Best Cleaner For Hard Water Stains In Bathtub

What is the best cleaner for hard water stains in bathtub? More importantly, do you know how to remove hard water stains from bathtub? If you don’t, then this guide is for you!

Hard water is essentially water that contains a higher amount of minerals. This water may seem beneficial at first, but you should know that hard water can lead to a myriad of problems.

First of all, you have to understand that modern plumbing systems are not designed to handle high mineral content in the water. As a result, the water leaves behind limescale residue throughout the pipes, thus reducing the amount of space available for water to flow.

The limescale deposits are generally hard and white, and usually have a scaly appearance. If you like to spend time in your bathtub, you may notice scaly deposits caused due to hard water.

It’s an eyesore, obviously, so you need to understand that there are quite a few things that you can do to keep your bathtub clean.

Thankfully, there are several natural and commercial methods and products available that can help you in removing these deposits and keeping the hot tub clean.

Hard water generally consists of a lot of minerals inside. These minerals then react with substances and chemicals found in things such as soap and shampoo.

The two most abundant minerals found in hard water, namely magnesium and calcium, react and create scum, which is the slimy substance that you might notice floating on the surface of your bathtub.

This slime eventually converts to the residue and the stains that are left behind. If the water in your area contains a bit of ferrous iron, you will notice some red stains appearing on the outer shell as well.

How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Bathtub

There are several steps that you can take to get rid of the stains. First of all, you have to understand that hard water has a higher level of alkalinity.

If you go back to the days of your high school and remind yourself of the lessons associated with alkalinity and acidity and the pH values of water, you will understand how to deal with the situation.

Water with a pH value that’s higher than 7 is considered basic. To neutralize the effects of a base, you will need an acidic solution. Ultimately, the answer is right there: acids can be used to cut down the alkaline residue caused by the hard water.

Amazingly, you don’t need to invest in complex or hard acids as well. You just need conventional mild acids, which are already found in most homes.

In fact, simple things such as white vinegar (distilled) and lemon juice or citrus juice are a great choice. They are found in most kitchens easily. If you want to clean the residual stains left by the hard water, here are a few steps that you need to take.

Start Cleaning

The first thing you need to do is clean the stains properly. You will want to begin by running water throughout the shell of the hot tub to get rid of any dirt deposits that may have gotten stuck on the surface.

Once you clean the tub properly, you will only have the limescale deposits left to deal with.

Ventilation

The smell of vinegar is quite bad and more importantly, very strong. You do not want to be in a room where you have used a lot of vinegar.

People who are sensitive to smells are likely to vomit as well. It might be a wise move to open all the windows so that air is allowed to move easily.

Best Cleaner For Hard Water Stains In Bathtub

Even though you can use the lemon juice or vinegar directly without any issue, you may want to dilute it first. These are hard substances, and may cause permanent staining if you are not careful.

You should consider diluting them by mixing them in water (equal parts) and then adding them in. The use of acids is going to be enough to get rid of the limescale deposits.

Instead of applying them directly, you may want to consider filling up a spray bottle and then using it. If you don’t have any of these substances, using citric acid bought from a local store is a great idea.

Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions to dilute it and then use it accordingly.

Let it Sit

Don’t just clean the area a few minutes after you have sprayed the acid. It’s going to take several hours for the acid to work its magic, and you have to let it do that.

It’s highly recommended that you allow the acid to sit for at least a few hours, and then visit and check just how much residue is left behind. If there’s more, you can just spray more on the surface.

It’s a great way to make sure that the strength of the acid does not deplete. If the stains are on the sides, it might be impossible to allow the solution to stick.

In such situations, you just need to take some paper towels and cover them in the solution. Then, hold them near the side until they stick. You can just spray on them regularly to ensure that they remain damp, and will continue to stick to the surface.

Scrubbing

With time, you will notice cracks appearing on the scaly deposits. When that happens, you just have to take a scrubber and get to work. Make sure you wear some rubber gloves so that your skin doesn’t get hurt in the process.

It’s recommended that you scrub with a brush and a soft cloth. Don’t use anything with hard bristles, as that could leave permanent marks on the tub’s shell.

Once you have cleaned the stains, just rinse the area with hot water until all of it is removed. It’s not difficult, and should not take more than a few minutes. There are commercial cleaners available that you can use for getting rid of harder stains as well.