So, how do you remove hard water deposits? Hard water deposits in your home usually consist of calcium, lime and rust but mostly calcium of the three. These deposits build up on the end of your faucets, stain water fixtures and even clog your faucets. Can anything simple be done about this?

Hard water can put spots on your shower and tub walls. It can also take the gloss out of your toilets and even stain your sink drains. Sadly, scrubbing with your average cleaners usually will not remove these annoying blemishes. To actually combat these hard water deposits, you should understand what it is and why you have them. Luckily, any of these cleaning methods are nothing like trying to figure out how to frame a wall corner or something that difficult. In fact most of this is very easy to do.

❗❗If at anytime you want to skip the full article of this post and just get to how to remove hard water deposits. I have placed links along the article that will shoot right down to that section just for your convenience.

What is Hard Water – Where Does it Come From?

Hard water is generally characterized as a water that contains a high grouping of calcium and magnesium particles. However, the hardness can be caused by dissolved metals such as aluminum, barium, strontium, iron, zinc, and manganese. I know, you are still asking, how do you remove hard water deposits? I promise, I am getting there but you should understand what you are dealing with.

Hard water is mostly found in groundwater like wells and municipalities. In other words, waters that are from the ground, soak up minerals, which is what causes the phrase, “Hard Water”. Water supplies that come from the surface such as lakes and water reservoirs. Basically, precipitation like rain water voids heavy mineral content.

If you have well water, either be from your own property or your local utility company. You are going to have to learn how to remove hard water deposits to protect your home.

So, is that Rust in my Toilets and Sinks?

Most houses today use plastic base water pipes or copper. However, there are still older homes that still use galvanized water pipes to supply the house. With galvanized water pipes, you could get rust in your water fixtures. So, I can’t say no for a fact that isn’t rust stains.

In most cases, that reddish-brown rust color build up in your water fixtures is most like Limescale. Limescale is calcium and magnesium deposits left behind from flowing hard water. These elements gradually build up and turn into stains and scaling which looks like rust.

?How do you remove hard water deposits?

What You Should Be Concerned About with Hard Water

I am sure your first thought would be, “is Hard Water harmful to your health”? Although, there are no serious adverse effects to your health, hard water can contribute to dry skin and hair. Hard water can leave your skin itchy, especially your scalp. People with eczema may have issues and probably should look into getting a water softening system for their home.

This is one tip on the question, “how do you remove hard water deposits”? Getting a water-softening system for your house would help tremendously. Basically, a water-softening system uses various methods from resin beads to electrical methods to attract the minerals from the water. Water-softening systems can cost from $200 to $4000, depending on your need.

The two highest concerns for hard water damage would be your electric water heater and toilets. Electric water heaters have heating elements that stock out into the inside of the tank. By the elements heating up, attracts and burns the hard water elements onto itself. After time, the elements will no longer work. There are also hard water deposit settlements that will lay in the bottom of the tank that will cause corrosion.

For your toilets, hard water deposits will eventually stop the toilet tank valve from working. The valve will get to a point that it will not completely shut the water off after flushing it. Also, the limescale build up in the toilet tank will start a rusty looking stain. This stain will run into the toilet bowl making it to appear to have rust stains.

Aerators on your faucets would be the next concern. They have screen filters that eventually get clogged with hard water deposits.

?How do you remove hard water deposits?

How To Remove Hard Water Deposits|Removing Calcium From Faucets Video

I created a video on YouTube about this very topic. Feel free to watch it.

Other Issues from Hard Water

Outside the main concerns listed above, hard water also causes other aggravations. I have covered the electric water heater, the toilet and faucets aerators, let’s look at the rest. Here is a list of the main things hard water effects.

• Bathroom Sink Drains
• Bathroom Faucets
• Kitchen Sink Drains
• Kitchen Sink Drains
• Showers and Tub Surrounds
• Shower Doors
• Shower Curtains
• Shower Heads
• Shower Spray Wands
• Toilets in General
• Glassware of All Kinds
• Refrigerator Door Water/Ice Dispensers
• Outside Water Faucets

Hard Water Indicators

Bathroom

You will find with drains, both in the sink and tubs. The hard water spots, stains and streaks will not come off with conventional cleaning. Sometimes, the limescale starts becoming a rust color looking stain.

Your sink faucet has what they call an aerator. This is part of the faucet the water comes out of. Hard water deposits build up in the screen and nozzle part of the aerator, causing a restricted flow. Quite often, this can lead to a collection of white deposits around the output of the faucet.

