Hard Water Stains Vs Scrub Daddy Cif. We Found Out Which One Is Tougher

Over the summer, my family and I moved to an area in the Midwest that has notoriously hard water. Having always lived in places with relatively low-mineral water, I was shocked to see the transformation that my plates, silverware, and coffee mugs suddenly went through due to hard water stains. I quickly learned that hard water is really just water that has a higher than average concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. I thought that simply scrubbing harder during pre-washing might help to counteract the film that was slowly creeping over the inside of our favorite coffee mugs. However, I soon learned that hard water reacts in an interesting way with cleaners and detergents to make them less effective, and that it was this interaction that was to blame for the worsening brown-hued film in my mugs.

If scrubbing harder was out of the question, then what was a person to do to remove hard water stains? After all, even though I knew that my dishes were technically clean, they sure didn't look like they were. It was time to find a solution. I tried embracing the use of a rinse aid (which I formerly swore off using due to the cost), pre-soaking mugs, and using a microfiber cloth to scrub away the film, but despite my efforts, these methods didn't yield impressive results. I'd had some success with Scrub Daddy Cif All Purpose Cleaning Cream when it came to getting filminess off of my shower floors, as well as removing haziness from my granite composite kitchen sink. Could it make a dent in my gross-looking coffee mugs?

I picked up my bottle of Scrub Daddy Cif Cleaning Cream at Target for $3.99 after realizing that I needed something that I could use to scrub away the grime and filminess around the house. Scrub Daddy Cif is unique in that it's safe for use on a number of materials, from kitchen appliances to ceramics, plastics, and metals (the product info only denotes that you shouldn't use it on linoleum or textiles). The first time I used it, I loved the fresh smell that it infused into my entire home and was impressed with how well it cut through the buildup of everyday grossness.

I should also note that while this particular product is marketed for use with the Scrub Daddy sponge, I used it with cleaning rags and regular kitchen dish scrubbers instead. If you want to use the recommended sponge, be sure to choose the right Scrub Daddy for your cleaning needs. While the ingredients in this cleaner are safe for use around the house, it does contain skin and eye irritants. Because of this, I'd recommend using it with cleaning gloves so that your skin stays protected.

When I was ready to try out the power of Scrub Daddy Cif on my filmy coffee mugs, I selected one of my ceramic mugs that had developed rings of brown buildup on the inside. I also pulled out a fresh microfiber cloth and a pair of cleaning gloves. After donning my gloves, I squeezed a generous amount of Scrub Daddy Cif cream on a slightly damp cloth (per the instructions on the cleaner's bottle), grabbed the mug, and got to scrubbing.

I didn't have to apply too much pressure, but I exerted more force than simply wiping the mug down. I imagine that if your mug had a more stubborn layer of film, you'd have to use a little more elbow grease. I scrubbed the inner sides of the mug for about a minute, checking my progress as I went. I was delighted to see that the stains were beginning to lift and that the brown rings were getting less noticeable. After I was satisfied with my results, I brought the mug over to the sink, washed it with dish soap, and dried it so I could review the finished product.

As soon as I washed my coffee mug, I instantly noticed that it had regained that crisp, clean shine that ceramic mugs ought to have. So far, so good. Next, I felt the inside of the mug and it realized that it felt cleaner, too. It seems that in addition to getting a cleaner finish on the mug, Scrub Daddy Cif had also been able to remove that telltale chalky texture that hard water leaves on dishes. 

Finally, I scrutinized the mug for any trace of coffee stains. I didn't notice any off-putting brown stains on the mug any more. It also looked like Scrub Daddy Cif had done a good job of removing some scratches that had formerly been inflicted on the inside of the mug. While I wouldn't say that the mug looked brand new after cleaning it, the results were impressive; I would no longer be embarrassed by handing our guests a coffee mug.

My final verdict on the question of whether Scrub Daddy Cif All Purpose Cleaning Cream can restore your stained coffee mugs to their former glory is a resounding "yes." Between the small price for the cleaner and extreme ease of use, I'd recommend this product to anyone frustrated by the condition of their coffee mugs.