Lime scale is a chalky white mineral deposit (alkaline) which is a result of hard water. It often occurs on faucets and in tubs and appliances, such as kettles and coffeemakers and can leave silver and chrome with a gray dullness. White vinegar contains acetic acid and is a great place to start for cleaning these pesky stains. Over time, these mineral build-ups can damage sinks, toilets, and tubs and make soap scum harder to remove.
Table of Contents:
What You’ll Need
- White vinegar
- Rag or paper towel
- Rubberband or hair clip
- Baking soda
- Water softener
- Cream of tartar
- Denture cleaning tablet (optional)
- Lemon juice
- Sponge or soft cloth
- Borax
- Toilet brush
- White wine (optional)
The Cleaning Process
To clean faucets
Soak a rag or paper towel in vinegar and wrap around your faucet. Secure in place with a rubberband or hair clip. Let sit for an hour before wiping the faucet clean with a soft cloth. The Ultimate Accidental Housewife by Julie Edelman also suggests creating a paste with 3-parts baking soda to 1-part water. Apply the paste to the faucet, leave it on for an hour, and wipe it clean.
To clean kettles
Use 2-tbsp. of water softener in a full kettle of water and boil the solution for 2-3 minutes. Repeat if necessary and then rinse out the kettle with clean water. You can also fill your kettle with equal parts vinegar and water, bring the solution to a boil, and leave it overnight. Don’t forget to rinse it out in the morning!
To clean aluminum percolators
Never use bleach on aluminum appliances. Fill the percolator with water and add 1/4-c. cream of tartar. Run the appliance through for one cycle and then rinse well with hot water.
To clean coffeemakers
Fill the reservoir with water and 2-tbsp. water softener. Run the appliance through for one cycle and then again with clean water. Haley’s Cleaning Tips by Rosemary and Graham Haley also recommends filling it with white vinegar, running it through once, and then running it through twice with clean water. You may also fill with hot water and one regular denture cleaning tablet. Run it through once and once again with clean water.
To clean sinks and tubs
Spray with either vinegar or lemon juice. You may also use a paste of cream of tartar and water. Let sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing clean with a sponge or soft cloth. Check out our articles on “How to Clean a Shower” and “How to Clean a Shower Head” for more detailed information.
To clean toilets
Mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and borax. Drain the toilet bowl and pour solution in. Leave it in for 2 hours before scrubbing clean with a toilet brush. You can also add 3-c. of undiluted white vinegar to your full toilet bowl and scrub it clean. Keep your toilet tank clean by adding 3-c. of undiluted vinegar to it, as well.
To clean windows and shower doors
Spraying white vinegar on your windows and shower doors can remove mineral stains left from hard water. You can use leftover white wine to remove lime scale from glass.
To clean a washing machine
Remove hard water stains from the inside of your washing machine by pouring in 1-gal. of white vinegar and running it on the hot water cycle without any clothes inside.
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To clean a shower head, remove the shower head and place in a small dish. Pour white vinegar to cover the affected area.
After one hour brush the scale off with a soft brush (old tooth brush) and rinse with hot water.
I agree with Lynn’s tip about the spray and walk away foaming type products. I tried them all and I finally found a winner. My water spots were really severe and a friend told me about Bruce’s heavy duty brown, a paste that you wipe on and rinse off. Now the water just rolls off the glass instead of sticking to it. Ace hardware has it and it’s only like five bucks.
To clean a washing machine: Remove hard water stains from the inside of your washing machine by pouring in 1-gal. of white vinegar and running it on the hot water cycle without any clothes inside.
Where do I pour 1 gallon of white vinegar?
I have also tried using a citrus based product to clean my kettle. (such as TANG). It works well but not as good as vinegar.
How do I remove the white film that come in flower vases after repeated use. I also get this in my glass coffee pot.
Removing White Film From a Flower Vase
Hi Earlene, we’ve created a guide just for you! See it here: How to Clean White Film from a Flower Vase
How do I remove years of hard water build up from my windows?
I live in an apartment and the exterior windows have been neglected for years. How can I get the water stains off my windows?
What’s leftover wine?
What Works
I have just found out that a little bit of paint-thinner goes a long way as long as you wipe it clean Immediately after applying it. This is the fastest and most effective method that I have found so far.
Not in our house
Can you buy bottles of leftover white wine as we never have any at our place?
Rusty looking stuff
What about the rusty looking scale stuff in the bottom of the toilet bowl. I used a pumice stick and got a lot of it off followed by a flat head screw driver. But I can’t reach a lot of it.
Rusty stuff in Toilet
OK for toilet rust empty the water in the bowl by flushing toilet with the water to the refill tank off. You can get the remaining water out with a sponge, rag or bilge pump (I happen to have them around the house) then fill the refill tank with full strength white vinegar and flush (with the water still off) let soak over night. Brush and flush. If that doesn’t work you can try Muriatic Acid and do the same routine except it should only take an hour or less. **WARNING** Muriatic Acid is powerful stuff and will eat a whole in…well just about anything not glass or porcelain so be careful! and if you notice anything itching stop what you are doing and rinse with water.
Poor faucet flow
This may be redundant, but have you looked to see whether there are small screen filters just inside the taps? They usually can be removed and soaked in vinegar to clean. I also use an old toothbrush on the screens. Hope that might help.
Water stains off black refrigerator water catcher
I have a black refrigerator where we get our water from the outside and the black water catcher is white from the water. I have also tried lime away to no avail.
Removing hardened lime scale from ceramic tile in shower\
We have long standing lime scale on the ceramic tile in our shower. Have tried CLR but it doesn’t make a dent. Any other suggestions?
Hard Water Stains on Mirrors
Does anyone know how to get rid of hard water stains on mirrors? I heard white vinegar works and I’m about to try it. I wonder though, do I have to let it sit or can I soak it in a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge and then wipe it off. Any tips would be appreciated!
I have a white film on the inside of some of my glasses…the dishwasher doesn’t remove it at all! Any ideas?
Also, what is the best thing to use to clean a dishwasher? I’ve used vinegar & other dishwasher cleaning products & nothing works!!
I can not find the undiluted white vinegar in Sacramento, CA
Where can I find it? What kind of stores sell it? Thanks!
I have a hot tub with lime scale on it, have removed some with lime away any suggestions on the more difficult stuff – would a paste work?
Hi we have a front loader washing machine the barrel is covered in a scale of sorts how can i remove it wothout pulling the machine and barrell apart??
Smart and Final sells large bottles of white vinegar. “undiluted white vinegar” is just what you’d find in any grocery store, heinz being a major brand, but the large bottles are more economical for cleaning purposes.
Hi All,
I tried to clean scaling from the kettle by mixing 1:100 parts of Floor Cleaning Acid : Water, I poured this mix in the kettle and 2 minutes later all the scaling disappeared.
Be careful when you mix, if the concentration is more it may effect the kettle forever.
Thanks
Bharath