Restore Your Taps: Ways to Effectively Remove Limescale

Limescale is one of the most frustrating things to remove when cleaning taps and sinks. The harder you scrape, the harder it is to remove and, often in the process, you damage the surface you’re supposedly cleaning. The thing is, you need to clean smarter, not harder. So, if you:

• Notice that your running water is slightly slower than it used to be;
• See hardened calcium buildup all over your taps that won’t go away;

Then, read along and learn how to get rid of the limescale naturally and make your taps shine again.

Why does limescale build up on taps?

Limescale is a white, chalky build-up that consists of calcium carbonate. It is the result of evaporating water that contains that same element. We call this “hard water”.

Limescale builds on every surface it touches, such as inside pipes, kettles, boilers, and in and around taps, sinks, and bathtubs. Generally, wherever there is warm hard water, there is also limescale build-up.

The reason you have to clean it and not let it build up is that it can reduce the efficiency of your home a great deal. It reduces water flow in pipes and can eventually result in blockages and cracks. It prevents heat transfer in electronic appliances, such as kettles and boilers.

The result is more extended use of appliances and higher utility bills, but unchanged or even lowered efficiency. Cleaning the taps of limescale regularly is crucial, so we’ve included it as a “must-do” task in our detailed bathroom cleaning guide.

As far as your health goes, limescale is not harmful. However, it can make your skin dry. If you live in an area with very hard water, consider using a moisturising soap. If you are not sure whether you have medium or hard water, check this hard water map by Bristan where you will find information on every major city in the UK.

What is the best natural descaler to use on your taps?

Instead of jumping to commercial products, you can first try some of the items you already have at home. They will be just as good but less hazardous to your children and pets. The only two ingredients you will need to tackle that stubborn limescale are:

• Lemon juice
• White vinegar

These two contain citric acid, which will break down limescale deposits without damaging surfaces. Lemon juice also smells nice, so there’s that. Mind you, it won’t be as easy as spraying some lemon juice on the surface and simply wiping it away.

The ingredients need time to break down the deposits. The hardest part will be making sure they stay in place long enough to do their job.

How to get the limescale off with lemon

Lemon can dissolve even heavy limescale buildup when given enough time to work. It is also a more suitable alternative for cleaning chrome taps. The metal is soft and very easy to scratch, and also the finish can be damaged by prolonged exposure to white vinegar, so lemon juice is the safer option. Here is what you can do:

1. Slice a fresh lemon in half crosswise. An old lemon can also suffice, provided it still has juice in it. Make a fresh cut and squeeze gently to find out.
2. Push the piece of lemon with the cut side into the tap spout. The tap spout needs to sink into the lemon slightly, so don’t be afraid to push and rotate the slice back and forth. The tap needs to stay “submerged” like this for the juices to break down the limescale.
3. Fasten the slice as best as you can, so it doesn’t fall off. Put a plastic bag around the neck of the tap and tie it with a rubber band, making sure the lemon slice is still where it needs to be.
4. Leave it like that overnight. If you only have a slight build-up of limescale, a few hours will be enough. If you have lots of build-up, then leaving the lemon overnight is recommended.
5. Discard the lemon and plastic bag.
6. Scrub the tab with an old, clean toothbrush. The limescale will fall right off.
7. Use a needle or the sharp point of a safety pin to clean spray holes where the limescale has still not fallen off.
8. Wash the tap with fresh hot water to remove any remaining lemon juice and small leftover pieces.

You can do the procedure several times if needed until all of the limescale is eliminated. Check our post on how to clean chrome taps for more tips.

Remove limescale from taps with white vinegar

Lemon juice works for chrome, but it can cause damage to brass. That’s why if you have brass taps covered with limescale, it’s better to clean them with a white vinegar solution. You need to:

1. Mix one part white vinegar and one part water in a container.
2. Soak a clean rag in the mix.
3. Scrub the limescale as much as you can.
4. Tie the rag around the areas where there’s limescale build-up.
5. Leave for a few hours or overnight.

It’s important for the vinegar to be diluted; otherwise, it may tarnish your brass taps. Malt vinegar can also work for cleaning, but you need to go for the distilled kind because brown malt vinegar is dark in colour and could stain the surface.

Leave the stubborn stains to the professional cleaners!

If you don’t feel like waiting for a slice of lemon to loosen limescale build-up and wish to spend your time on more pleasurable activities, then you can always hire professionals. Fantastic Services works with professional cleaners who are very experienced and fully equipped.

Rest assured your taps will look like new! You can also book either a one-off cleaning or a regular service, depending on your needs and schedule.