Exposure to limescale can result in all kinds of devastating effects. From dull hair to irritated skin, limescale buildup can mess with your body. Limescale can also damage your appliances by corroding them away.
But is it really that damaging? If so, how do you get rid of limescale?
Well, it won’t disappear overnight without a little help. Luckily, we’ve assembled these tips to help you clear out that limescale for nice, clean water.
How Do You Spot Limescale?
You’ve definitely seen limescale before, as it’s a common occurrence in most homes. Limescale is a hard, white substance that appears rather chalky.
Usually, you’ll spot limescale around more watery appliances, such as:
Sinks
Taps
Toilet bowls
Bathroom tiles
Inside washing machines
Inside kettles
Limescale buildup can cause a nasty stain. Sometimes, it can even turn rusty and brown or pink. You can usually tell it apart from food stains, as limescale can be very difficult to remove.
What Causes Limescale?
Limescale is actually a buildup of minerals. More specifically, it is the buildup of calcium, magnesium, and carbonate ions.
The same compound that causes limescale buildup is found in hard water, also called scale water.
First, limescale exists as calcium bicarbonate. It then breaks down into insoluble calcium carbonate, which is what ultimately results in the buildup of scale.
What Are the Negative Effects of Limescale?
Limescale isn’t poisonous, and it definitely won’t kill you.
But, it can still be rough on the body. It can lead to dull hair and dry skin. Some scientists even suspect it could be a contributing factor to kidney stones.
Limescale taste also tends to be salty and a bit bitter due to the buildup of minerals, which may make you less likely to drink enough water.
Additionally, limescale buildup can cause damage to your home appliances. Some of the negative effects limescale buildup can have include:
1. Leaves Behind Ugly Stains
You’ve probably noticed a dirty brown ring in your toilet or bathtub. This somewhat nauseating stain is actually caused by limescale buildup.
Limescale can also cause discoloration on your tiles. These can become very difficult, or almost impossible to clean.
2. Deposits Destroy Appliances
Any surface that comes into contact with hard water is vulnerable to limescale buildup. Unfortunately, that includes appliances such as tea kettles and dishwashers. When this buildup happens, it can reduce appliance efficiency by up to 30%!
Additionally, when limescale builds up in your washing machines, it can damage your clothes. It can dull their color and damage the fibers, reducing their lifespan.
3. Clogged Plumbing
You may not realize it, but limescale buildup can actually cause clogs in your pipes and appliances. This can cause damage to places such as:
Showerhead holes
Plumbing systems
Faucets
This limescale will only continue to build up without intervention. It can fill up until the pipes become completely sealed.
The only way to fix these buildups when they become completely sealed is to unclog or replace your pipes, which can end up being very costly.
How Do You Remove Limescale Deposits?
If you notice some limescale buildup on your home surfaces, there are ways to remove them. Though they can be somewhat difficult to clean, it’s not impossible.
Let’s break it by some of the most common limescale-infected surfaces.
1. How to Clean Faucets
You can clear limescale deposits from your faucets using vinegar.
First, dip a clean cloth into a vinegar-filled container. Then, wrap the soaking vinegar cloth around the faucet and secure it with an elastic band. Be sure the cloth is covering all of the most infected areas.
Now, simply wait for an hour as the vinegar gets to work breaking down the limescale. After this hour, you can remove the cloth and wipe away any buildup.
2. How to Clean a Toilet Bowl
Nothing’s worse than seeing that dirty brown ring in the bottom of your toilet bowl. You can clean it by pouring 4 cups of vinegar directly into the toilet bowl.
Let the vinegar sit overnight. Make sure nobody uses the toilet!
In the morning, all you have to do is scrub the toilet and flush the limescale away. For extra tough stains, use a bit of sandpaper to scrub limescale away.
3. How to Clean Bathroom Tiles
Again, vinegar is the magic solution for cleaning your bathroom tiles. Simply combine 2 cups of water and 1 cup of vinegar into a spray bottle. Shake to combine.
Now, spray the combination over the stains. Let it sit for an hour.
After an hour, use a tile brush to scrub the stain away. Clean away the buildup using soft water.
4. How to Clean Shower Heads
Vinegar isn’t the only limescale cleaning solution. To clean your showerheads, try using a lemon that’s been sliced in half.
Rub both halves over the showerhead, one after the other. Then, allow the juice to sit on the showerhead for at least 30 minutes.
Take an old toothbrush and scrub away the limescale buildup. You can then rinse off the lemon juice and scale using soft water.
You can use vinegar in the same way, but lemon juice is equally effective.
Even after you remove limescale, hard water will only continue to deposit more and more onto your appliances and home surfaces. Investing in soft water treatment can be a great way to reduce the amount of limescale buildup that occurs in the first place.
Water treatment can ensure you’re drinking cleaner, healthier water. It’ll probably taste better, too.
Additionally, soft water can help to protect your appliances, home surfaces, and even your clothes, helping them to last longer.
Don’t Let Limescale Ruin Your Home
Limescale can be a real nuisance in the home. It is the result of the minerals in hard water causing buildup on every surface the water comes into contact with. One of the best ways to prevent limescale buildup is to invest in soft water treatment.
Contact us to schedule a service call today! We can help you install the perfect soft water system so that limescale build-up becomes a thing of the past.
