How to Remove Hard Water Deposits

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Hard water deposits form when tap water evaporates and leaves behind minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

White Vinegar
Distilled Water
Very Fine Steel Wool

Step1

Remove excess dirt, grime or mildew from the area requiring cleaning.

Step2

Apply an acid cleaner, such as one containing phosphoric acid, to affected areas. Specifically, use a vitreous enamel cleaner on enameled surfaces or a cream cleaner on acrylic surfaces.

Step3

Consider an alternative: Try wiping the area with liberal amounts of white vinegar. Leave the area for 30 minutes and allow the chemicals to break down the hardened mineral deposits.

Step4

Rinse the chemically treated area thoroughly.

Step5

Reapply the cleaner for a longer period of time if deposits are extreme and don't respond to an initial treatment, then scrub with a razor blade or steel wool.

Tips & Warnings

Most tile and tub cleaners contain 4 to 6 percent phosphoric acid; check the label to be sure.
Before using a razor blade or steel wool, scrub an inconspicuous spot to test the surface for scratching.

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Comments

SarahStovall said

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on 6/17/2007 Oven cleaner I swear by it, leave on for a couple of hours, then scrub with steel wool, be carefull as the chemical can burn your skin, and can melt plastic, just watch it to make sure nothing gets ruined

joyb2u said

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on 1/6/2007 How can I clean stained Rubbermaid sink pads?

Anonymous said

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on 8/24/2006 For old rings around drains and faucets:

Very gently scrape the surface using a putty knife. Some surfaces will tolerate it and you can apply more pressure, and some will show a mark. It worked for our bathtub and old solid surface countertops when the chemical solutions didn't, and it was fast. I tried it on the toilet but it left faint gray scratch marks...we have to use a pumice stone there in combination with CLR.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Use baking soda and vinegar, nothing fancy or expensive. For my white tile countertops I have a puddle of vinegar, a little pile of soda poured from the box, an old toothbrush, dip into each and lightly, you don't have to scrub hard, brush the grout absolutely clean, wipe off with clear water. I usually dry with a clean towel and it sparkles. On walls and my glass shower doors, I have 2 little containers for each ingredient, dip the cloth or sponge into each and apply, it will be like a paste. You may have to reapply depending on how bad it has gotten. Rinse off with clear water, you can dry it off if you like, but it isn't necessary.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I have found a product called A-Maz Clean and Clear Water Stain Remover. This worked on our chrome fixtures and on our black cast iron sink. All you have to do is apply the product to the area that is stained, let it dry, and wipe it clean.

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