There is also the white streaks and trails all over the faucet that regular cleaners just can’t get rid of.

With showers and tubs, they also can get the rust-colored stains and streaks. The surrounds or tile will get dull looking no matter how much you clean them. You will notice that they always feel like they have a film on the surface as well.

If you have shower curtains, you have probably thrown away many due to the dirty coloration’s they collect.

Shower heads and spray wands usually get this white deposit build up that cause them to spray water incorrectly. Even the lever in the tub faucet that turns on the shower will quit working correctly.

Have you noticed your grout in your shower. These hard water deposits can collect in the grout, tarnishing or even giving it a different color.

Although I had already mentioned the toilet, there are some indicators you have hard water issues. If you have any kind of ring or rust-color in the bowl itself. If the inside of your toilet tank always has a reddish tint. After you flush and the toilet is filling back up, if you notice the tank valve takes longer to completely shut the water off.

Kitchen

Even though your sink may be called a stainless sink, that doesn’t mean it can’t be stained and spotted. Stainless steel sinks are really good about not showing stains. However, with hard water, regardless if you see it, there are spots, streaks and stains. You might notice that the sink may look duller, and when dry, has a rough feel on the sides.

Most people forget about the refrigerator. The water/ice dispenser in the door of the fridge is also affected by hard water. Look at the catch tray in the dispenser, if it has white or brown deposits, that is a sign.

You cannot forget about the dishwasher. It has tiny hole jets that spray the water out at high pressure. These holes can collect hard water deposits around them clogging them up.

Now this may have never occurred to you, but your coffee maker, or even kettles you use are heavily affected. Coffee makers boil water in them and much like a water heater, the sediments can accumulate in the bottom of the tank. Same with a metal kettle, you boil water in it and over time the sediments build up at the bottom.

Although your glassware gets washed and cleaned, I bet you have water spots. Hard water leaves spots and residue that regular cleanings just can’t remove.

Laundry Room

If you have a sink in your laundry room or mud room. You will have the same issues as you would with the bathroom or kitchen sinks. The washing machine will be the hardest to know if it is affected. Since there are two types of machines, a front loader and top loader, a few things work differently. However, both spray water in the tubs, meaning both have water passages that will get clogged over time.

Outdoors

If you have a pool or hot tub/spa, most like you will have tile, surfaces and filtration systems. The tile, sides or surfaces will all become grungy and dull looking. Your filtration systems have passages and valves.

Now you may not think an outside faucet would be affected, but look closer. They often get build up inside the spigot. You may also notice over time, how hard the faucet handle is to turn.

?How do you remove hard water deposits?

Home Remedies

We all have grown up with someone in the family that has a home cure for everything. Hard water issues have a home cure as well. Vinegar is in so many ways the cure all for everything. I am not going to get into the medicinal ways in this article but it will work on hard water.

Even though vinegar can help clean hard water deposits, it often needs help from other home chemicals as well. You can combine dishwashing liquid, apple cider vinegar and vinegar to make a hard water remover.

This will work for the calcium build ups. However, it will not work the best on rust stains. I have seen vinegar remove light surface rust stains, but it is deep or been there a while, it won’t do the best.

However, I highly recommend using vinegar through your coffee makers and kettle pots. It also can cut water spots on glassware. Since vinegar isn’t harmful to digest, I strongly suggest using it in and on anything you drink or eat from.

How Do You Remove Hard Water Deposits?

I know you have read through a lot to get here so here are the best methods to getting rid of hard water deposits. I highly recommend using one of two on the market chemicals. Once is called CLR, the other is made by ZEP. ZEP is my choice as it comes in concentrated form to where you can dilute it and get more coverage with it. I like to put it in a spray bottle for better applications in some instances.

Much like above, I will break these down in the areas you find these deposits in. I will be referring to any chemical brand as CLR as that stands for Calcium Lime Rust Remover.

Bathroom

Sink aerators

Taking a sandwich bag or small jar, fill it with CLR. Remove the aerators from the sink and soak them for about 15 minutes. If you cannot remove the aerator, then using a sandwich bag and a rubber band. Fill the sandwich bag with CLR and slip it up on the faucet’s end, tie the bag to the faucet using the rubber band. Again, soak it for about 15 minutes.

Tub Faucet

Using a sandwich bag and a rubber band. Fill the sandwich bag with CLR and slip it up on the faucet’s end, tie the bag to the faucet using the rubber band. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Sink and Sink Basin

Apply either by spray or pouring, CLR to the entire area and let stand for about 5 minutes. Then clean with your regular cleaning method.

