Pipes, shower enclosure, kettle, toilet bowl… Nothing seems to escape the limestone, not even your new crockery. If you live in a hard water area, you are probably very familiar with this phenomenon. And instead of spending hours testing new cleaning products, we recommend applying these four simple, natural, ecological and eco-friendly tips. So, on your rags!
Why do I have limestone?
You just invested in a new bathroom and a few months later it’s a disaster! White spots appear on your faucet, shower head, tub, sink and cannot be removed. Chances are it’s limestone. This presence is due to the hardness of the water (when it is too rich in magnesium and calcium). In France, they are mainly found in the Paris basin, the Aquitaine basin and the Rhone basin.
So how do we put an end to it? The best solution to permanently prevent limescale is to purchase a water softener. This device reduces the water hardness and thus stubborn stains. But this has a price, about 500 euros. If you don’t have the means or inclination to invest, you can try these simple and natural tips to effectively remove limescale.
white vinegar
It is one of the natural ingredients that you absolutely must have in your cupboard. White vinegar is a formidable ally against limescale stains, especially those on the bottom of the toilet. To find white toilets like new, heat white vinegar (stop before it boils) and pour it into the bottom of the bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and let it work for a few hours (the best time is therefore at night).
Recent stains can also be removed by pouring a little vinegar on a bamboo terry cloth (especially effective for making taps or windows shine, for example).
Sodium carbonate
Yes, baking soda works on limestone too. For example, if your shower head is clogged with limescale, take an old toothbrush, submerge it in water, and put a little white powder on it. Then rub vigorously to unclog small holes. This trick also works for grout cleaning in the bathroom or kitchen.
Lemon
To give a limestone-encrusted faucet a little shine, nothing better than lemon. To do this, cut the citrus fruit into quarters and rub vigorously. Finally, dry carefully with a bamboo terry cloth. Success guaranteed!
To descale your kettle that has been damaged by limestone, you can also put some lemon zest (or a whole lemon) and a tablespoon of white vinegar in the appliance, add water and heat it up. When you’re done, all the limescale should have dissolved.
clay stone
Another natural and effective solution to overcome limestone: white clay stone. Like baking soda, black soap or white vinegar, it is a natural ingredient with multiple virtues. You can use it to clean your shower or bathtub tiles, grout yellowed by limestone or give your old pans a shine.
Now all that remains is to test these four natural and ecological tricks. Did you like this article? This is how you remove rust with these 4 natural ingredients that we all have in our cupboards.