Over the years, dust and grime finds its way into the countless crevices in your home, and your shower isn’t an exception. If you’re looking to deep-clean your bathroom, you might be wondering how to remove limescale from your shower.
Oftentimes hard water can cause a mineral buildup on your shower door and faucet, leading to potential issues. Let’s take a look at how you can keep your shower free of limescale.
What is limescale?
Limescale is a white substance that can often be found in metal machinery, pipes, and equipment that involve water and heating in some way. It is commonly found in kettles, water pipes, and boilers.
It forms when hard water – water with a lot of minerals – is heated over time, leaving behind a chalky deposit made of mostly calcium carbonate. This deposit will continue to grow if left to its own devices, so consistent cleaning is often needed.
Due to the hot and steamy nature of showers, limescale tends to build up fairly quickly.
Is limescale bad for you?
So now that you know what limescale is, you may be wondering if it’s bad for you. Showering with hard water can form a harsh lather, meaning that when limescale and soap or shampoo are mixed, they are more difficult to fully wash away. When mineral particles are not washed away properly, your scalp absorbs more calcium than it should. This reduces blood flow to the scalp, which in turn reduces the amount of nutrients your hair needs to grow and stay healthy.
How to get rid of limescale in your shower
Get your rubber gloves ready and prepare to put in some elbow grease. Limescale buildup and soap scum can cause a slippery mess in your shower, but harsh chemicals aren’t always needed. There are many different limescale removal products on the market, but if you’re looking for a DIY option, vinegar is a great tool.
We’ve listed a couple of DIY methods to clean your shower below.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Spray the limescale stain with full-strength white vinegar.
- Allow the vinegar to sit for at least half an hour, respraying as needed to keep the surface damp.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area.
- Scrub the area with a scrub brush or damp scrubbing sponge, sprinkling on more baking soda as needed.
- Rinse the shower with water and dry it with a squeegee or paper towel.
Citrus Juice and Hot Water
- Mix 1/2 cup lemon or lime juice with a 1/2 cup of hot tap water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the lime-scale stains generously with the citrus solution and allow it to sit for at least one hour. Continue to spray as needed to keep the area damp.
- Scrub the shower with a scrub brush or scrubbing sponge.
- Rinse the area with water and dry it with a squeegee or paper towel.
How to prevent limescale buildup
Continuous cleaning isn’t always realistic, so prevention methods can help drastically. One of the best ways to prevent limescale buildup is to install a water softener. This device will soften the water in your home by helping to remove the mineral deposits. Eventually, this will cause the limescale buildup to slow drastically, or even completely.
No matter your plumbing needs, Meticulous Plumbing has your back. Our experts have years of experience in the industry and they’re not just good, they’re meticulous.
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