One of the most frustrating things for any home owner is getting rid of hard water stains. They can affect any area in the house that continually uses water. This means the shower doors, bathroom sinks, toilets, shower fixtures, and kitchen sink probably have hard water stains and deposits on them. The longer you let the stains damage the surface, the more difficult it will be to remove them. Fortunately, some of the best ways to get rid of these troublesome deposits can be found at home in the pantry.
Removing Stains from the Toilet
Since a dirty bathroom is not the impression you want to give to guests, the toilet can be one of the most important places to remove the hard water stains from. When the toilet appears to be dirty, it affects the over-all appearance of the rest of the bathroom. Before rushing to the store to buy one of those fancy cleaners that advertises it can eradicate stains, try checking your cupboard. One of the easiest ways to remove hard water stains, both on the surface being cleaned and your pocket book, is to use vinegar. You will want to use around three cups of the vinegar, give or take. After pouring it in the toilet bowl, let it sit for a few minutes and then try scrubbing the stains away with a toilet brush. After you have removed the stains from the bowl, take and pour a few cups of vinegar in the holding tank to ensure that any water entering the toilet bowl is fresh.
Removing Stains from the Sink
If you have hard water stains in the toilet bowl, chances are you are going to have them in the sinks around the house as well. Take a spray bottle and fill it up with vinegar- or lemon juice if the former is not available. Do not dilute it with water. Now, go through and spray it on any parts of the sink that have been stained. After letting the vinegar sit for a few minutes, take and wipe it away with a soft cloth. You shouldn’t have any stains left, but if you do just spray them again and repeat the process until they have disappeared. This can be applied to both bathroom and kitchen sinks. Unlike many other cleaning chemicals, the vinegar is not abrasive, and it will not damage any of the porcelain surfaces you use it on. As an added bonus, vinegar works to get rid of the soap scum that builds up too!
Sometimes the Damage Is Permanent
Unfortunately, sometimes the damage from the stains can not be wiped away no matter what you do. If they were left to sit for too long, the surface might actually have experienced irreversible chemical changes. If you have been trying to clean off stubborn hard water stains from a shower door, take another look at them. If the stains are streaky or milky, chances are there is nothing you can do to get them off since this is generally an indication that the glass has been permanently etched. If you find that you are having a consistent problem with the stains becoming permanent, you might consider installing a water softener. If financially this isn’t an option, at least try to make it a habit to wipe off the surfaces after every use so that the hard water deposits don’t have an opportunity to build up.
