Limescale gathers on taps due to their exposure to hard water (Image: Getty)
Bathroom taps are used daily, often several times per day, and, as they’re frequently exposed to water, they’re unfortunately very susceptible to limescale.
Limescale forms on taps due to exposure to hard water, which has a high mineral content and leaves chalky calcium and magnesium deposits when it evaporates. The hard, chalky substance can plague household appliances, including kettles, dishwashers and shower heads, but bathroom taps are arguably the worst affected, as they’re so frequently exposed to water. Limescale is not only unsightly, but it can actually be damaging to your taps if left untreated, resulting in problems like restricted water flow, leaks and drips.
Cleaning experts Karcher explained: “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.”
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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, natural fix that costs around 35p: a lemon.
According to cleaning experts, the citric acid in lemons is the “best weapon” to rid your bathroom taps of limescale without the need for abrasive chemicals. And you can pick up a single lemon at Asda for a mere 35p, so it’s a wonderfully cheap cleaning tool to have at your disposal.
To tackle limescale, simply soak the affected area in lemon juice for around 1 hour to let it work its magic, and your taps should look sparkling and clean afterwards.
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 half onto it and leave it for a few hours – or overnight if you can – so soak.
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.
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In its online advice on tackling limescale, Mira Showers said: “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.”
