Getting rid of hard water stains in a Phoenix home
White crust on the faucet, cloudy shower glass and spotty dishes are what Valley water leaves behind. Mild acids dissolve it; the trick is letting them sit long enough.
By surface
| Surface | What works | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Glass shower doors | Vinegar spray, wait, scrub, squeegee dry | Abrasive powders that scratch |
| Faucets and fixtures | Vinegar-soaked cloth wrapped round, left 30 minutes | Steel wool on plated finishes |
| Showerheads | Soak in a bag of vinegar, then run water through | Prying at nozzles |
| Toilet bowls | Pour vinegar or a limescale cleaner, leave, brush | Mixing cleaners (never mix with bleach) |
| Glassware and dishes | Soak in warm vinegar water, then wash | Harsh scouring |
| Natural stone | A stone-safe cleaner only | Vinegar and any acid |
For heavy build-up
Let the acid sit longer and repeat rather than scrubbing harder. A paste of citric acid and a little water clings to vertical surfaces. Rinse well and dry afterwards; standing acid can dull some finishes.
Keeping it away
- Squeegee or towel-dry glass and fixtures after use.
- Use a rinse aid in the dishwasher.
- Wipe faucets dry at the end of the day.
These slow it down. In very hard Valley water, the lasting fix is removing the hardness itself with a water softener; a salt-free conditioner may reduce scale but doesn’t stop spots.
Spots after you’ve got a softener
If spots keep appearing with a softener fitted, check that it’s working: salt in the tank, the right hardness setting, and not left in bypass.
Common questions
- What dissolves hard water stains?
- Mild acids: white vinegar, citric acid, or cleaners labelled for limescale. They break down the calcium carbonate that makes up most hard water deposits.
- Can I use vinegar on natural stone?
- No. Acids can etch marble, travertine and other natural stone. Use a cleaner labelled safe for stone.
- Why do my dishes come out of the dishwasher cloudy?
- Usually hard water spotting. A rinse aid helps; so does a dishwasher detergent made for hard water. Soft water stops most of it.