You know the old saying: a paper towel a day keeps the limescale at bay.
The battle against limescale, a chalky deposit that accumulates around your taps, showers, and kettle due to minerals in our water, is a constant struggle for Brits. While it’s not necessarily harmful to your health, its white crusty appearance is far from appealing and can shorten the lifespan of your appliances.
It can spoil the taste of your water or tea, and obstruct your shower heads from functioning properly.
If you’ve been tirelessly scrubbing those stubborn areas with chemical-laden cleaners without success, there’s a more natural solution that cleaning enthusiasts swear by, reports the Mirror.
On the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, a user named Bethanie sought advice about her kitchen plagued by limescale – which had turned her silver taps green. She asked: “Can anyone help?”
“I’m not sure if this is limescale or the tap is damaged. I’ve tried Viakal but [I’m] scared of leaving it on too long.”
Scores of cleaning aficionados rushed to the comments section to advise Bethanie against continuing to use Viakal (a limescale spray) and recommended a much more natural method. “Don’t use Viakal! It will take all the finish off your taps, use something like white vinegar,” one person suggested.
Another agreed, commenting: “Don’t use Viakal and please keep all toilet cleaners off it. I get the theory of using this stuff as limescale is alkaline so it needs an acid to dissolve it – but the safest bet is vinegar or lemon juice.”
For those tricky taps, one savvy individual recommends a brilliant yet simple tactic: “Put white vinegar on a paper towel and wrap it around the tap. Keep it damp but it can be left on overnight. It works a treat for me.”
In the hunt for budget-friendly solutions?
Look no further than your local supermarket or convenience store. At Morrisons, you can snag a litre of white vinegar for a mere £1, while online mega-retailer Amazon offers a hefty five-litre bottle for just £5.95 a small price to pay for a clean and sparkling home.
