Hard water stains are unsightly and stubborn. You can get rid of them, however. It’s just going to take some tenacity and elbow grease. Five Star Plumbing recommends you take the natural approach rather than purchase a harsh chemical cleaner. These cleaners can damage your household plumbing. Rather, choose a few things Mother Nature created, grab some rubber gloves, and prepare to win the hard-water-stain battle. You can do it!
Create Your Mixture
Your mixture is going to be white vinegar and water unless you have really stubborn stains. If you do, you’ll add baking soda to the mix. However, let’s try the vinegar and water first and see if it will handle the stains on its own. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and distilled water in a large spray bottle. Why distilled water? Because distilled water is free of the minerals in your tap water that created the hard water stains in the first place. Set aside the baking soda for later.
Apply the Mixture
Using the spray bottle, saturate – we mean saturate – all stained surfaces with your vinegar and water mixture. Apply liberally to ensure the surfaces are soaked. Yes, the mixture will run down vertical surfaces, such as your glass shower doors, but if you spray the mixture on the doors liberally, they should get enough vinegar and water to eat through the stains. Don’t worry. The mixture eats through the stains gently, and it will not damage your kitchen or bathroom surfaces.
Wait Patiently
Wait for about 15 minutes before you attempt to wipe or scrub away the water stains. If you applied the vinegar solution to chrome surfaces, don’t wait longer than 5 minutes or so, as the vinegar can eat away at the chrome. Once the waiting period is over, use a gentle scrub brush to scrub away the stains. You can use an old toothbrush in tighter spaces, such as bathroom faucets. You can also use a toilet brush if you need harder bristles to help you remove the stains.
Rinse and Repeat
Rinse the surfaces with water. If the stains refuse to budge after the first treatment, try the above steps again. If they still mock you, pour some of your vinegar/water mixture into a glass bowl and add baking soda to the mix. Use enough baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste liberally to all surfaces, and then try to scrub away the stains again. The baking soda gives you the power of a cleanser without the scratching. Rinse the surfaces thoroughly with water when done.
Finally, wipe all surfaces dry to prevent your hard water from staining them again. If your surfaces are stained beyond repair, call Five Star Plumbing in San Antonio, TX, to quote new plumbing fixtures. Contact us today!
