Limescale is the crusty whitish buildup that often appears on showerheads, faucets, appliances, and pipes. It can make appliances run less efficiently and lower water pressure, plus it looks ugly. Limescale is caused by hard water, which is water with a high mineral content. Many homes have hard water, so limescale is very common.
So, now that you know what that unsightly stuff on your showerhead is, what can you do about it?
The minerals in limescale can be dissolved by mild acids such as lemon or lime juice and vinegar. Mix together lemon juice and vinegar, spray the solution onto your showerhead, faucet, or anything else that has visible limescale. Leave the solution on for at least an hour, then wipe it off. The limescale should come with it.
Use the same lemon/vinegar mixture to remove limescale from appliances as well. Run the mixture through dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers to help clean limescale out of them.
If limescale is building up significantly in places you can see, it is probably forming internally on your pipes as well. Have a plumber inspect your pipes and let you know how bad the buildup is and what your options are. Limescale also builds up inside hot water tanks, so make sure you have your hot water tank serviced once a year to get rid of any limescale and make sure your tank is running smoothly.
The more limescale that builds up, the harder it is to remove, so keep regularly cleaning areas where you know limescale forms to prevent it from becoming a big job to remove.
The only way to completely prevent limescale is to install a water softener. This removes mineral content from your household’s water so that limescale will not form.
Interested in having a water softener installed? Call us today at 1-587-200-7566.