How To

How to Remove Hard Water Scale

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(11 Ratings)

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:

  1. Step 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. Step 2

    Soak the paper towels in white vinegar.

  3. Step 3

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

  4. Step 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. Step 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. Step 6

    Wipe away the softened scale using the paper towels.

  7. Step 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.

Comments  

frizzak said

Flag This Comment

on 3/25/2008 You can preven the formation of scaling in pipes and appliances by installing a VWP. These salt-less water conditioners break up old scaling and prevent new deposits while maintaining an eco friendly position. Check the website: www.vwp-group.com
or email sso@vwp-usa.com

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Have you done this? Click here to let us know.

I Did This

Related Ads

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

eHow Home and Garden
eHow_eHow Home and Garden