Using hard water can pose serious challenges to keeping your surfaces clean. Hard water contains high concentrations of minerals. Unlike soft water, hard water often leaves stains that can be frustrating, as they are hard to remove. You cannot use the same method to remove the stains from different surfaces. Each surface requires different tools. It is important to ensure the stains do not stay on the surfaces for too long, lest they seep deeper and become harder to remove. To keep surfaces in their original color, it is important to learn how to remove hard water stains.
Stains on Glass Surfaces
Water on glass surfaces leaves white cloudy mineral deposits upon evaporating. It can be a tough job to remove these deposits. However, there is a cheap method to remove the hard water stains from glass. All you need is warm water and vinegar. Mix them in the ratio 1:1 such that you use a cup of vinegar and a cup of warm water. Spray the mixture on the surface and give it 15 minutes. The acetic acid in the vinegar will dissolve the mineral deposits. You can then gently scrub off the deposits and wipe the glass clean. Windows will require half a cup of vinegar and baking soda as well as a cup of ammonia in a gallon of water.
Toilet Bowl Stains
Using hard water in the toilet can have an unwanted outcome on the bowl. It can discolor it and make it an eyesore. Sometimes, even the commercial cleaners available may not be able to remove such stains. You can make an inexpensive natural toilet cleaner to help remove these stubborn hard water stains from your toilet bowl. The ingredients necessary for this are vinegar and baking soda in the ratio 2:1. That means one cup of baking soda for two cups of vinegar. Pour a cup of vinegar into the bowl and stir before adding the baking soda followed by another cup of vinegar. The mixture should stay overnight before you scrub the bowl.
Stains on the Tub
Tubs accumulate mineral deposits from hard water in a similar way to toilet bowls. These stains may require something more than your average cleaning products. A homemade solution may do the trick for you. You will need a cup of distilled vinegar, a tablespoon of table salt, a tablespoon of baking soda and water. Spray the vinegar on the stained surface and give it 30 minutes. Then mix the baking soda and table salt, which you then apply on the surfaces with vinegar. A gentle rub will remove the stains.
Stains on Shower Doors
Your shower is probably the hardest place to keep free from stains. The constant use means that it is easy for mineral deposits to accumulate even on the door. To remove these stains, you will need a lemon, a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of vinegar. Squeeze the lemon over the stained surface before applying a mix of the baking soda and vinegar. It will loosen the deposits and allow you to wipe them off.
Water Treatment Options in Austin, TX
Ready to start keeping your home free of hard water stains? A water softener in your Austin, TX home can help by removing the minerals that cause stains. For more information, or a free water quality analysis, contact Austin Water Solutions, a water treatment company in Austin, TX.