How to Remove Hard Water Deposits From Dishes

It can put quite a crimp in your dinner when you sit down to eat and notice hard water deposits on your dishes. Even if you wash your dishes regularly, these deposits can still build up on your kitchenware. When the deposits start to become noticeable, it's time to take some action. It will take just a couple of hours and one simple ingredient.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Purchase a jug of distilled white vinegar. A store brand is just fine; you'll need about 1/2 gallon.

2. Fill the sink with cold water. Add half of the white distilled vinegar. The exact ratio is not important -- eyeball it. Leave room in the sink for dishes.

3. Place dishes in the sink one at a time. Let them sit in the vinegar water for three to four hours. You'll see very fine bubbles on the dishes, which is the chemical reaction between the vinegar and the deposits.

4. Remove the dishes from water. Dunk them several times in the sink before moving them to a drying rack.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a wet paper towel to remove thick deposits after soaking.

• Scale will redevelop over time. Expect to soak dishes two to three times a year.

References

• Green Speak: White Vinegar, the Miracle Cleaner
• The Vinegar Institute: Uses & Tips