Tips Bulletin

Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better

Navigation

  • Cleaning
  • Garden & Yard
  • Food Preservation
Home >> Cleaning >> Material >> Descale and Water Stain Cleaning

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub

By Joan Clark

Find out how to remove hard water stains from a bathtub quickly and easily with our simple cleaning tips. They don’t require harsh chemicals or bleach, so rest assured that you, your family, and the environment are safe.

Chances are, you have most of these items at home already. Try one of our recipes to find the ideal cleaning solution for your household.

Have you noticed unsightly stains on your bathtub, toilet bowl, and other water fixtures? Does a cloudy film coat your shower curtains or glass shower doors?

If so, you’re probably one of the 85 percent of households across the country with hard water. But don’t worry, there are numerous easy cleaning methods for removing hard water stains and calcium deposits from bathtub.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub titleimg1
(born1993/123rf.com)
tb1234
tb1234
Table of Contents
  1. Easy Ways to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub
    • Mix Vinegar With Water
    • Add Dish Soap to Vinegar Spray
    • Mix Lemon Juice with Water
    • Add Lemon Essential Oil to Water
    • Mix Hydrogen Peroxide with Water
    • Make a Cleansing Scrub with Baking Soda and Vinegar
    • Make a Cleansing Scrub with Cream of Tartar and Vinegar
    • Erase Calcium Deposits from Bathtub and Glass Shower Doors
    • Add Vinegar to Regular Cleaning Products
    • Remove Calcium Deposits from Bathtub and Faucets with Toothpaste
  2. How to Prevent Hard Water Stains
  3. What Causes Hard Water Stains?
  4. How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub

Easy Ways to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub

If you think back to science courses at school, you’ll remember that acid neutralizes a base. Mineral deposits are alkaline, so you need to use an acid to dissolve them.

White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon juice are all mild acids and natural disinfectants that are effective and safe to use at home. Here are easy DIY recipes for ways to remove hard water stains from a bathtub.

Try one of our recipes for the best homemade bathtub cleaner and use these simple cleaning methods for removing stubborn hard water stains.

tb1234

Cleaning Supplies

  • Empty spray bottle (If you’re reusing a spray bottle, wash and rinse it thoroughly)
  • Rubber gloves
  • Paper towels
  • Non-abrasive sponge that won’t scratch surfaces
  • Soft-bristled cleaning brush
  • Old toothbrush
  • Microfiber towels
tb1234

Mix Vinegar With Water

Vinegar is a powerful cleanser for removing hard water stains that is safe to use on fiberglass or metal. Clean hard water stains from a plastic bathtub with it, too. Since it’s acidic, vinegar dissolves mineral deposits and disinfects surfaces at the same time.

tb1234

Vinegar Spray

  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 1 cup of water
tb1234

Combine equal parts white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle and spray surfaces thoroughly.

Leave it to sit for a minimum of 15 minutes to allow the acid in the vinegar to dissolve the mineral deposits. Wipe the tub clean with a dry microfiber towel.

Add Dish Soap to Vinegar Spray

Adding dish soap to the vinegar spray helps lift stubborn hard water deposits and prevents them from reattaching to the bathtub.

tb1234

Vinegar Spray with Dish Soap

  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 teaspoon hand dishwashing liquid
tb1234

Add a small squirt of dish soap to the vinegar spray recipe above to remove hair dye from a bathtub or eliminate hard water stains. Spray surfaces thoroughly, and scrub tough stains with a sponge or paper towels.

Mix Lemon Juice with Water

Citric acid is effective at cleaning hard water deposits. Lemon and lime juice have similar amounts of citric acid, although lemon juice is slightly stronger.

tb1234

Lemon Juice Spray

  • 1 cup lemon juice (lime juice also works)
  • ½ cup of water
tb1234

Combine two parts lemon juice and one part water in a spray bottle and spray surfaces thoroughly. Let it soak for a minimum of 15 minutes, then wipe clean with a dry microfiber towel.

Add Lemon Essential Oil to Water

In addition to the citric acid, using lemon essential oil has the extra benefit of preventing future hard water stains because the oil prevents minerals from attaching to surfaces.

tb1234

Lemon Essential Oil Spray

  • 1 cup of water
  • 10 drops lemon essential oil
tb1234

Add lemon oil to the water, swirl the mixture for a few seconds to blend, and then follow the lemon juice spray’s instructions.

Mix Hydrogen Peroxide with Water

Hydrogen peroxide is a natural substitute for bleach and works wonders to clean hard water stains from fiberglass bathtub.

tb1234

Hydrogen Peroxide Spray

  • 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
  • 1 cup of water
tb1234

Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle, then follow the instructions for the vinegar spray.

Make a Cleansing Scrub with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda is a natural scrubbing agent that lifts stubborn hard water stains without scratching your bathtub. Borax is a good alternative for similar results. You can also try this simple solution to remove hard water deposits from toilet bowl.

tb1234

Vinegar and Baking Soda Paste

  • 2-4 tablespoons of baking soda
  • Vinegar
tb1234

To clean calcium buildup in a toilet bowl or the tub and shower, add vinegar to the baking soda and mix until it forms a paste similar to cake frosting. Spread the paste evenly over stains and let it sit for 15 minutes.

