Mineral Deposits and Lime Scale Removal Tips
Do you have hard water? If you are not sure, you probably do not have hard water. If you have hard water, you know what hard water deposits are. Beside the way it makes lathering soap very difficult, hard water makes its presence known by leaving behind icky mineral deposits. Those ugly,
crusty stains are difficult to get rid of. Please, read ahead to learn how to remove hard water deposits from your home.
Hard water is caused by minerals in the water. Calcium and magnesium are the usual culprits, though iron and other minerals can play a role in some areas. Once hard water evaporates, it leaves behind the minerals and they create the disgusting hard water deposit. The best way to deal with hard water deposits is to prevent them. Fix leaks and rinse sinks, bathtubs and showers after using them. Make sure to always dry them after use, also. Try mixing a half teaspoon of water conditioner (Calgon is an example) with one quart of water and spray it on wet surfaces. Dry the surfaces after spraying.
Why not try getting rid of hard water completely? You can install a water-softening system that uses sodium to combat the calcium and magnesium. Check at your local home improvement store because the water softening system will need to tailor made for the water in your area. If you can prevent the minerals from being left behind you will not have to know how to remove hard water deposits!
When it comes to removing hard water deposits, there are different types of cleaners that can be used. Sequestrants actually capture the minerals before they can leave a deposit. Surfactants loosen the deposit for easier cleaning. Acids break down hard water deposits. Alkalis suspend the minerals so that they are easily rinsed away.
To remove hard water deposits from ceramic tile, use an acid-free bathroom cleaner. Do not use products containing bleach. Formula 409, any soap scum removers and, of course, CLR will work well to remove hard water deposits on ceramic tile. If you are looking for a more natural method, try a mixture of one part vinegar and four parts water.
#
Remove excess dirt, grime or mildew from the area requiring cleaning.
#
Step 2
Apply an acid cleaner, such as one containing phosphoric acid, to affected areas. Specifically, use a vitreous enamel cleaner on enameled surfaces or a cream cleaner on acrylic surfaces.
#
Step 3
Consider an alternative: Try wiping the area with liberal amounts of white vinegar. Leave the area for 30 minutes and allow the chemicals to break down the hardened mineral deposits.
#
Step 4
Rinse the chemically treated area thoroughly.
#
Step 5
Reapply the cleaner for a longer period of time if deposits are extreme and don't respond to an initial treatment, then scrub with a razor blade or steel wool.
Hard Water Problems
Water described as "hard" means it is high in dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not a health risk, but a nuisance because of its tendancy to cause mineral buildup in water pipe and heating systems, and its poor soap and/or detergent performance when compared with soft water.
Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily. When it combines with carbon dioxide in the air to form. very weak carbonic acid, an even better solvent results.
As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water "hard." The degree of hardness becomes greater as the calcium and magnesium content increases.
What Can You Do?
There are a number of tips you can follow to reduce the effects of hard water in your home, without having to make any major changes:
Choose a correct laundry detergent – Some laundry detergents do not produce as many suds in hard water, these are likely to be soap-based products and do not work as well in hard-water as detergent based products. Nowadays, there are washing powders and liquids available for a wide range of water hardness. Make sure you choose the correct detergent for your area; you may also need to use slightly more detergent than the manufacturers recommended amount to compensate for the hard water. In many cases the manufacturer will give specific instructions on how to use the product in hard water areas, look out for these labels on your product.
Reduce the temperature of your boiler – As the water temperature increases, the more mineral deposits will appear in your dishwasher, water tank and pipes. By reducing the heat of your boiler to about 55oC, you will have enough hot water for your shower and you will reduce the amount of mineral build-up in your pipes and tanks. Use rinse agents to remove mineral deposits – There are many rinse agents available to remove mineral deposits from crockery and dishwasher. Alternatively, you can use white vinegar by using the dishwasher dispenser or placing a cup of vinegar on the dishwasher rack. Boil some white vinegar in your kettle as a useful way of removing hard water deposits.
Water conditioners or Water Softeners?
Traditionally the water treatment market had one main solution to hard water. This solution was water softeners. However, in recent years alternative treatments have become increasingly popular, the most interesting of which is electromagnetic water conditioning.
Water Softeners work by ion exchange, so sodium replaces the calcium and/or magnesium in the water. Water Conditioners on the other hand create a magnetic field around your pipework which alters the ions in the water so that they loose their ability to cause scale. In tackling hard water, both methods will reduce limescale. Water Conditioners are significantly less expensive to start with and they have negligible running costs. Water Softeners cost a lot more but have the added effect that they will treat very small amounts of other metals such as Copper, Iron or Zinc.
