Hard water can cause many problems in our daily lives. Mineral buildup can slow water flow and damage fixtures like faucets and showerheads and impact daily life activities such as cleaning, bathing, and laundry.
Fortunately, mineral buildup caused by hard water isn't too tricky to remove, and this guide offers easy steps to counteract hard water effects and prevent them from happening in the future.
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What is Hard Water & Calcium Buildup?
Water is a solvent, which means it's very easy for it to pick up other elements and impurities on its journey to your tap. One type of impurity that is common in water is mineral deposits.
These are found in the soil and are collected as the water passes by. Water high in mineral deposits such as calcium and magnesium is known as hard water. Different places will experience different levels of hard or soft water, as the mineral content in the soil varies from place to place.
Drinking hard water isn't harmful to your health - we need magnesium and calcium as part of a healthy diet, so small traces in our water could actually help. Unfortunately, it's not as healthy for our pipes, faucets, washing machines, and other appliances. Mineral deposits can build up inside pipes and on taps, slowing water flow and damaging our water system.
Common Signs that You Have Hard Water
- 1Faucets and shower heads clogged with hard white calcium and limescale
- 2Slow water flow
- 3Appliances like washing machines and dishwashers becoming less efficient and worn out faster
- 4Water has a strange odor or taste
- 5Irritations such as dry or itchy skin
- 6Hair feels dull and looks less shiny after being washed
- 7Brown water stains on the side of your toilets
- 8Presence of rust around faucets, showers, and other water fixtures
- 9Regular soap scum in sinks and showers
- 10Clothes become more easily worn and do not feel as clean as they should be
- 11Clothes may also look dull and feel rough and scratchy
- 12Water spots on glassware and crockery
- 13Water spots or films left on bathroom surfaces such as shower doors
How to Remove Hard Water Buildup (Calcium) from Faucets
Some items you may need include:
Removing hard water from the faucet exterior
Calcium buildup on faucets and other water fixtures can look very unattractive. While it may be possible to remove some of the cloudy hard water stains and light mineral buildup with a standard cleaner, older stains and stubborn areas will require something stronger.
Acidic liquids are excellent weapons when removing calcium deposits from faucets, as they eat through calcium and other minerals. Common household items such as white vinegar and lemon or lime juice (which contains citric acid) may be a handy and inexpensive starting place.
To clean the exterior of your faucet, soak an old towel in vinegar or citric acid and place it over the tap. Leave this to soak for a few hours before removing and wiping down the faucet surface. If your faucet is chrome, it’s best not to leave it soaking for longer than 30 minutes, as it may damage the finish.
Alternatively, attach a plastic bag filled with equal parts vinegar and water to the tap. When cleaning the faucet and scrubbing stubborn areas to remove corrosion, do not use an abrasive brush or scourer as this may scuff or scratch the exterior of the faucet.
Should this prove ineffective against your calcium buildup, you may require a stronger cleaner, such as CLR cleaner, which is made to tackle calcium, limescale and rust, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, or muriatic acid. Muriatic acid is particularly strong and should be used with care.
If you require this kind of cleaners, take care to read all instructions, use in a well-ventilated area, and wear protective eyewear and gloves. Some cleaners may be unsuitable for certain surfaces and require specific dilutions when used.
Removing and thoroughly cleaning the faucet aerator
While fixing the external appearance of calcium buildup on faucets is useful, cleaning the damage done by hard water on the inside is also essential. By removing and cleaning the faucet aerator, you can improve your water flow and prevent future buildup.
To remove the aerator from the head of the tap, turn in an anti-clockwise direction. You may need pliers to help you remove it easily. Keep track of all parts when you have removed it so you’ll be able to easily reattach after removing the hard water buildup.
The same cleaners can be used on the aerator as were suggested for the outside of the faucet. Mix the correct dilution of your acidic cleaner in a bowl, then place the aerator inside. Soak for as long as the cleaner directs, before thoroughly scrubbing and rinsing in running water.
