The DIY Epsom Salt Scrub Home Remedy To Banish Hard Water Stains

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is a proven way to ease sore and achy muscles in a bath soak, but it also has a variety of surprising, non-beauty uses in your home. The name is a bit of a misnomer as Epsom salt isn't technically salt but is, instead, a crystalline combination of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen that looks like salt. Regardless of its makeup, Epsom salt is an affordable, eco-friendly household product that can be used as a cleaning ingredient to deal with stubborn stains and buildup. Using Epsom salt to refresh your bathroom is a good alternative to pricey cleaners, and there's one use you might overlook. You can use a DIY scrub made of Epsom salt, baking soda, and dish soap to banish hard water stains in your bathroom.

Applying Epsom salt in a DIY scrub to your tub, shower, or other areas plagued with hard water stains is safe and easy. Consider that Epsom salt is gentle enough to be sold commercially as a bath scrub. If it's gentle enough to exfoliate your skin, you don't have to worry about damaging most surfaces when using it as a cleaner. Here's how to whip up the solution and use it as one of the best hacks to remove hard water stains.

When you notice the unsightly appearance of hard water stains on your tub and other bathroom fixtures, mix 1 cup of Epsom salt, ½ cup of baking soda, and a few drops of liquid dish soap in a container. Once you've blended your ingredients into a paste, apply it with a microfiber cloth dipped in warm water, scrubbing lightly to remove the stains. Next, let the solution sit for 5 minutes to break down the residue, then rinse with warm water. 

Hard water consists of minerals such as calcium and magnesium that build up and create limescale. When used in a cleaning scrub, Epsom salt works as a water softener, binding with the minerals. The baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps gently scrub and remove the stains, which is why mixing the common kitchen ingredient with Epsom salt is a powerful way to clean your toilet. Both ingredients can be used safely on stainless steel sinks and fixtures without worry, but don't use this scrub on anything made of aluminum, marble, or antique silver, or you may damage the surface.