How to Remove Hard Water Scale

You've tried scraping. You've tried chipping. You've tried scrubbing, but nothing works. Hard water scale is known for its resistance to many cleaning methods. However, there is a simple, inexpensive way to remove it without the use of harsh chemicals. With a few common household ingredients and a little time, you can get rid of that pesky scale once and for all.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• White vinegar

1. Assess the area to be cleaned and determine how many paper towels it will take to cover the surface area in three to four layers.

2. Soak the paper towels in white vinegar.

3. Ring out the paper towels loosely to remove half of the vinegar.

4. Apply the paper towels to the hard water scale. The paper towels should cover the scale completely and be three to four layers thick.

5. Allow the paper towels to sit on the scale undisturbed for 4 to 8 hours depending on the amount of scale being softened.

6. Wipe away the softened scale using the paper towels.

7. Repeat as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• This technique works best on mild to moderate hard water scale. For stubborn scale deposits, double the paper towel applied and allow it to soak for up to 24 hours before removing.

• If you live in an arid climate, you can prevent the paper towel from drying out by covering it with plastic wrap.

• This technique is not recommended for natural stone surfaces which may be damaged by the acids in the vinegar.