How to Get Rid of Hard Water Stains the Natural Way
Hard water brings with it a lot of problems, including unattractive rings around your toilet bowl. Hard water is simply H20 that contains high concentrations of minerals such as magnesium and calcium, but it leaves behind ugly brown stains on toilets and other bathroom appliances when the water inevitably evaporates into the air.
The minerals left behind by hard water may leave ugly stains in your WC, but theyre not inherently dirty. That said, you probably want to get rid of them as best you can if you want to maintain a pretty, clean-looking bathroom.
Unfortunately, most of the cleaning agents meant to attack this problem are harmful to the environment. If you like to use nontoxic products in your home, here are some tips for getting rid of hard water stains.
Step 1: Buy the Right Products
Vinegar is by far the most tried-and-true natural product for getting rid of hard water stains. Home bloggers like Jen of The Thrifty Home swear by it, as it is both completely nontoxic and packed with heavy-duty cleaning powers.
Of course, you also have other options. Something acidic, like lime juice, lemon juice or, according to the environmental blog Grist, even Coca-Cola (gross, right?) could also do the trick.
Step 2: Soak the Area in Your Cleaning Solution
Whatever product you chose, now its time to apply it to your hard water stains. If its the toilet youre concerned about, youre going to want to turn off the water valve and scoop all water out of the toilet bowl, Grist says. Fill the bowl with your cleaning solution so that it covers the stains.
If youre concerned about stains around your faucet or in your bathtub, youll want to soak some paper towels in your cleaning solution. Place the sopping wet towels directly on all spots that you want to dissolve.
Youre going to want to let the cleaning solution sit for a whilemaybe even overnight, depending on how bad the stains have become.
Step 3: Scrub
Finally, its time to get your hands dirty! Scrub away at the stains with a sturdy brush until theyre gone. Grist also recommends using a pumice stone on really hard-to-clean spots. Just make sure that if you go this route, youve brought the water level back up around the area. This will ensure you dont scratch the surface of your appliances.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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