Limescale is a crusty, hard and white substance that builds up on your home’s plumbing fixtures and appliances due to regular contact with hard water. This unattractive substance can be a big eyesore and can make even new plumbing fixtures look dated and worn out. Today we’re going to talk about some home remedies for removing limescale and how installing a water softener can alleviate your home’s limescale problems for good!
How to remove existing limescale in your home
If you’ve recently installed a water softener and you want to get rid of your home’s existing limescale buildup, or if you’re not yet ready to install a water softener and you want to manage limescale buildup as it occurs, here are some at-home tips for removing the substance:
- Choose an acidic substance. Although you might be tempted to remove limescale by aggressively scrubbing it with an abrasive scrub, this can damage the finish on your plumbing fixtures and surfaces. The best way to remove limescale is to soak it in an acidic solution for about an hour and then scrub it away with a soft scrub or paper towel. Some example solutions include lemon juice, vinegar or commercial limescale removers.
- Run large appliances with your solution. For large appliances like the dishwasher and washing machine, you can pour between a large cup and one gallon of your acidic solution into the appliance and run it with nothing inside. This will help remove limescale from the appliance’s inner surfaces as well as its water lines.
- Run your coffee maker with your solution. For coffee machines, you’ll want to pour your acidic solution in the reservoir and let it sit for about an hour. Once an hour has passed, your can run the coffee maker two times without any coffee grounds to clear out the limescale buildup.
- Soak fixtures and surfaces with your solution. Fixtures and surfaces are a bit tricky when you’re trying to remove limescale, because you have to keep your acidic solution in contact with them to soak. For protruding fixtures, you can soak a towel in your acidic solution and wrap it around the fixture, securing the towel with a rubber band or string. For flat surfaces, you can put something heavy on top of the soaked towel to ensure the surface stays in contact with your solution. After the surface or fixture has been soaked for an hour, try wiping away the limescale with a soft scrub or paper towel.
Install a water softener to completely prevent limescale buildup in your home
By installing a water softener in your home, you won’t ever have to worry about limescale buildup. That’s because a water softener will remove the hardness minerals that create limescale from your home’s tap water, leaving your fixtures looking shiny and new and protecting your water-using appliances from damage and clogs.
If you have any questions about how to remove limescale in your home, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in North and South Carolina. We provide service all over the Carolinas, including towns like Casar, Mount Pleasant and Waxhaw, NC.