How To Remove Limescale

Limescale is a build-up of calcium carbonate and magnesium bicarbonate in your pipes, hot water heaters and any appliance that uses water, like kettles, dishwashers, washing machines, and even taps and shower screens. This build-up is the result of hard water in your home.

Do I Have Hard Water?

It’s pretty easy to tell if you have hard water. There’s white gritty build-up in the bottom of your kettle that sometimes surprises you in your tea? You have trouble getting a decent lather with your shampoo, no matter how much you use? No matter how often you clean the shower glass there are white stains once the water dries? You’ve got hard water.

Why Hard Water & Limescale Are A Problem

Over time, the build up of limescale can impair the effectiveness of your plumbing and appliances, and even cause lasting damage.

Left untreated on your shower screen or taps, limescale can actually eat into the surface, causing unsightly marks that can’t be removed. The build-up in your pipes can adversely affect water pressure, and the effectiveness of hot water heaters and kettles.

Cleaning Limescale

There are several products you can use to help remove limescale build-up in your plumbing, appliances and wet areas.

Dishwashers & Washing Machines –put about a cup of Descaler in the bottom of your machine and run on a hot, empty cycle. This will not only clean the machine, but clean the pipes ‘downstream’ as it is washed away.

Shower Glass & Tiles – using gloves, first clean your shower with Bathroom Maintainer to remove any soap scum, mould, or mildew. Then wipe down with Descaler, leave to sit for a few minutes, agitate with a non-abrasive pad then rinse with hot water. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Taps, Sinks, Toilets – Again, start with a clean slate using Bathroom Maintainer or All Purpose Cleaner, then wearing gloves, wipe down the sink with Descaler. For the toilet pour a cup of Descaler into the toilet bowl and the cistern and leave for 10-15 minutes before flushing. Always rinse and dry the area you have cleaned well after using Descaler.

Kettles & Coffee Makers – since you are ingesting what comes out of your kettle it’s important to take care with what you use. Fill your kettle with a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar, leave for about an hour, then boil. Rinse well to avoid the taste of vinegar in your tea. If at first you don’t succeed, give it another try. If that doesn’t work it might be time for a new kettle…

Plumbing – this one is a little tougher. Anything downstream of appliances you’ve treated will benefit, but as for the taps coming into the house, and the hot water heater, you may need professional assistance. If the build-up is not yet causing problems, installing a water softener is your best option.

To keep limescale to a minimum, always wipe dry any wet areas if your home. If you remove the water, you remove the minerals that cause limescale, reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

Eliminating Limescale

Once you have removed the limescale from all your plumbing, household appliances and surfaces how do you ensure you don’t have to do all this again? Easily solved with a water softener.

A water softener, is a short pipe you add to your plumbing at or near the water meter. Each is slightly different, but in essence they remove the limescale-causing minerals from the water before it even reaches your home. Problem solved.

JAMAC Cleaning supplies have all the products you could possibly need to take care of the limescale in your home. Click here if you would like to order, or if you would like further information or advice on the best way to tackle your particular cleaning related problems, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or (02) 9838 1220.

Products Recommended In This Article:

Descaler
Bathroom Maintainer
All Purpose Cleaner