Limescale gathers on taps due to their exposure to hard water (Image: Getty)
Bathroom taps are one of the most frequently used appliances in any household and overtime they can fall victim to a build up of limescale if they aren’t .
gathers on taps due to their exposure to hard water. The water has a high mineral content and so when it evaporates it leaves behind chalky deposits calcium and magnesium which build up to form limescale. The is not only unsightly but it can actually cause damage to your taps if left untreated, resulting in problems like restricted water flow, leaks and drips.
Cleaning experts Karcher explains: “Encrusted limescale on polished chrome bathroom fittings is not just unsightly – the longer it is left there, the harder it is to remove. If the tap is calcified, the water also flows out of it more slowly and sprays in different directions.
“Even worse, lime deposits are a breeding ground for bacteria. If you drink water from a calcified tap, you are also drinking bacteria. You should therefore regularly clean the tap and remove the limescale as best you can before it forms a thick coating.”
How quickly limescale builds up on your taps can depend on how hard the water is in your area and, of course, how often you clean them. But thankfully the problem can be tackled with a cheap fix that costs just 28p.
Experts say the citric acid in lemons is the “best weapon” to rid your bathroom taps of limescale without the need for abrasive chemicals. You can pick up a single lemon at Asda for a mere 28p, so it’s a wonderfully cheap cleaning tool to have at your disposal.
To tackle the limescale, experts say you simply need to soak the affected area in lemon juice and leave this for around an hour to work its magic, and it should leave your tap looking sparkling and clean.
As taps are an awkward shape, it’s recommended that you squeeze the lemon juice onto a cloth or piece of kitchen roll and then wrap this around the tap and fix it in place. Alternatively, you can squeeze some lemon juice into a small plastic bag and put this over the tap to soak into the limescale
If you have limescale build-up on the spout of your taps then you can push a lemon halve onto and leave this for a few hours – or overnight if you can – so soak.
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After removing your cloth and lemon half, simply wipe the tap clean and the limescale should come free. For stubborn residue, try repeating the process again.
Mira Showers explains: “Taps are one of the trickier bathroom fixtures to clean. Lemon juice or vinegar will drip off when sprayed, not allowing the acid enough time to work on the scale.
“You’ll often notice white deposits on the spout, so targeting this area is a good idea. Follow these simple steps to get rid of limescale on taps:
- Soak a rag or a cloth in vinegar or lemon juice and wrap it around your tap, ensuring all areas are covered.
- Secure the cloth with an elastic band and leave for an hour.
- Occasionally squeeze the cloth to release more of the acid onto the tap.
- Remove the cloth and wipe away the limescale.
- If the limescale around the spout still won’t come away completely, cut a lemon in half and screw it onto the spout until it stays in place.
- Leave for another hour and then rinse and scrub away the remaining scale. Use a scouring pad on tough limescale but only on the underside of the spout as it may scratch the finish on the faucet itself.”