Have you noticed an excessive calcium buildup on your shower faucet or head? Despite your bathroom’s pristine, the calcium buildup can make it look dirty. Calcium deposits, particularly in the drains and faucets, develop in your plumbing system as a result of using hard water. Although it is a common issue, you can resolve it using certain DIY remedies. Discover the reasons for calcium buildup brought on by hard water and how to get rid of it by reading on.
Why do calcium deposits form on faucets while using hard water?
When water that contains calcium salts that have been dissolved goes through your pipes to your shower heads and faucets, a buildup of calcium can occur. The beneficial qualities of water are diminished when considerable amounts of minerals and salts are present in significant concentrations. As is common knowledge, hard water is defined as having a high mineral content. The iron in the hard water might cause the deposit to appear rusty or yellow and leave a stain on the sinks and bathtubs.
How to Clean Faucets of Calcium Buildup
There are many solutions readily available on the market, particularly meant to eliminate calcium accumulation brought on by limescale. These products are effective, but normally contain a lot of chemicals. Always take caution when handling store-bought cleaning products, and protect your hands with a pair of rubber gloves. Using a mask to prevent inhaling the fumes is also a good idea if you have asthma.
You probably already have all that you need at home to solve the buildup around the faucets and drains in a safer way. In that case, you can save money and go for a DIY calcium buildup removal project using the following materials:
- White Vinegar
- Lemon
- Baking Soda
- Tissue paper or soft wipes
- Elastic bands
- Plastic bags
- Sponge or fabric piece
- Gloves
Once you’ve gathered your materials, the aerators inside of faucets and shower heads as well as their ends are impacted by calcium buildup. The accumulation may even be partially obstructing the tap, resulting in the water dripping irregularly rather than flowing. We advise removing the faucet aerator and shower head off the frame and cleaning them individually if you would like to clean the inside of it to avoid future clogs.
The following are some easy instructions to remove these fixtures:
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1. The aerator is located at the very top of the faucet.
2. To remove the aerator, lean over the faucet and hold it. Use pliers if it is difficult to remove.
3. Turn the aerator screw until it is fully off by rotating counterclockwise.
4. Keep an eye on washers and other parts carefully so that it’s easy for you to reattach all the parts in the correct order later.
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1. To protect the metal of your shower fitting, first, wrap an old cloth or fabric around it.
2. Next, grasp the connector with a set of pliers and turn counterclockwise.
3. With your bare hands, you might be able to remove the shower head.
After removing the shower head or aerator, put on your safety goggles and pour your preferred cleaning into a bowl. Gently add the cleanser to the removed fixtures. Pay special attention to the label’s instructions to determine how long to soak your fixtures and how to dilute harsher acids with water. When your shower head or aerator has finished soaking, scrape the surface with a rag cloth or sponge to get rid of any last-minute mineral buildup. This step is crucial because, if left on for an extended period of time, acids can dissolve metals.
Now let’s look into the procedures of cleaning the remaining parts of your shower/faucet. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar, then fasten it to the end of your taps or faucets with an elastic band in order to clean the faucet’s end and ideally the grubby aerator. In order for the vinegar to travel as far into the faucet as possible, the nozzle should be fully covered. For around two hours, keep the bag there and clean it with a sponge or towel. Allow the faucet to air dry before trying to turn on the water once more. After soaking the faucet’s end, if the problem with the flow of water persists, you may need to unscrew the faucet and immerse the aerator in vinegar before cleaning them.
Then wipe the faucet’s exterior by soaking numerous tissue paper or strips of cloth in vinegar. After wrapping it around the problem areas of the faucet, elastic bands should be employed to keep them in place. Wait an hour. After that, take off the rags and wash away any leftover accumulation with a wet wipe or sponge because the vinegar soak will have softened it. This task will be made simpler by the rough part of a fabric or sponge. Finally, dry the spot with a fresh towel after removing the accumulation.
Method of cleaning using baking soda: Baking soda and vinegar together are inexpensive to remove hard water stains from a bathroom faucet. Together, they help minerals break down and residue to be absorbed. You may also use this solution to polish stainless steel naturally.
To get rid of calcium deposits in the taps and faucets, mix baking soda and white vinegar into a paste and apply it to the surface, making careful to get all the spotting.
After ten or more minutes, wipe the mixture away with a moist cloth. Before cleaning the tap with a paper towel, rinse the cloth in warm water and remove all leftovers.
Steps to use lemon juice to clean calcium buildup: Lemon juice is a safe, natural alternative that works well to dissolve mineral deposits on kitchen faucets. Slice a fresh lemon in half, wrap it in a plastic bag, and use a rubber band to fasten it to the tap head.
To let the citric acid in the lemon do its magic, leave it in situ for a few hours. Cleaning the area around the faucet’s end with a cleaning pad after removing the bag and lemon. With a moist cloth, remove any remaining lemon juice, and then dry the area with paper towels.
How to Prevent Faucet Calcium Buildup
Installing a water-softening system is one of the most excellent ways to stop causing problems related to hard water. It offers perfect protection from calcium buildup to your appliances, pipe lines, and faucets. These systems use ion exchange to treat the water in your entire home, removing magnesium and calcium. It’s critical to do routine maintenance using any of the products mentioned over here, namely using vinegar or baking soda or lemon juice. It is the best method to ensure the faucets and the aerators are clean if you cannot afford to install a water softener unit. Make sure to wipe down the sink and taps with a fresh towel each use to stop standing water from leaving water stains.
The main causes of a faucet losing its lustre and water pressure are mineral buildup caused by hard water. Fortunately, with the correct DIY cleaner and a little time and effort, you can easily restore the sparkle to the kitchen and bathroom faucets.