You can now reattach your squeaky clean faucet aerator!
Permanent Hard Water Treatment Solutions
While dealing with mineral deposits on your faucets may be a straight-forward process, a more effective solution to tackling the effects of hard water on your plumbing is a water softener or filter.
Whole House Water Filters
If hard water is a persistent problem in your area, a whole house water filter could be your best option. These are an improvement on point-of-use filters, which are attached to your faucets and only really counteract external calcium buildup.
Whole house filters are attached right at your house’s water source, protecting the internal plumbing and filtering contaminants. Several models offer multiple levels of filtering, counteracting iron, calcium, and other traces of minerals, along with bacteria, viruses, and man-made chemicals.
These kind of filters may require occasional maintenance and can be expensive to install, but they can also save a great deal of cleaning and repair work.
Under Sink Water Filters
If a whole house filter is too expensive, a more accessible type could be an under sink water filter. This can protect your main faucets but may not offer as much protection for your plumbing and appliances as a whole house filter.
Some models are also tricky to install and could result in a high level of waste to water ratio.
You could also consider a dedicated faucet water filter, which is ideal for less used areas.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Does WD 40 remove calcium deposits?
Yes. WD 40 can be effective in removing calcium deposits, limescale, and hard water stains.
Does Coke remove limescale?
Yes - Coke contains phosphoric acid, which is great at eating limescale and calcium buildup. We wouldn’t recommend this as your first go-to, though.
How do I get rid of hard water stains on glass?
You can use a solution of equal parts of vinegar and water to tackle hard water stains on glass. Scrub stubborn areas with a toothbrush.
Does boiling water remove calcium?
Boiling water will remove any harmful bacteria but will not remove the minerals like calcium that affect its hardness. More permanent water treatment solutions are needed, such as whole house water filters.
Removing hard water deposits from a faucet isn’t impossible, but it may prove a frustrating chore, as without a permanent solution, they will continue to appear. Water is crucial to our well-being, health, and hygiene, so it only makes sense to ensure we use the cleanest water possible.
Holly Curell is the editor extraordinaire for Plumbing Lab. Having grown up in Michigan, Holly has spent time living in New York, Virginia, & currently North Carolina, where she lives with her husband & family. Holly loves DIY & has years of experience with at-home plumbing problems that arise from having 3 kids & living in colder climates. When she’s not writing about her plumbing knowledge, Holly enjoys reading, hiking & relaxing with family.
