How to clean lime scale from plumbing fixtures with minimal effort and expense?

Tap water contains an excess of potassium and magnesium, which are the main cause of lime scale on the surface of sanitary ware. Limescale stains spoil the appearance of surfaces, especially chrome-plated ones, and the problem can worsen over time if not taken care of in time. In this article we will talk about the peculiarities of cleaning faucets made of different materials. 

Folk ways to get rid of lime scale

1. If we talk about budgetary ways to get rid of lime scale, the first point, of course, will be a folk remedy – soda. For its use you need to dilute with water to form a thick mass, apply to the surface without rubbing, leave for an hour, then carefully remove the residue. If there are still spots – rub with the hard side of the sponge, rinse with water and wipe dry. 

2. You can use baking soda with the addition of laundry soap. Dilute a crushed bar of soap with one teaspoon of baking soda and add a little hot water. Apply the resulting liquid to a washcloth and you can start cleaning starting from the bathtub, ending with the kitchen table. It can be used on absolutely all surfaces as it is hypoallergenic and disinfectant. 

3. The next one of the most affordable means is – 9% vinegar diluted with water 1 to 1. Soak a rag or washcloth in the solution, rinse, requiring cleaning sanitary ware, rinse with water and wipe dry. It is good if after cleaning you rub the washed surfaces with microfiber, which will add shine to the chrome surface.  

4. Citric acid is one of the most indispensable helpers in the kitchen and bathroom. You can clean the surfaces with the lemon itself, cut in half and dipped in salt. And you can use citric acid. To do this, using a damp washcloth or rag, apply it directly to the problem areas, leave it for a while and wash it off with water. In addition to fighting with lime scale, with the help of this means you can get rid of mold in the washing machine. 

However, if you keep up with the times, you realize that technology does not stand still, and therefore, to reduce the time of cleaning should use the “right” household chemicals, which are analogous to folk remedies, as they also consist of natural components and hypoallergenic. It is important that they do not contain acids, which can spoil the chrome surface. 

How to clean a faucet properly

To clean the faucet is quite simple, but there are peculiarities here. The fact is that lime stone very often accumulates not only on the surface of the faucet, but also in various locking elements, because of which small particles are able to create micro cuts in the threads when closing and opening valves, which will lead to increased accumulation of plaque there and the development of corrosion. Also, dirt often remains in hard-to-reach places, which can be very difficult to remove from. Here are some tips on how to deal with all these problems simply and effectively:

• Use liquid faucet cleaners in spray form so that the substance gets into even the smallest of grooves.
• Clean the faucet both open and closed – this way you’ll be able to remove more dirt from hard-to-reach areas.
• Use a toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas. You can use it to clean all the curves of the faucet very conveniently.
• When using household chemicals, carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. If you want to take out a strong contamination, it is safer for the faucet to apply the remedy twice than once, but for a long time.
• Rinse the plumbing well after the residue of household chemicals and, preferably, dry it with a towel or napkin.

By following these ingenuous rules, your faucet will always be clean and will last for many years.

How to clean chrome surfaces

Chrome faucets always look particularly stylish and emphasize the finish of a bathroom or kitchen. Except that such sanitary ware needs regular and reverent care.

Keep in mind that if for just iron faucets were contraindicated hard brushes, then for chrome surfaces their use is prohibited by the police common sense!

To clean a chrome faucet safely and effectively, observe the following rules:

• Regular maintenance.

In any spare moment, wipe faucets with a slightly damp microfiber cloth. And then dry. In this way you will remove minor dust and grease deposits.

• For small soiling.

If the dirt is small and mostly organic in nature, you can clean it with a regular dish detergent. Lather a sponge, apply the foam to the faucet for a minute, and then rinse well. It is necessary to repeat several times.

• For dirt.

If the faucet appeared before you in a completely deplorable state and the fact that under the layer of dirt is a chrome surface, you know only from your happy memories, then take a special household chemical for cleaning and do not try your fate, doing amateur work.

Chrome likes regular maintenance, as most models of sanitary ware have a very thin plating, which can only be prolonged by treating it with care.

Nickel-plated faucet: cleaning features

A nickel-plated faucet can, in fact, be cleaned using the above methods. For its cleaning, it is also strictly not recommended to use any abrasives and hard brushes. Apart from the mentioned techniques, you can add a few more equally effective ones:

• use a window cleaner for small contaminants – fast, does not require rinsing, does not leave streaks;
• soap solution with the addition of food salt effectively and gently removes not very dense lime scale, just be sure to rinse the solution well;
• fish or animal fat – apply it to the stains for a couple of days, then wash it off together with the dirt easily and safely for the nickel surface.

Such techniques are, without exaggeration, ways to prolong the life of your plumbing fixtures many times over.

How to clean bronze faucets

Bronze faucets differ in material structure from their chrome and nickel-plated counterparts. Their matte surface is not so sensitive to physical damage and some acids, but they have another problem – due to the lack of a dense glossy protective layer bronze over time fades, darkens and can even become stained. What to do?

Here you can play a little with different acids. We suggest starting with tomato paste. Just coat the mixer with this substance for half an hour and you will be surprised how citric and malic acid perfectly cope with the darkening of bronze.

Another interesting and simple way is to use flour, salt and vinegar in a 2/2/1 ratio. The resulting mixture should also be applied to the faucet for about half an hour, after which wash the faucet well and dry it with a napkin.

But each of the methods requires time and a certain caution. To be sure not to harm the surface we advise you to contact us. We guarantee impeccable quality of service and safety of your property.