Why Is Vinegar Recommended to Remove Hard Water Stains?
- The acid in vinegar can dissolve the minerals and cut through the buildup to remove the stains from hard water, according to the Vinegar Institute. Hard water and its stains are not dangerous but can cause permanent damage to some surfaces and clog pipes, faucets and shower heads. The longer the stains build up, the harder they are to remove.
- Vinegar dates back thousands of years when wine or fruit juice fermented to the point of souring. Vinegar is the result of two biochemical processes: alcohol fermentation that converts sugars in the original product to alcohol and then additional fermentation that converts the alcohol into acetic acid, according to Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits.
Vinegar varieties are diluted solutions of the acetic acid that forms during the secondary fermentation process. That acid gives vinegar its sour taste and cleaning properties. White vinegar, without any flavoring or color, is the best for cleaning, according to the Vinegar Institute. - Hard water stains on bathtubs, shower doors, tile, faucets, cookware and other surfaces looks like a chalky white residue. In some instances where the residue has not been cleaned in a long time, a hard brown substance forms from lime and calcium build up.
Hard water stains are difficult to remove with soap or traditional cleaners but can be easily wiped off with vinegar, according to How to Get Rid of Stuff. - Fixed areas such as the base of a faucet or lightly stained areas can simply be wiped with a towel soaked in vinegar to remove hard water stains, according to How to Get Rid of Stuff. Stubborn stains should be scrubbed with a paste made from vinegar and baking soda.
Removable shower heads should be submerged in a pot containing equal parts white vinegar and water then boiled for 15 minutes and allowed to soak for a few hours or overnight. For fixed shower heads, fill a plastic bag with the vinegar-and- water solution, place it over the shower head and secure with a rubber band or tape, and soak overnight. Faucets also can be cleaned of hard water stains by using the solution-in-a-bag method, according to How to Get Rid of Stuff.
Hard-water-stained sinks, toilets and bathtubs should be filled with water and vinegar added: 1 cup for sinks or toilets, and 1 liter for bathtubs. Let soak overnight, drain and rinse.
Cookware should be soaked for up to an hour in equal parts water and vinegar. - Mineral deposits can bond with some surfaces, especially glass, and may leave permanent white stains even after cleaning with vinegar, according to How to Get Rid of Stuff.
If cookware or pots and pans don't come clean, How to Get Rid of Stuff recommends heating the vinegar-water solution and soaking for longer periods. - Vinegar also is an effective cleaner for hard water mineral buildup in coffee makers, according to the Vinegar Institute. To clean, fill the coffee maker reservoir with white vinegar and run through a brewing cycle. Run two more brewing cycles with plain water to remove any remaining vinegar from the coffee-making system.