Maji magumu yanaweza kusababisha matatizo mengi katika maisha yetu ya kila siku. Kuongezeka kwa madini kunaweza kupunguza mtiririko wa maji na kuharibu vifaa kama vile faucets na vichwa vya kuoga na kuathiri shughuli za maisha ya kila siku kama vile kusafisha, kuoga, na kuosha nguo. Kwa bahati nzuri, mkusanyiko wa madini unaosababishwa na maji magumu sio ngumu sana kuondoa, na mwongozo huu hutoa hatua rahisi za kukabiliana na athari za maji magumu na kuzizuia kutokea katika siku zijazo. Ukurasa yaliyomo (Bofya icon kufungua au kufunga) Nini ni Hard Water & Calcium Buildup? Maji ni vimumunyifu, na kwa hivyo ni rahisi kwa maji kuchukua vitu vingine na uchafu katika safari yake hadi bomba lako. Aina moja ya uchafu unaopatikana kwa kawaida katika maji ni madini. Hizi hupatikana katika udongo na hukusanywa maji yanapopita. Maji yenye madini mengi kama vile kalsiamu na magnesiamu huitwa maji magumu. Maeneo tofauti yatakuwa na viwango tofauti vya maji magumu au laini, kwa kuwa kiasi cha madini katika udongo hutofautiana kutoka mahali hadi mahali. Kunywa maji magumu sio hatari kwa afya yako - tunahitaji magnesiamu na kalsiamu kama sehemu ya lishe nzuri, kwa hivyo alama ndogo katika maji yetu inaweza kusaidia. Kwa kusikitisha, si afya kwa mabomba yetu, faucets, mashine za kuosha, na vifaa vingine. Madini yaweza kujilimbikizia ndani ya mabomba na kwenye mabomba, yakipunguza mwendo wa maji na kuharibu mfumo wetu wa maji. "Mfano: ""Mafuniko ya maji ya maji"" ni pamoja na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji"" na ""mashimo ya maji." Ingawa inaweza kuwa na uwezekano wa kuondoa baadhi ya madoa ya maji magumu na mchanganyiko mwepesi wa madini na kioo cha kawaida cha kusafisha, madoa ya zamani na maeneo ya kichaa yatahitaji kitu chenye nguvu zaidi. Kioevu cha asidi ni silaha bora wakati wa kuondoa amana za kalsiamu kutoka kwa faucets, kwani hula kupitia kalsiamu na madini mengine. Vitu vya kawaida vya nyumbani kama vile siki nyeupe na maji ya limao au limao (ambayo yana asidi sitriki) inaweza kuwa mahali pa kuanza rahisi na ya bei nafuu. Ili kusafisha faucet yako, tumia kitambaa cha zamani katika siki au asidi ya citric na uweke juu ya bomba. Acha maji hayo yawe katika maji kwa muda wa saa chache kabla ya kuondoa na kufuta maji ya bomba. Ikiwa bomba lako ni chrome, ni bora usiiache kwa muda mrefu kuliko dakika 30, kwani inaweza kuharibu kumaliza. Au, weka mfuko wa plastiki uliojaa sehemu sawa za siki na maji kwenye bomba. Wakati wa kusafisha faucet na scrubbing maeneo ya kichaa kuondoa kutu, usitumie brush abrasive au scraper kama hii inaweza scratch au scratch nje ya faucet. Ikiwa hii haifanyi kazi dhidi ya kuongezeka kwa kalsiamu, unaweza kuhitaji kichafu chenye nguvu zaidi, kama vile kichafu cha CLR, ambacho hutengenezwa kukabiliana na kalsiamu, chokaa na kutu, asidi ya phosphoric, asidi ya sulfuric, au asidi ya muriatic. Asidi ya Muriatic ni yenye nguvu sana na inapaswa kutumiwa kwa uangalifu. Ikiwa unahitaji dawa za kusafisha za aina hii, hakikisha kusoma maagizo yote, tumia mahali palipo na hewa nzuri, na vaa miwani na glavu za kinga. Baadhi ya vifaa vya kusafisha huenda visivifaa kwa ajili ya nyuso fulani na huhitaji kuyeyushwa kwa njia fulani wakati wa kutumiwa. Kuondoa na kusafisha kikamilifu aerator faucet Wakati kurekebisha sura ya nje ya calcium kujengwa juu ya faucets ni muhimu, kusafisha uharibifu kufanyika na maji ngumu ndani pia ni muhimu. Kwa kuondoa na kusafisha faucet aerator, unaweza kuboresha mtiririko wa maji yako na kuzuia ujenzi wa baadaye. Kuondoa aerator kutoka kichwa cha bomba, kugeuka katika mwelekeo wa anti-clockwise. Huenda ukahitaji kamba ili kukusaidia kuiondoa kwa urahisi. Kuweka wimbo wa sehemu zote wakati umefanya kuondoa hivyo utakuwa na uwezo wa kwa urahisi reattach baada ya kuondoa maji ngumu kujengwa. Vifaa vya kusafisha vinavyoweza