Tips For Preventing Hard Water Stains From Building Up In The Sink

Hard water is a fact of life in many homes. Some just have to deal with the occasional nuisance of hard water stains from time to time, while others are afflicted with pipe corrosion and other horrors hard water can cause. Hard water simply refers to the build-up of minerals in water, and it can increase seasonally based on factors including higher temperatures and rainfall amounts. Those minerals (namely calcium and magnesium) produce hard water spots and limescale which, while not harmful to your health, are unsightly and can damage your sink and pipes.

With the right cleaning solutions, there are several ways to easily remove hard water stains. But the best way to get rid of hard water stains is to prevent them to begin with. The simplest way to do that is by wiping down your sink every time you use it. Soaking up the water removes the stain-building minerals as well, so they won't have a chance to build up over time. If you already know you won't remember to do that every time you use the sink, a quick daily clean with diluted vinegar will keep hard water stains at bay. A more drastic step is to install a water softener in the home to filter minerals out of the water. This can be necessary especially if your pipes are at risk from hard water damage.

If you already have stubborn hard water stains on the faucet and around the basin, fear not. You can get your sink sparkling again and kiss those hard water stains goodbye using pantry essentials and natural ingredients. Everything from baking soda and vinegar to epsom salt to lemon juice can erase hard water stains from your home's water fixtures.

For sink basins, start with a baking soda paste of equal parts water and baking soda. Apply the paste to the stains and scrub gently with an old toothbrush if the stains have been there for a while. Then, spray a solution of equal parts water and vinegar over the paste and let the fizzy reaction work its magic for a few minutes. Rinse out your sink and wipe it clean with a sponge or cloth to reveal a sparkling surface.

You can also use vinegar to restore your sink faucet to its former glory. Just soak a soft and absorbent cloth (such as microfiber) with vinegar and leave it wrapped around the faucet for an hour or so. Then, gently scrub the faucet with a sponge or old toothbrush and rinse and wipe clean. Follow up these cleaning methods with regular sink wipe-downs or quick daily vinegar cleanings to keep hard water stains from coming back.