Hard Water in the Bath

Image via Wikipedia

Hard water can cause problems throughout the home. If severe enough, it leads to the chemical salt residues clogging faucets, clothes and dishwashers, and refrigerator icemakers. One of the most annoying manifestations of hard water, though, is the ugly deposits it leaves on your bathroom fixtures.

Sinks, tubs, and toilet bowls, in hard water locales, eventually accumulate ugly stains and deposits that require special attention. Commercial cleansers will do the job, but most of them are loaded with chemicals that can poison the environment. In most cases safe, inexpensive, and readily available household products are a more responsible solution.

White vinegar’s cleaning powers approach the legendary—and taking care of hard water stains is one more to add to the list. For most stains, spray the toilet, sink, or tub stain liberally with pure vinegar and let sit for a few minutes. If the stains are heavy repeat the spray and wait a few minutes longer. A little vigorous wiping or brushing should then remove the stain. For extra stubborn stains, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda and apply with a sponge. This will remove even the heaviest stains without damaging the porcelain finish.

Hard water build-up on shower doors is another vexing bathroom problem. The ideal solution to this problem is prevention. Wiping the door dry using an alcohol dampened cloth will prevent build-up. A daily wipe-down is best, but weekly will probably prevent heavy build-up. If the build-up is already severe, you might need to use a commercial product for the initial cleaning. Many people recommend using the soft scrubbing creams developed for cleaning glass stove tops. Others have had good success using a vigorous polishing with lemon oil.

Article comes from Home and Garden Tips Blog