kutumiwa kwenye kipeperushi cha hewa vinavyoweza kutumiwa nje ya mfereji. Kuchanganya kiasi sahihi cha asidi ya kusafisha katika bakuli, kisha kuweka aerator ndani. Meza kwa muda mrefu kama vile msafishaji anaelekeza, kabla ya kuosha kikamilifu na kuosha katika maji ya mtiririko. Sasa unaweza kuunganisha tena kiyoyozi chako safi cha bomba la hewa! Njia ya kudumu ya matibabu ya maji magumu: Wakati kushughulika na amana za madini kwenye bomba lako inaweza kuwa mchakato wa moja kwa moja, suluhisho bora la kukabiliana na athari za maji magumu kwenye bomba lako ni kiyoyozi cha maji au kichujio. Filters za maji ya nyumba nzima: Ikiwa maji magumu ni tatizo la kudumu katika eneo lako, filters za maji za nyumba nzima zinaweza kuwa chaguo lako bora. Filters hizi ni bora kuliko filters za mahali pa matumizi, ambazo zimeunganishwa na faucets yako na zinapinga tu mkusanyiko wa kalsiamu ya nje. Filters ya nyumba nzima ni kushikamana haki katika chanzo cha maji ya nyumba yako, kulinda plumbing ndani na kuchuja uchafuzi. Mifano kadhaa hutoa viwango vingi vya kuchuja, kukabiliana na chuma, kalsiamu, na alama nyingine za madini, pamoja na bakteria, virusi, na kemikali zilizotengenezwa na wanadamu. Filters hizi zinaweza kuhitaji matengenezo mara kwa mara na inaweza kuwa ghali kufunga, lakini pia inaweza kuokoa kiasi kikubwa cha kusafisha na matengenezo ya kazi. Filter ya maji ya chini ya sink: Ikiwa filters ya maji ya chini ya sink ni ya bei ghali sana, unaweza kutumia filters za maji ya chini ya sink. Hii inaweza kulinda faucets yako kuu, lakini inaweza kutoa ulinzi kama wa bomba na vifaa kama kichujio cha nyumba nzima. Baadhi ya mifano pia ni vigumu kufunga na inaweza kusababisha kiwango cha juu cha taka kwa uwiano wa maji. Unaweza pia kuzingatia kichujio cha maji cha bomba maalum, ambacho ni bora kwa maeneo yasiyotumiwa sana. WD-40 inaondoa amana za kalsiamu? Ndio, nina hakika. WD-40 inaweza kuondoa uchafu wa maji, calcium deposits, na madoa ya maji magumu. Je, Coca-Cola huondoa chokaa? - Ndiyo - Coke ina asidi phosphoric, ambayo ni kubwa katika kula limescale na calcium kujenga. Hatungependekeza hii kama go-ya yako ya kwanza, ingawa. Ninawezaje kuondoa madoa ya maji magumu kwenye glasi? Unaweza kutumia mchanganyiko wa maji na siki ili kuondoa madoa ya maji makali kwenye glasi. Futa sehemu zenye ugumu kwa kutumia mswaki wa meno. Je, maji yanayochemka huondoa kalsiamu? Kuoka maji kunaweza kuondoa bakteria yoyote mbaya lakini haitaondoa madini kama vile kalsiamu ambayo huathiri ugumu wake. Suluhisho zaidi za kudumu za matibabu ya maji zinahitajika, kama vile vichungi vya maji vya nyumba nzima. Kuondoa amana za maji magumu kutoka kwa bomba si jambo lisilowezekana, lakini linaweza kuthibitisha kuwa kazi ya kukatisha tamaa, kwani bila suluhisho la kudumu, wataendelea kuonekana. Maji ni muhimu kwa afya, afya na usafi wetu, kwa hivyo ni muhimu kuhakikisha kwamba tunatumia maji safi iwezekanavyo. Holly Curell ni mhariri wa ajabu kwa ajili ya Plumbing Lab. Akiwa amekulia Michigan, Holly ametumia muda akiishi New York, Virginia, na sasa North Carolina, ambapo anaishi na mume wake na familia. Msichana huyo anapenda kufanya kazi mwenyewe na ana uzoefu wa miaka mingi na matatizo ya mabomba ya nyumbani yanayotokana na kuwa na watoto watatu na kuishi katika hali ya hewa baridi. Wakati yeye si kuandika kuhusu maarifa yake plumbing, Holly anafurahia kusoma, hiking & kupumzika na familia.