metal is involved, especially if the moisture contains a lot of iron. Whenever this happens a red tinted slime will be left behind and both brass and copper fixtures will develop a type of blue-green rust.
Removing Hard Water Stains From Showerheads
One of the most difficult places to remove hard water stains from is your showerhead. This is due to their awkward size and shape as well as the fact that they are sometimes made of expensive plastic. You will know that you are having problems with hard water stains here because you will have a reduction in your water flow. To clean your showerhead you will want to take the following steps:
- Combine some white vinegar and hot water together in a bowl.
- Remove your shower head.
- Soak your showerhead in the bowl for an hour.
- Rinse your showerhead off and put it back on.
Abrasive Hard Water Cleaners
A lot of people will opt to use abrasive commercial cleaners to clean off hard water stains. You really should only opt for these cleaners whenever you have severe stains that are caused by rust or slime. In this case ammonia, hydrochloric acid and oxalic acid will work quite well. However, it is important to dilute these chemicals and make sure that you follow all of the other instructions carefully.
A Natural Formula For Removing Hard Water Stains
You can also use ordinary cleaners to remove hard water stains. There are two different remedies that you can use to do this. The first formula that you can make is really simple. You will simply want to combine together ½ liter of white vinegar with ½ liter of hot, but not boiling, water. Make sure that you allow this solution to completely cool down before you use it to clean with. You can then use this to clean your showerhead as was aforementioned above. The second formula that you can make is a combination of lemon juice and a few cups of white vinegar. Once you have made this formula you will want to scrub down your toilet and then flush the grime down the toilet.
