Say Goodbye To Limescale With An Ordinary Ingredient From Your Kitchen

Even if you have a regular cleaning routine, limescale can still creep up on you. The stubborn, chalky deposits appear in places around the home where you use water — such as in sinks and showers. Limescale is not only unsightly on things like faucets and shower heads, but it can also lead to plumbing and appliance issues. Getting rid of it is difficult with elbow grease alone, especially if you don't want to damage the material it's covering. But let's face it, not everyone wants to turn to harsh chemicals to help make it disappear. Fortunately, there's a natural, fresh-smelling alternative that might be in your kitchen already. Time to break out the lemon juice! 

Lemon juice is a powerhouse when it comes to household chores, from removing stains to cleaning a microwave. It can also stand up to limescale due to its acidity. The built-up mineral deposits, which are caused by hard water, soften up after interacting with the juice, making it much easier to wipe them away. While it's possible to help prevent limescale from poking its head up in the future with a water softener, if you've already spotted the crusty residue, try taking action with a lemon juice cleaning method.

To clean a faucet, for example, start by slicing two lemons in half, then squeeze three of the halves into a container until you've collected all their juice. Next, take the remaining half that hasn't been squeezed and stick it onto the faucet spout. Give it a twist, and the fleshy inside should help it stay on. Dunk cotton pads into the juice and stick them around other areas of the faucet where limescale is present. Let everything sit for approximately one hour. Once time is up, gently scrub the deposits away until the area is fully clean. This should work with stainless steel and chrome, but check that lemon will be safe to use on your finish before starting.

You can also make a lemon cleaner to use on pesky limescale. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part lemon juice and 4 parts water. Shake to mix, then spray it onto the affected spots. After about 30 minutes to an hour, you should be able to scrub the residue off. Make sure to give everything a good rinse, and be aware that you want to avoid natural stone material. 

Let this inspire you to demolish that limescale, whether it's in your kitchen or all around your bathroom. Plus, keep in mind that lemon juice can work wonders in other areas of the home, as well, including killing weeds in your yard. If you find yourself dealing with a major limescale problem, there's a chance you might need something stronger than lemon juice. However, it could be worth a shot since it's a budget-friendly technique — and it'll even leave behind a lovely scent!