How to Get Rid of Calcium Deposits on Utensils

Your utensils are susceptible to lime scale if you have hard water.

Calcium deposits are only a problem if you live in an area with hard water, which is water laced with high amounts of minerals like magnesium and the aforementioned calcium. They may appear as white, powdery spots, known as lime scale, on your dishes if you leave them soaking in tap water for too long. These deposits can be tough to get out, especially on your utensils like forks and spoons. However, with just little effort you can remove lime scale from your utensils without resorting to potentially harmful chemicals.

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Bowl
• White vinegar
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Lay a dry towel out on your countertop. This will serve as your work space.

2. Soak some paper towels in a bowl of white vinegar.

3. Wrap the soaked paper towels around your utensils and place them on the towel. The vinegar will eat away at the calcium deposits without harming the metal.

4. Let the utensils sit for 24 hours.

5. Wipe the utensils off the next day and run them through your dishwasher. They should be clean and shiny. Repeat the process as needed.

6. Wash your towel as needed and dispose of the vinegar-soaked paper towels.

Tips & Warnings

• Severe deposits may not go away with just dampened paper towels. You may have to let the utensils soak in a pot of white vinegar over night if the calcium is thick or stubborn.

• Do not use abrasive cleaning pads like steel wool on your metal utensils. These will scratch them severely. Use only paper towels or soft sponges.

References

• European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers: Appliances at Home -- Rinsing and Cleaning
• Vinegar Tips: Cleaning
• Michigan State University Extension; Aluminum Utensils -- Special Cleaning; Anne Field; June 2003
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service; Removing Mineral Deposits from Household Surfaces; Sandra A. Zaslow; March 1996