How to Clean Hard Water Scale

You can remove most hard water scale with white vinegar.

Cleaning the bathroom or kitchen usually isn't on people's list of favorite chores. It's in these areas that you are likely to see a cloudy, white film on surfaces exposed to water. This film is known as hard water scale or lime scale. The amount of calcium and magnesium in your water determines its hardness. If you happen to have hard water, you probably know that hard water scale usually doesn't come off with a mere splash of water. One ordinary product, however, works wonders on hard water scale.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle
• Cleaning sponge
• Lint-free cloth

Instructions

1. Cover the stained area in white vinegar. How you do this depends on the surface, as well as which method you prefer. Spray the vinegar from a bottle onto vertical surfaces. Stop up the drain of a tub or sink and fill it with enough vinegar to cover the bottom. Or cover affected areas with paper towels soaked in vinegar.

2. Let the vinegar sit on the hard water scale for about 30 minutes. For more stubborn stains, leave the vinegar on the area for at least two hours.

3. Wipe off the vinegar and hard water scale with a cleaning sponge.

4. Rinse the area with water to remove any debris.

5. Dry with a lint-free cloth if necessary.

References

• Water Research: Sources of Hardness Minerals in Drinking Water
• "How the Queen Cleans Everything"; Linda Cobb; 2002