Scrub with a non-abrasive sponge or brush, rinse with warm water and wipe clean with a dry microfiber towel. Use an old toothbrush as an eraser for hard-to-reach places like the faucet, shower head, and drain.

Make a Cleansing Scrub with Cream of Tartar and Vinegar

Cream of tartar has the added perk of making vinegar more acidic to remove calcium deposits from bathtub even better.

tb1234

Vinegar and Cream of Tartar Paste

  • 2-4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
  • Vinegar
tb1234

Mix and apply the paste following the instructions above to remove stains from glass shower doors, your tub or toilet, and erase your most stubborn hard water stains.

Erase Calcium Deposits from Bathtub and Glass Shower Doors

By using coconut oil mixed with lemon and peppermint essential oils, you not only get your bathtub and glass shower doors sparkling again but also prevent future mineral buildup.

tb1234

Coconut and Essential Oil Eraser

  • ½ cup of coconut oil
  • 10 drops lemon essential oil
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil
tb1234

Spread the coconut oil evenly over surfaces and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. Scrub grime and soap scum, and remove limescale using a soft-bristled brush. Use paper or microfiber towels to wipe away excess oil, then buff with a new towel.

Add Vinegar to Regular Cleaning Products

The acidity of vinegar will give your bathroom cleaner an extra boost for erasing stubborn hard water stains without compromising their disinfectant power.

Ammonia provides a similar effect, but it’s crucial to never add ammonia to cleaning products containing bleach for safety reasons.

Remove Calcium Deposits from Bathtub and Faucets with Toothpaste

Toothpaste works wonders to remove hard water stains, especially on glass shower doors and metal fixtures like the faucet, drain, and shower head. It’s a mild abrasive that won’t scratch surfaces.

Squirt a small amount onto an old toothbrush, sponge, or cloth and scrub the stain. Use a wet sponge or cloth to wipe away the toothpaste, then dry with a microfiber towel or a squeegee.

How to Prevent Hard Water Stains

To permanently eliminate hard water, you need to install a water softener that will remove minerals from the water before it flows through your pipes. The average cost of installing a water softener is $800 and up.

tb1234

Preventative Measures

  • Towel dry your bathtub after each use.
  • Use a squeegee to clean excess water from glass shower doors.
  • Regularly buff your bathtub with car wax. Use wax on a dry bathtub according to the instructions on the product label. Wipe the tub clean with a dry microfiber towel, then buff with a new towel.
tb1234

What Causes Hard Water Stains?

Hard water stains occur when water containing high amounts of alkaline minerals like calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron evaporate. These minerals build up and cause discoloration or stains.

Calcium deposits mainly cause chalky white residue or limescale. Dark brown or black stains are a result of high levels of manganese in the water. Iron causes orange, rusty colored stains.

While hard water isn’t a health risk, it clogs your pipes and reduces the efficiency of water-using appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines.

Hard water deposits shorten the working lifespan of your appliances by up to 50 percent. Over time, the minerals can also eat away at plumbing and cause small leaks.

tb1234

Common Problems Caused by Hard Water

  • Water spots on dishes
  • Clogged faucets and shower heads
  • Poor performance from water-using appliances
  • Faded, dingy-looking clothes
  • Dry, irritated skin
  • Dull, lifeless hair
  • Soap doesn’t lather easily
tb1234

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from a Bathtub

tb1234

Tips and Tricks to Remove Hard Water Stains

  • If your faucet leaks, there may be rust around your drain. Many of these same ingredients can be used to make a bathtub rust remover.
  • For stubborn hard water stains, spray surfaces thoroughly with your homemade cleanser of choice and leave it overnight.
  • Avoid using an abrasive cleanser, sponge, or brush to clean hard water stains from fiberglass bathtub. Use wax or polish to protect and maintain the finish.
  • Vinegar works best on a metal bathtub. To remove calcium deposits from bathtub and metal bathroom fixtures like faucets, soak a towel in vinegar and wrap the faucet. Leave it to sit overnight, then rinse and dry with a microfiber towel.
  • A plastic bathtub is generally easier to clean than fiberglass or metal, but plastic is highly absorbent and acts as a chemical sponge. Avoid using harsh chemicals when washing your plastic bathtub and stick to our natural cleanser recipes.
tb1234

We hope you enjoyed reading about these recipes for homemade cleaning products and how to remove hard water stains from a bathtub.

Learn how to remove hard water stains from a bathtub using products you already have at home. Are you tired of scrubbing your bathroom and still seeing soap scum and grime? All you need is a spray bottle and these simple ingredients. #remove #hardwater #stains #bathtub
(born1993/wakomegumi/123rf.com)

If you found these bathtub cleaning tips helpful, please share this article about simple ways to remove hard water stains from a bathtub with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook.

Receive the latest Home & Garden Tips by entering your email below:

 We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. No spam!

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Top Posts

  • Homemade Floor Cleaner
  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar
  • How to Repel Mosquitoes
  • Witch Hazel Uses
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Uses
  • Castor Oil Uses
  • How to Clean Leather
  • How to Keep Spiders Away
  • Contact Us – About Us
  • Privacy Policy – GDPR – Medical Disclaimer – DMCA
Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com