Shower Head and or Wand

Using a sandwich bag and a rubber band. Fill the sandwich bag with CLR and slip it up on the shower head and or wand. If the wand can detach from hose, recommend placing the entirety in a plastic bag or container. Let all soak for about 15 minutes.

Shower Doors, Tile, Surround

Even though I like using a spray bottle, caution should be taken. Wear a mask to avoid breathing the spray vapor. Spray with CLR the doors, tile or surround in its entirety. Let soak for about 5 minutes and then proceed with your regular cleaning methods.

Toilet

Spray CLR into the toilet bowl, let set for about 5 to 10 minutes. If the toilet has already become heavily stained at the bottom or rust looking stains down the side. I recommend pour a good amount of CLR and let sit for about 20 to 30 minutes.

For the toilet tank, pour about 1 to 2 cups into it and let it sit for at least an hour, overnight for best results.

Kitchen

Sink and Sink Basin

Spray or wipe CLR on to the sides and basin of the sink. Let it stand for about 5 minutes, then use your regular cleaning methods. I highly recommend not using your dish washing cloth you use to wash dishes with. CLR chemicals is harmful if ingested, so need to take a chance of mixing it with your dishwater. I also recommend using Bar Keepers Friend on stainless steel sinks, it really brightens them up like new.

If your sink drain is really nasty with darkness or rust-colored stains. I suggest putting a paper towel in the bottom part of the drain and then pour CLR on it. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse or use a cleanser to scrub it. You may have to do this a few times depending on how bad it is.

Sink Spray Nozzle

If your faucet has a built-in spray nozzle or you have one separate, this will work for both. For best results, if possible. Detach the spray nozzle from the hose and place it in a sandwich bag or jar. Pour CLR into the container, ensuring you get some down inside the nozzle itself. Let this soak for 15 to 20 minutes. You may want to rinse it out in another sink, then reattach and run the water.

Dishwasher

Pour about a little less than you would of dishwasher detergent of CLR. Run the dishwasher without a load, run it on a regular cycle. Once finished, run it again with regular dishwasher detergent. I would recommend doing this about every 3 to 4 months as a maintenance method.

Glassware

With this, you can spray it on the affected glassware let sit for about 5 minutes and then rinse. Or you could fill one side of the sink with ZEP CLR concentrate and water. Place your glassware to soak for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse off. I suggest you do a regular washing after this to remove any CLR residuals.

Refrigerator Water/Ice Dispenser

If your catch tray can be removed, place it in the kitchen sink and spray it or pour some CLR on it. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse. Your tray might not be removable, if not, then use a cloth to apply CLR. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then wipe with a clean wet cloth. Be sure to rinse and ring out the cloth with clean water after each time you wipe the catch tray off.

Coffee Maker

I would highly suggest using a little vinegar to run through your coffee maker. I would not use any type of CLR chemical as any residual could poison you. Pour a little vinegar into the water tank of the coffee maker. Then fill the rest with water, turn on and let it run. Afterwards, I would run about 5 to 6 tanks of clean water through it before making coffee.

Outdoors

Your outside faucet may be more difficult to remove the hard water deposits due to sun exposure. I strongly suggest spraying CLR on to the faucet handle shaft and then up in the spigot itself. I would let it sit about 5 minutes and then repeat spraying it again. Let it sit another 5 minutes and rinse. If the build up is bad or the faucet is still hard to turn, then try method 2. Like with the bath tub faucet, fill the sandwich bag with CLR and slip it up on the whole faucet. Tie the bag to the faucet using the rubber band. Soak for about 30 minutes.

Pools/Hot Tubs/Spas

Since there are so many different designs of filtration systems, it would be best to consult with a pool company. However, you can clean filter cages or any parts that can come off and be cleaned separately with CLR.

You can spray or use a bucket and cloth to wipe down the sides and tiles of your pools, tubs and spas with CLR.

Conclusion

Any CLR chemical is probably the best way to remove hard water deposits. I would suggest you make out a maintenance routine schedule. Clean out all of these mentioned items at least every 3 to 4 months to prevent deposit build ups. Browse through all the Calcium Line Rust Remover solutions available.

As I mentioned above, looking into a Water Softening System may be your best best. They can get expensive but if you have eczema or excessively dry skin or scalp, it would be worth it.

I also recommend you watch my YouTube Video from above to get a good idea of how to clean with a CLR.