Limescale is a chalky white deposit caused by hard water that often builds up around kitchen and bathroom taps, causing them to look grimy and dull. If left untreated, limescale can damage your taps over time and even impact the flow of water.
It’s a common problem for many homeowners throughout the UK who live in hard water areas.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water refers to any water that contains high amounts of naturally occurring minerals. Water becomes hard when it passes through limestone, chalk and other mineral deposits into our homes’ plumbing systems.
Hard water isn’t harmful to drink, but it can cause problems around your home. When hard water evaporates it leaves behind small amounts of these minerals, creating limescale deposits. Areas that regularly come into contact with water are most susceptible to limescale.
This includes things like:
- Taps
- Kettles
- Shower heads
- Washing machines
- Water heaters and appliances
Why Does My Tap Have Limescale?
Limescale occurs when droplets of water hit your taps and dry. A small amount of calcium and magnesium will always be left behind on the surface, gradually building up and becoming hard and visible.
Limescale most commonly builds up on:
- The base of taps
- Tap spouts and aerators
- Tap handles and joints
- Edges of sinks and worktops
Heavy build-up can cause problems beyond appearance. It can affect the flow of water through your taps, making them harder to use and clean.
Luckily, you can easily clean limescale off your taps at home using common household ingredients.
How to Remove Limescale Off Taps
Method 1: White Vinegar
White vinegar is probably the most well known natural descaling agent. This is because vinegar is acidic enough to help loosen limescale, but not so harsh that it’ll damage your taps.
What You Need:
- White vinegar
- Soft cloth or kitchen towel
- Warm water
- Microfibre cloth
Steps:
- Soak a cloth or kitchen towel in white vinegar.
- Wrap the vinegar soaked towel around the taps, ensuring affected areas are covered.
- Leave for half an hour to an hour.
- Take the cloth off and wipe away the excess limescale with it.
- Rinse the taps with warm water.
- Dry with a microfibre cloth for an extra shine.
Method 2: Citric Acid Solution
Citric acid works better than vinegar on stubborn limescale deposits. Plus it works faster and doesn’t have the strong smell that vinegar has.
What You Need:
- Citric Acid Solution
- Warm Water
- Cloth
Steps:
- Mix together 1-2 tablespoons of citric acid powder with some warm water.
- Pour into a container and soak your cloth in it.
- Wrap the cloth around the affected areas of your tap.
- Leave to soak for between 20–60 minutes. Stubborn build-up will need longer to loosen.
- Remove the cloth and wipe the limescale away. Then rinse with clean water.
Don’t Forget About Your Taps Aerator
If you’ve found that water is coming out slower than normal from your tap, there’s a good chance you have a build-up of limescale inside the aerator.
The aerator is the small mesh screen found at the end of your tap. They’re easily overlooked during cleaning, but can become severely affected by limescale too.
Most tap aerators can be removed by hand. Once removed, follow these steps to remove the limescale:
- Soak in vinegar or your citric acid solution.
- Leave for 30 minutes.
- Use a small brush to scrub away any remaining limescale.
- Rinse and screw back onto tap.
What NOT to Use on Your Taps
It’s important to ensure you don’t damage your taps finish when trying to remove limescale. You should never use the following on your taps:
- Wire wool or metal scourers
- Scouring pads or abrasive sponges
- Chemical cleaners
- Sharp objects
All of the above can damage chrome, stainless steel, brass and coated taps. Once the finish has been damaged, water can seep inside making your taps far more likely to tarnish and damage.
Preventing Limescale Build-Up
So you’ve cleaned your taps and got rid of the limescale, but how do you stop it coming back?
If you live in a hard water area then you’re going to experience mineral build-ups whenever water evaporates. The best thing you can do to prevent limescale is to clean your taps regularly and always wipe them down after use.
You should also regularly descale your tap aerators to prevent build-up in these too.
What can you do about hard water though?
Get Rid of Hard Water with Halcyan
Halcyan Water Conditioners change the behaviour of hardness minerals found in your water, preventing hard water spots from forming. Our water conditioners are salt-free and don’t use chemicals to treat your water, making them safer for your whole family.
Our water conditioner can help protect taps from limescale damage and make them easier to clean.
Conclusion
Cleaning limescale off taps doesn’t have to be a hassle. Household cupboard staples like white vinegar and citric acid can help lift away stubborn water deposits without damaging your taps.
If you find that you’re always fighting limescale, think about treating your water instead. A water conditioner can help prevent limescale from appearing around your entire home.
