Do you hate seeing unsightly hard water stains on your faucet, tub, toilet, or glass doors but don’t know how to deal with them effectively? You’re in luck. This blog shares our favorite expert cleaning tips on removing hard water stains on different surfaces.
What Is Hard Water?
First, let’s talk about what causes these pesky hard water stains.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, water is classified hard when it contains significant dissolved calcium and magnesium levels.
When your hands feel slimy or your drinking glasses look chalky or filmy after washing with soap, there’s a likelihood that you have hard water running on your tap. When it evaporates, it leaves white, brown, or greenish (depending on the mineral deposits) residues, known as hard water stains.
So, why is hard water bad? Beyond ruining the aesthetics of your chrome or stainless steel bathroom fixtures, bathroom tiles, and glass surfaces permanently when left on for too long, hard water deposits can also clog your sinks and pipes.
How to Remove Hard Water Stains on Tiles
Tiles and grout can look gross and muddy with hard water stains. The best strategy is always to take action as soon as you see them and keep them from creating irreversible damage. If you’re super busy, you can always find and book the best local cleaning service in Louisville for help.
But if you want to give it a go, here are some of the best tips for cleaning hard water stains on tiles.
- Special tile cleaners – Many commercially available tile cleaners can address hard water stains and limescale deposits. Determine what material your tiles are made of, whether ceramic, natural stone, or porcelain, to find the safest and most suitable product.
- Water, baking soda, and vinegar – Make your baking soda paste mixed with four parts water and one part vinegar. It’s an eco-friendly cleaning solution that can naturally remove dirt, grime, soap scum, and hard water stains on tiles. It doesn’t matter what kind you use. You can use white vinegar, distilled vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. One may be more cost-effective than the other, but they’ll all work fine for hard water stain removal. A little caveat, though: don’t use vinegar or bleach on marble tiles as it can lead to discoloration.
How to Clean Hard Water Stains on Glass
Any glass surface becomes dull and blurry due to constant exposure to hard water. In addition, mineral deposits can etch or stain glass forever when not addressed immediately. That’s why it’s crucial to clean hard water stains as soon as you spot them on your glass enclosure, mirror, or glass shower doors. Add it to your checklist when cleaning your bathroom.
Follow this step-by-step guide on cleaning hard water stains on glass surfaces.
- Make your own natural glass cleaning solution by combining four parts water and one part vinegar. Add baking soda and shake well.
- Using a spray bottle, spot treat and remove hard water stains from glass with the vinegar and water solution. Let the solution sit for at least five minutes.
- Gently scrub stubborn hard water stains from mineral buildup on the affected surfaces using a soft cloth, damp sponge, or an old toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Rinse with warm water and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
- Don’t forget to put a towel or rug underneath to get the drips and avoid making a messy puddle on the floor.
There are many commercial hard water stain remover options you can buy these days. However, always proceed with caution as they may contain harsh chemicals that may cause reactions on different surfaces. Do a patch test on a hidden part before removing hard water stains on a large area using any cleaning solution.
Prevent Hard Water Stains with Our Deep Cleaning Service!
SuperCleaning Louisville is a professional house cleaning company with a highly skilled team of cleaners who are all insured, bonded, and background-checked. We do standard residential cleaning services, deep cleaning, and move-in cleaning. In addition, we can customize our housekeeping services to suit your specific needs.
Never see hard water stains ever again, whether on your bathroom or kitchen surfaces. To learn more about our Louisville cleaning services, don’t hesitate to reach out to us or book a cleaning today!