Hard water stains are caused by water that has high levels of mineral deposits. Typically, hard water stains are caused on surfaces that are exposed, such as railings, fences, patio furniture, doors, windows, etc. Exposure to what is considered ‘impure’ water can cause glass, steel, and wood to lose their shine. However, hard water stains don’t mean that you’ve lost your material. It can easily be salvaged. In this blog, we’ll look at the many ways of cleaning hard water stains.
Tips On Cleaning Hard Water Stains
Hard water stains are easy to clean with the right tips and tricks. However, each of these is specific to the material hard water stains formulate on. Therefore, you need to be extra careful as you can’t use the same trick for all materials.
Let’s check out the cleaning tricks for hard water stains on wood, glass, and steel.
Cleaning Hard Water Stains From Steel
Hard water stains can formulate on faucets, taps, and sinks in washrooms and in the kitchen area. Overtime, these can cause the steel to look dull and lose its shine. Therefore, it is ideal to undertake deep cleaning regularly, while at the same time ensuring that too much use of chemicals and solvents doesn’t prove to be counterproductive.
Vinegar and water solution: Use the solution of equal parts of water and vinegar the same way as applied on glass and dishware.
Baking soda and Hydrogen Peroxide: Make a paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and apply it to your faucets, washroom furnishings, and marble ware in the kitchen or washrooms. Leave it on for about 30 minutes and then using a damp washcloth, scrub off the entire concoction.
However, it’s best to start with a simple baking soda and water solution and then switch to hydrogen peroxide if you still think the stains haven’t been properly cleaned.
Using toothpaste: This also works wonders but has to be left on for several hours and a generous amount of it should be used. For best results, leave it on overnight, and clean away using a dry washcloth and then a damp cloth. However, if you feel your faucets or fixtures are of lower quality of steel, start with a trial first on a single faucet.
Cleaning Hard Water Stains From Wood
Cleaning hard water stains off of wood can be the most difficult task as wood is most susceptible to wear and tear, and can’t withstand longer exposures to chemical solvents. For this reason, these five tips are more commonly used:
Use oil & vinegar: Make a solution of equal parts of oil and vinegar and apply it to the wood surface where the stain has occurred, using a paper towel. Rub the solution gently until the stain is completely gone. Do not use water to wipe off the remaining moisture as is considered common practice by most people.
Use heat: Heat can be used to remove water stains if the surface is still damp. There are two ways of doing this. First, using an iron; put a cotton cloth on the damp wood surface and heat the iron on low temperature. When you feel it is dry and warm, put it on the cloth for a few seconds and check the stain before removing the iron. Ensure you simply place the iron and not move it around as it might damage the wood. You can do the same using a hair dryer, however, ensure that it is at a low temperature.
Use toothpaste: Toothpaste has chemicals that can easily eat away the stains. Take a paper cloth or cotton cloth and put a generous amount of simple toothpaste. Rub it onto the stained area in a circular motion until the stain is gone.
If you feel any of these tricks have faded the color of the wood, you can apply a bit of wood polish to the area as well.
Cleaning Hard Water Stains From Glass & Dishware
Hard water stains on glass dishware are pretty common. When it comes to this, it doesn’t matter if you’re handwashing your glassware or using an automatic dishwasher. As long as your water supply has hard water, your dishes will get stained. The same can be said for glass windows, glass window sills, glass doors, and even skylights. However, cleaning these is super easy and can be achieved with just a few simple tricks.
Use vinegar: After you’re done cleaning your glass dishware, use white vinegar as a rinsing agent. The acidic vinegar eats out all the impurities and gives you clear glassware.
For glass windows, window sills, glass doors and skylights, create a bottle of this rinsing agent; mix equal parts of water with vinegar and store in a spray bottle. As soon as you see your glass objects getting cloudy after a rainfall or spring cleaning session, spray it on the object and leave it for about 15-20 minutes. Using a soft cloth like a paper towel or cotton cloth, wipe away the mixture gently.
What are some of the tips you use? Write to us at blog@zameen.com or comment below. For the latest updates on home remedies on house upkeep, keep checking Pakistan’s largest property blog, Zameen Blog.
