Minerals in the water are responsible for the formation of hard water deposits, which can gradually accumulate on plumbing fixtures and clog faucet aerators.

Not only do they make your bathroom faucets and fixtures look terrible, but these hard water deposits can also make them less efficient over time.

To keep your faucets and fixtures at home looking nice and working correctly, it’s a good idea to clean hard water deposits regularly (at least on a weekly basis).

But if you're concerned that cleaning them will require a special cleaning product that will only add to your ever-growing weekly expenses, worry not because a common pantry item will do the job just fine!

One mum shared how to get rid of hard water stains on taps. Credit: Instagram/carolina.mccauley.​

According to a cleaning and organising guru on social media, inconvenient hard water stains that amass around the base of bathroom taps can be removed without the use of pricey commercial cleaners.

In fact, this cleaning method is so easy you don't even have to bother scrubbing!

Carolina McCauley, a Perth-based mum who calls herself the "home hacks queen" on the internet, says that to remove stubborn hard water stains, all you need is regular white vinegar and a microfibre cloth.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. First, fill up a bowl with white vinegar and soak your microfibre towel. (One microfibre towel per tap or area.)
2. After the towels have absorbed enough vinegar, wrap them around the taps and faucets that are stained. Leave them for about 30 minutes.
3. Once the time is up, remove the vinegar-soaked towels from your taps. If there are any remaining stains visible, scrub the faucet with a non-scratch sponge, paying particular attention to the areas with the most buildup.
4. Use a non-scratch sponge or pad and lots of water to avoid scratching the faucet's finish. If the faucet and the sponge are both dry, even a non-scratch sponge can damage the finish.
5. To eliminate all of the hard water deposits, repeat these steps as necessary.

Note: One user who commented on Carolina's video warned that if your fixtures have chrome finishes, you might want to check with your manufacturer first because vinegar can damage chrome finishes.

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While each of these objects is made of a different material, the methods for removing hard water deposits from a toilet, porcelain sink, enamelled tub, or ceramic shower tile are fairly similar. Despite being extremely durable, all of them can be damaged by sharp metal objects or harsh scrubbers.

Apply vinegar (or a vinegar and Borax solution) to these surfaces, then scrub with the most effective sponge, pad, or scrub brush that won't damage the finish. On the majority of toilets, enamelled tubs, and tile, you can even use steel wool or extremely fine sandpaper.

And if you are sick and tired of dealing with the various issues that hard water causes, you should consider having a water softening system installed in your home in order to treat your water supply.

We hope these tips are helpful, members! For information on how to remove hard water stains on your shower doors, this video below might help:

Credit: Life with Lizzet.​

 

[RTS]

Hard water stains, which are calcium carbonate, soaked with vinegar dissolves them without scrubbing.

 

[MIZMAC]

This method is great for the whole shower, removes all the soap scum.