How To Remove Limescale

Close up image of a tap covered in limescale
Published: 25th May 2017
Author: James Roberts

Do you want to remove limescale from your bathroom but harsh abrasives and industrial chemicals are off your wish list? Intensive cleaners on the supermarket shelves contain strong chemicals that can be bad for your skin, lungs and the planet. So, let our experts introduce you to the world of stain removal the natural way.

Limescale may wreak havoc in your bathroom, but you can say goodbye to these stubborn stains if you follow a few of our top tips!

How to Clean Bathroom Stains

Product Lifestyle image of Britton Bathrooms Milan Basin and Close Coupled Toilet Set

If you are determined to rid your bathroom of limescale, your first instinct might be to try scrubbing it from your fittings, although this would take a lot of effort and could unintentionally damage the surfaces underneath. The most effective way to remove limescale is to apply an acid, which will soften and dissolve it. However, as these acids need to kept in contact with the limescale for a long time to be effective, your adjacent surfaces could becomes damaged if they are made from materials that are not resistant to corrosion. 

For those of you who you wish to save your energy and clean in an environmentally friendly way, why not look at some harmless solutions, which can be made from items you may already have in your home? Lemon juice has been a firm favourite for stain removal for centuries while vinegar, another common kitchen staple, is renowned for its ability to remove tough limescale stains. 

How to Clean Limescale From Taps

Close up image of a woman cleaning limescale off a tap using a spray bottle and damp cloth

For limescale build-up around a bathroom tap:

  • Soak an old cloth in lemon juice or vinegar and wrap it around the item. Make sure all of the metal is in contact with the liquid and simply leave it to soak for up to one hour.
  • You can rinse and repeat if necessary, but you should find your tap is back to its original, sparkling self without much effort.
  • For extra shine, why not rub chrome taps with flour then buff using a soft cloth?

If your shower head is clogged out with limescale, it’s a simple process to remove it:

  • Unscrew your shower head and place in a bowl.
  • Mix white vinegar with equal parts warm water then submerge your showerhead in the solution.
  • Leave your shower head to soak in a bowl overnight.
  • In the morning, rinse and reattach your showerhead to its hose. 

Hey presto! You have a sparkling shower head, which is no longer clogged up with deposits, for a shower with inevitably more power.

How to Remove Limescale From the Bath

Product Lifestyle image of Clearwater Formoso Petite Clearstone Freestanding Bath

If you have an old enamel bath, it may be time to invest in a new one. Even a natural acid, such as vinegar, can damage its surface. In fact, we would even recommend that you conduct a spot test if you have a stone bath, because if stone is exposed to white vingear for too long, it may damage its finish. 

On the other hand, if you are in possession of an acrylic bathtub, then today is your lucky day. Acrylic is a much more robust material, which can even stand up to more aggressive shop bought bathroom cleaners, but we recommend you carry out the following steps if you spot any limescale:

  • Pour lemon juice or vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the affected area liberally.
  • Leave it to work for at least 30 minutes (up to two hours for more stubborn stains).
  • Re-spray every 15 minutes to keep the area wet.
  • You can rinse the bath thoroughly after use to remove limescale from your bath and achieve a gleaming finish.

How to Clean Toilet Limescale

Product Lifestyle image of Crosswater Kai X Close Coupled Toilet, Cistern and Thin Soft Close Seat

There are plenty of non-abrasive ways of cleaning limescale stains from a toilet, including vinegar! It could not be easier to use vinegar to clean away those ugly limescale scales from your toilet:

  • Pour a bottle of white vinegar over the bowl.
  • Leave it to work overnight, not forgetting to spray around the rim and use your toilet brush to scrub any deposits away the next day.
  • Following a few flushes, your toilet should be as good as new!

How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains with Coke

Did you know if you pour a can of fizzy coke over your toilet bowl to remove hard water marks and limescale?

  • To use coke to clean your toilet, simply pour a few glasses into the bowl.
  • Leave the liquid for at least a couple of hours, in this time the acids withing the coke will break down the stains.
  • Give the bowl a scrub with your toilet brush to remove the marks that should come off easily.
  • Flush a few times and your toilet should be spotlessly clean.

Cleaning Your Shower Screen

Product Lifestyle image of Crosswater Kai 6 Corner Entry Shower Enclosure

Did you know that white wine can be used as an eco-friendly cleaning agent for shower doors?

  • First, pour the wine on your shower door.
  • Leave for at least 30 minutes.
  • Finally, wipe with a soft cloth for a fantastic, easy way of removing limescale and stubborn bathroom stains (then reward yourself afterwards with a glass or two!).

 Have any bathroom cleaning tips you’d like to share? Get in touch with us on Twitter or Facebook.