If you have unsightly calcium build-up around your faucets, I have an easy solution for you! Let’s take a look at how to remove hard water stains with vinegar!
I have been blogging about cleaning tips, tricks, and hacks for a very long time, and this simple solution on how to remove hard water stains remains one of my favorites! Here’s why I love it so much:
- Easy to Do– This method for removing hard water stains is easy and requires hardly any scrubbing at all.
- One Natural Ingredient– There are many products on the market made to remove hard water build-up, but the warning labels talk of eye irritation, skin irritation, and calling poison control. This method uses just one pantry staple: vinegar.
- Cheap– I can buy a gallon of vinegar at the grocery store for about $4. The same amount of store-bought hard water remover would cost about $25. (Based on Target’s pricing as of 2/28/24)
- Effective– This easy method for removing hard water stains actually works! You can see the results below.
Let’s start with a “before” picture of our kitchen faucet. Despite having a water softener, we get some unsightly calcium build-up, as you can see…
So… let’s get to it!
What You Need to Remove Hard Water Stains
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Ingredients Needed to Remove Hard Water Stains
Supplies Needed for Removing Hard Water Stains
How to Remove Hard Water Stains on Faucets
Before starting this process, it is strongly recommended that you test a small (unseen) area to make sure the vinegar doesn’t cause any harm to your finish. Also, if you have granite countertops, do not let the vinegar touch the granite as it can etch the surface due to its acidic nature. Please see our disclaimer for more information.
Start by pouring some vinegar into a bowl and add several paper towels. The paper towels should be thoroughly soaked with vinegar, so add more if needed.
Apply the vinegar-soaked paper towels to any areas with calcium build-up and/or hard water stains. Leave it there for one hour.
When the hour is up, remove the paper towels and use them to gently rub off any remaining build-up (it should come off very easily). If you have any seams, like I do, use a toothpick and scrape out the gunk (again, the vinegar seems to break down the calcium build-up, so it’s very easy to remove).
That’s all there is too it.
The Results of Using Vinegar to Remove Hard Water Stains
Love a good before and after? Here you go.
How crazy is that?!
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Common Questions About Removing Hard Water Stains
Can I Use This Method Anywhere Else?
Yes! This method also works on shower heads! Take a look at that before and after… yikes!
I have also used it to clean the tray under our refrigerator’s water dispenser.
Is This Method for Removing Hard Water Stains Safe for All Finishes?
As mentioned above, I strongly recommend testing a small area on your faucet prior to using this method. This is true whether you want to remove hard water stains with vinegar or a store-bought product. Different finishes can react differently to certain products; while I have used vinegar on multiple surfaces in my home without issue, you may have a finish I don’t have in my home, so test, test, test 🙂
It is also important to note that vinegar should not be used on granite and natural stone as it can etch the surface. If you have granite or natural stone surfaces beneath your faucet, make sure to protect them if you choose to use this method.
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I have shower tiles with calcium built up
How can I get the soaked paper towels attached to the shower tiles?
Thanks Susan J
I’m sorry if this is a repeat question, but I’m wondering if you have a different solution for granite/stone surfaces. Acids cannot be used on this type of countertop, and that is where I have the most hardwater buildup…maybe bcuz I do use vinegar everywhere I can. Please help! Thanks so much
Do you ever add baking soda to the vinegar?
Thank you for all the good tips. I especially like the one for the hard water buildup on the faucets. I didn’t know what to use on this and it is such an eyesore!
Worked like a charm!! Thank you so much. Wish I would’ve done before and afters!
Do you have a way to remove water stains on metal faucets. Cannot afford to replace. Just moved in so they have probably been there for quite some time. I’ve tried all the suggestions on the web but they don’t work. Thank you.
I too have this problem. I remolded our bathroom and booth some high end brush nickel fixtures. Our sliders and fixtures are now filled with water spots that I can never get rid of. We have a water softener filtration system on our home that uses salt. I know this is the problem , but we also don’t want to LOWES our system to get rid of hard water spots. Please help.
Thank you 🙏. I’ve struggled with buying harsh bottles of chemical laden detergents and wouldn’t. This vinegar trick works great!!!!!👍🏼
Would this work for a shower head?
Will vinegar be safe on Bronze showerhead?
I have never tried this method on bronze, so I can’t say for sure. Because vinegar is acidic in nature, there are certain finishes in which vinegar is not recommended.
Brilliant cleaning tips! I feel the same you do about the dirty home. Therefore I am cleaning and maintaining all the time. I like to enjoy staying in my home, not to feel like guest inside. Thanks for the interesting post.
Love your cleaning method and it’s environmentally safe
What a great tip! I will be doing this!
If your shower head is gunked up with had water deposits you can pour vinegar in a plastic bag and put over the shower head. Tie or rubber band it so the shower head stays submerged in the vinegar. Leave for several hours and come back to a clean shower head. I do this when the water spray is going in an odd direction due to the holes being closed up.
Great tip! I started looking for information how to clean water stains when my bath was a disaster. I love your blog. Your posts are soooo useful. Thank you. I am going to clean now! Wish me luck! Best regards!
Good luck!
Does the vinegar not remove the oil rubbed booze finish?
Geez, phone!
DOES it not…. Bronze
That’s happens to me ALL THE TIME when I type on my phone! Anyway, to answer your question, it did not take off any of the finish, but others have reported different results. I would suggest testing this method on a small area that people don’t see (the back of the faucet, for example) and see what happens. I would also strongly encourage not leaving it on longer than one hour. Vinegar is acidic which is what would wear off the finish. The longer it stays on, the more chance of it harming the finish. Thanks for your question Tiffany!
It made a difference in the finish where i put the vinegar and soaked!
Thanks for this cleaning tip! It will be immensely helpful to me as we definitely have some hard water!!
Glad I could help! Have a good Monday!
I haven’t tried this, I was afraid it might etch the counters or the finish of the faucets…
I just might try it….
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Some people mentioned this has happened to them. I believe certain finishes may be more “sensitive” to the acidity of the vinegar. I have not experienced this, however.
Looks great Erin. I have the same problem , but with all the water stains I have I would have to spend a fortune on commercial products. Thank God for Vinegar!!!
Amen! Is there anything vinegar can’t do? Have a great weekend Mary!
I can’t wait to try this on my hard water stains. We have a huge problem with that in Florida. Thanks for sharing this at the #AnythingGoes Link Party!
I was actually quite surprised how well this works. Hope it works for you! Thanks for hosting the #AnythingGoes link party. We’ll see you again next Monday.
Just tried it tonight. Amazing. I wish I would have worn gloves though. Now my hands smell like Easter eggs.
Yeah- vinegar does not have the best smell. I might try the gloves next time I do a hard water removal as well. Glad it worked for you though! P.S. – We use Koolaid for Easter Eggs (I actually have a post on it)- smells SO much better.
Wow! Thanks for the tip. We have horribly hard water here and I fight with it constantly! I am going to try this on our fridge water dispenser. There is actually a little hard water stalactite growing from it. DRIVES.ME.NUTS. Thanks so much for the idea!
I hope this helps… Great idea to use it on the water dispenser (I’ll have to try that too). Let me know how it goes!