How to remove hard water stains from my water heater?
For homes and buildings that contain hard water supplies, the minerals like limestone, calcium and magnesium found in this water can create several issues. Hard water can lead to everything from faster appliance wear-down to uncomfortable skin effects and much more, and can also pose a problem that’s both visual and health-related: Hard water stains.
At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we have a permanent solution to prevent this risk for you and your family: One of our high-quality water softener products, which are designed specifically to remove hard water minerals from your water supply throughout the home. And while these products will completely prevent hard water stains and any other similar issues from arising moving forward, they unfortunately can’t do anything about any previous hard water stains that formed before you installed a softener – with that in mind, here are three different methods we can recommend for removing these stains.
Baking Soda and Scrubbing
If you’re looking to clean up the mess without involving many chemicals or solutions, the simplest way to go is to locate some baking soda and get to work with scrubbing. Simply apply the baking soda directly onto the stain area, then get a coarse cloth or the rough side of a sponge to rub it in with some elbow grease.
One thing to note with this method: It’s usually only effective for newer hard water stains, not older ones that have set into the material. It may also take a bit longer than our other methods, but it comes at no cost and without any chemicals.
Vinegar Solution
For another cheap solution, but one that does require a household liquid product, look for standard white vinegar in your home. Once you find it, mix it together with an equal amount of water, creating a 50-50 mix solution.
Mix these up well, then pour the resulting solution into a spray bottle. Grab a sponge or a toothbrush (depending on the size of the stain), then spray the area with the solution and begin to scrub. It will smell a bit weird, but you can always add an air freshener to the area later on. For light stains, including those that have set in just a little, this is a good option.
Hydrochloric Acid Cleaners
For deeper, more significant hard water stains, you may want to purchase a cleaning solution specifically designed or this purpose. Most of these cleaners, found at your local hardware store, will contain hydrochloric acid – this is a highly effective chemical for removing stains, but also requires care when using it. We recommend using it only as a last resort if other methods don’t work, and we also advise ensuring the room you use it in is well-ventilated.
For more on the options available for cleaning hard water stains, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.