The Unbeatable Method To Clean Hard Water Stains Off Shower Tiles

When considering the best shower tile to use in your bathroom, you should also think about how to get your new shower tiles clean. Everyday soap scum can be tackled with dish soap, but hard water stains can pose a challenge for even the toughest of cleaners. For those stubborn hard water stains that you can't seem to remove from your shower tiles, go to your refrigerator and grab a lemon — lemon juice contains citric acid, and that is precisely what you need to dissolve the buildup of minerals causing the stains.

You can rub a halved lemon directly on hard water stain buildup, or juice a few to use in a spray bottle for stain removal and other household uses for lemon juice. There are plenty of reasons why it's a good idea to keep lemons on hand in your refrigerator, so let's squeeze the details of this helpful hack to keep your shower tile looking brand new.

It's easy to use lemon juice on your shower tiles to remove stubborn hard water stains, and it only takes a little time (just note that citric acid can dull natural stone tiles like granite and marble, so this hack is not for use on those types os surfaces). Make sure to throw on a pair of rubber or latex gloves — lemon juice can cause mild skin irritation thanks to the citric acid. Rub the lemon or spray the juice liberally onto the stain. Leave it for ten minutes, then use a soft-bristled scrub brush to scrub the stain gently before rinsing.

If you've tried using lemon juice on hard water stains and still aren't seeing results, there are other options. You can try a solution of one part vinegar with one part water; spray the solution onto the hard water stain, leaving for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush and rinsing. If this doesn't entirely remove the stain, try the same process using a paste of white vinegar and baking soda. If this still isn't producing the desired result, there's no need to pit lemon juice vs. vinegar — let them work together, mixing both in equal parts into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto hard water stains and let it sit for five minutes, then use a soft-bristled brush to scrub it clean.