An expert has shared an easy way to remove limescale from your taps – and all you need is one kitchen ingredient. The cleaning hack is perfect for those living in hard water areas
Limescale is a common issue in homes and can be found anywhere water is frequently used, including shower heads, toilets, pipes, bathtubs, kettles and of course, taps.
The build-up of limescale is easy to spot – it’s a hard deposit with a white, chalk-like appearance, which comes from the high amount of calcium carbonate present.
While it can be one of the most annoying cleaning tasks for homeowners due to its rapid accumulation, it’s simple to handle and remove with the right product.
Nancy Emery, a cleaning guru at Tap Warehouse, has revealed how to eliminate stubborn limescale deposits from taps using a brilliant natural method – lemon juice.
Lemons are a cleaning dynamo and can be utilised to clean shower glass, kettles and microwaves, reports the Express.
They’re also perfect for cleaning taps as they contain citric acid which can “melt off limescale”.
Nancy suggested: “To get rid of limescale on your taps, you’ll need to make a 75 to 25 solution of lemon juice and water.
“All you need to do is use a soft sponge and gently wipe the solution, leaving it on the tap to dissolve the limescale deposits for two minutes. Once the time is up, rinse thoroughly with water.”
She added: “For special finishes such as brushed brass, matte black or chrome, it’s especially important to avoid using harsh chemicals such as vinegar when cleaning. Lemons are quite acidic, so make sure you don’t let the lemon juice solution sit for longer than two minutes.”
After giving the taps a good rinse with water, they should be dried using a microfibre cloth. Not only will this add a gleaming shine, it will help to ward off limescale.
The lemon solution can also be put to good use by cleaning the aerator in your tap (a small attachment that either fits onto the end of the tap or can be inserted inside of the existing spout), which is often a hotspot for limescale build-up.
To get rid of the limescale, grab a toothbrush and the lemon juice solution and give it a good scrub.
To keep stubborn limescale at bay on your taps, make sure you clean them regularly – ideally once a week, particularly if you’re residing in a hard water area.
Dishwasher liquid is a good product to use to descale toilets as it usually contains cleaning agents that can break down limescale. Simply pour a generous amount down your toilet bowl and leave 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing with a brush and flushing to rinse. Your loo should have returned to its former glory,
