6 Ways to Remove Hard Water Stains

Noticing odd red, brown, or pink stains in your shower or toilet? Don’t worry, these are not cause for concern! Those are simply hard water stains caused by mineral deposits in your water. While they are not damaging to your shower in any way, they can be unsightly and unpleasant to look at.

There are a few easy tricks you can try at home to clean off these stains and make your shower spick and span. To help you keep your home clean, we have created an outline to discuss what hard water stains are and how to remove water spots and stains from different surfaces.

What Are Water Stains?

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Hard water stains are mineral deposits left behind after water evaporates off of a surface. The color of the stains can depend on the minerals in your water, how hard your water is, and how long the deposits have been sitting there.

If your water has magnesium or calcium in it, it can look like a cloudy white residue, while if there is iron or manganese in your water it can appear as red, pink, brown, or even black stains. These minerals are not dangerous or harmful in any way, but they can be unpleasant to look at.

Top Causes of Water Stains

As previously mentioned, the top cause of water stains in showers, bathtubs, and bathrooms is a higher concentration of minerals in your water, or how hard your water is.

Water hardness refers to the amount of minerals in your water, specifically magnesium and calcium. The more of these minerals that are in your water, the “harder” it is, and the more likely you are to develop water stains in your shower or toilet.

Recommended Methods for Removing Hard Water Stains

Thankfully, while water stains can be tough to remove, there are a handful of techniques that you can try at home that are cost-effective and low hassle. These methods include baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, using a water softener, OxiClean, and borax. All of these methods are safe for you to use and are no risk to any pets or children you may have in the home.

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a classic method of removing hard water stains from a multitude of surfaces. Simply mix baking soda and water until you have the consistency of a paste, and then apply the paste to the surface with water stains. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then scrub it gently with an old toothbrush or sponge.

2. Vinegar

You can use either regular vinegar or one with a higher acidity, as that acid is what will break down the mineral deposits. All you need to do is spray the surface with vinegar from a spray bottle and let it sit for 15 minutes, adding more if the vinegar begins to dry. Lastly, lightly scrub the area with an old toothbrush or abrasive brush to remove the hard water spots.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can work to remove tough hard water stains from your plumbing fixtures, bathtub, or shower. Spray a hydrogen peroxide solution onto the surface and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. After that, scrub the area with an old brush or sponge.

4. Invest in a Water Softener

Looking to prevent water stains before they appear in your shower? One preventative measure you can take is to invest in a water softener. Water softeners work to remove those minerals from your water before they come out of your shower head or faucets.

5. OxiClean Foam-Tastic

There is also a wide range of cleaning products on the market designed to take care of tricky water stains. One such product is OxiClean Foam-Tastic, previously known as Kaboom Foam-Tastic. All you have to do is spray the surface with the foam, wait for it to turn white, and then wipe it away.

6. Borax

If straight vinegar is not cutting it, then you can add some borax to it to create a paste that will clean up water stains when applied to the surface. Just let it sit for 15 minutes and then clean it up with a brush.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Showers and Tubs

Depending on the surface that the stains are on, the method of cleaning tough hard water stains can vary. For example, knowing how to remove hard water stains from showers and tubs can be tricky because of the constant flow and drying of water from showers and baths.

To remove water stains and prevent them from building up, make a vinegar solution in a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water. Spray down your shower once a week and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then scrub your shower or tub down with a brush or microfiber cloth.

Ways to Eliminate Water Stains on Shower Heads and Faucets

Shower heads can be tricky to clean because they are not as easily accessible as your faucet. Regardless, you can clean either by filling a bowl with a solution of equal parts CLR and hot water. From there, soak the fixture in the bowl for 2-3 minutes and then carefully scrub it with a brush.

Tips for Getting Rid of Hard Water Stains on Glass

Hard water buildup on glass can easily be removed using the baking soda solution mentioned above. In addition, you can also prevent water spots from forming by using a small squeegee on your glass shower door after every shower, which will remove the water droplets and prevent them from evaporating on the glass and leaving spots.

Ways to Remove Water Stains in Toilets

Since toilets are typically made of porcelain, the methods mentioned above should be able to safely remove any hard water stains in your toilet. However, you can also use preventative measures such as cleaning stones or gels that go inside the toilet bowl and help prevent stains from forming.

How Can You Tell If You Have Hard Water?

The most obvious sign that your home has hard water is looking at your showers and faucets. If there are considerable water stains or buildup of minerals, then you have hard water. In addition, you can also buy inexpensive water testing kits that will measure the ratio of minerals in your water to determine if you have hard water.

Professional Water Softener Installation and Repair Services

If you are looking for a permanent solution for eliminating water stains on flat surfaces, contact our plumbers by phone at (715) 283-4422 .Our team of expert plumbers offer reputable water softener installation services for homes in West Central Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Looking for a plumbing company to help you out? Our team of skilled plumbers in Menomonie, Wisconsin are ready to help with water softener installation and repair solutions. We also offer water line repairs and drain cleaning services in your local area. Contact us today online for more information