Spring cleaning is about more than just sorting through unwanted items, making space, and organizing. It is also about a good deep cleaning and a fresh new look for items around your home. Think of it as a new beginning for old fixtures and appliances that will benefit from some TLC. And one of the issues that appear in many homes across the country is hard water stains. But the good news is that there is a solution to rid your home of the ugly rust-colored blemishes.
What Causes Hard Water Staining?
Hard water is any fresh water supply that is rich in minerals. The most common offenders are calcium, iron, and magnesium. The minerals bond with a plumbing fixture, toilet bowl, or sink to create an old and dirty appearance. And in the case of metal fixtures, they can promote corrosion and eventually destroy the item.
A Homemade Solution
For light hard water staining, mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture to the area you want to clean and let it soak for a few minutes. Then scrub the area with a small scrub brush or toothbrush. For toilet bowl stains, use your regular toilet brush to clean the bowl.
For more stubborn stains, pour the 50/50 liquid into a bowl and add baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste to the hard water stains. Let it soak for a bit and rinse the paste away. For a stained toilet bowl, you will need to shut off the water to the toilet using the small valve located under the tank at the wall. Then flush the toilet to drain the bowl and holding tank. Then apply the paste to the stained areas. It is easiest to apply by hand. You can use a rubber glove if the idea of sticking your hand in a toilet bowl is not very appealing. Let the paste soak and then turn the water back on to the toilet and flush a few times to rinse away the paste and the stains.
Another typical all-purpose cleaner used to remove hard water stains is hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. This cannot be left in a bottle or sealed container as it gives off carbon dioxide and will cause the bottle to explode or crack. So only mix as much as you will use for the day’s cleaning projects.
With all of these cleaners, the final step is crucial. After removing the paste or cleaning solution, be sure to dry the fixture or sink’s surface. This will prevent future staining. Drying your sink and faucet after each use is the best way to avoid further staining issues from hard water. Obviously, you cannot dry the toilet bowl, but regular cleaning will reduce hard water staining.
Really Tough Stains
If none of the homemade cleaners get the job done, you can try applying a small amount of WD-40 to the stained area. Wait a few minutes and wipe the surface clean. If you are using WD-40 in a toilet bowl, be sure to wipe away the cleaner rather than flushing it. This compound should not be washed into your home’s drain lines.
Hard water stains are annoying, but they are only part of the problem. Hard water does not taste as refreshing as water with lower mineral content. And it is also more gentle on your skin and hair. Call (214) 388-4525 and speak to the Metroplex Leak & Locate professionals about the benefits of installing a water softener to reduce the minerals in your water.
