We remove lime deposits from taps and faucets. How to clean a limescale faucet with home remedies or household chemicals

Taps in the kitchen and bathroom are constantly in contact with water. As a result, salt deposits form on them, that is, limescale. It deprives the taps of their original cleanliness and shine. White stains appear both outside and inside plumbing. Over time, the crane may completely stop turning due to plaque. In order not to bring the plumbing to such a state, it is necessary to regularly clean it. There are many removal methods limescale using improvised means. So cleaning the faucet at home is not difficult.

In almost any home, the quality of piped water leaves much to be desired. The fact is that this water is very hard. It contains a large number of salts of calcium and magnesium. Water constantly remains in the faucet and at the junction with pipes. As a result, limescale is formed there, that is, deposits of the same calcium and magnesium salts.

It is not always possible to detect a raid in time. Therefore, over time, it turns into a water stone, which is very difficult to remove.

Accelerates the formation of limescale with frequent use hot water. Since high temperature contributes to the precipitation of salts on the surface.

Regular cleaning of the faucet is the key to a long service life of plumbing.

Basic Mistakes

When cleaning chrome surfaces crane must be observed certain rules so as not to damage the coating:

Do not rub the faucet with metal sponges. Otherwise, scratches will remain on the surface.
Do not use cleaning products that contain a large amount of abrasive particles.
It is not recommended to use products containing hydrochloric, sulfuric or phosphoric acids. Otherwise, the surface may become covered with dark spots or rust.
Mixing several different compositions is undesirable, as the result may be unexpected.

Many cleaners can leave scratches and other damage on chrome, so you should only use proven cleaning methods.

Folk remedies

If lime scale has appeared on the tap, it must be removed as soon as possible. For this purpose, you can use improvised means that can be found in almost any hostess:

Laundry soap;
soda;
Vinegar;
citric acid;
Cola;
Baby oil.

Laundry soap

Laundry soap has disinfectant properties and is able to clean limescale. It is advisable to use soap marked 72%.

Action algorithm:

grate laundry soap on a coarse grater;
mix the resulting chips with hot water to the consistency of low-fat sour cream;
add baking soda or a small amount of soda ash to the prepared solution;
moisten a rag in the mixture and treat the chrome finish;
leave for 1 hour;
rinse surfaces running water.

With this method, you can only get rid of fresh limescale.

Soda

Plain baking soda also helps to clean the faucet from limescale. Would need:

dilute the soda with a small amount of water to the state of gruel;
apply the resulting mixture to areas of the tap covered with limescale;
wait 1 hour;
wipe the surface with a soft cloth.

If limescale remains in some places, then it can be rubbed with the back of a sponge for washing dishes. This must be done carefully so as not to scratch the coating.

Another important condition - do not rub soda into the surface during application, as it has abrasive properties.

Vinegar

The advantage of vinegar when cleaning the tap from limescale is the speed of its action.

Instructions for use:

mix 9% vinegar with water in equal proportions;
wet a soft cloth with the resulting solution;
wipe the surface of the plumbing;
leave for a few minutes;
rinse the cleaned areas with running water or a damp cloth.

If the pollution is strong, then another method can be used:

heat the vinegar poured into the container;
moisten the cloth with hot vinegar and wrap the faucet in the place of accumulation of plaque;
wait a couple of hours;
after the allotted time, remove the compress and wipe the surface with a clean, damp cloth.

Acetic compress is able to cope even with old limescale.

Lemon acid

Another tool to help - lemon juice or citric acid.

Cleaning steps:

pour a little citric acid on a damp cloth;
wipe surfaces contaminated with limescale;
wait a few minutes;
Rinse the cover with running water and wipe dry.

If you have a fresh lemon on hand, you can cut it in half and wipe the chrome surfaces with one half. After a few minutes, rinse the lemon juice with water. Lemon juice will also help if you want your faucet to shine like new.

baby oil

Unusual faucet cleaner - baby oil.

Procedure:

moisten a soft cloth with baby oil;
wipe contaminated areas;
wash off the remaining oil with water;
polish the faucet soft cloth such as flannel or suede.

Baby oil works well on soap stains, greasy spots and fresh limescale.

Cola

Another tool that is rarely used to remove limescale, but almost always gets good feedback housewives - regular cola.

You can make compresses with sweet soda:

moisten a rag with cola;
put it on an area contaminated with limescale;
leave for 15 - 20 minutes;
after the allotted time, rinse the surface with water;
Wipe off the cover with a dry cloth.

The active substance in this case are the acids that make up the cola.

Cleaning the aerator and shower head

It is not enough to clean only the outer surface of the faucet. Limescale also accumulates inside.

Over time, it can cause plumbing failure.

Aerators are installed in modern mixers - nets on the spout of the crane. When this part is clogged, it must be removed and cleaned.

Signs that the aerator is clogged:

when the faucet is fully open, the water pressure becomes very weak;
water runs unevenly, the flow periodically increases;
most advanced case - water does not flow, although it is in the system and the tap is open.

Aerator cleaning steps:

First you need to unscrew the faucet nozzle. To do this, you need to wrap it with a rag, clamp it with pliers and turn it clockwise. On cheap Chinese plumbing, aerators made of plastic or aluminum are usually installed. Therefore, they break when unscrewing the nozzle. In this case, you should buy a new aerator from a plumbing store. A quality part can be made of brass or steel and will last much longer than before.
If the nozzle does not unscrew, then you can put an vinegar compress on it. After a few hours, mobility will be restored.
The unscrewed aerator should be cleaned of large debris with running water.
After placing the product in a container with 9% vinegar and leave for 1 - 12 hours depending on pollution.
After the allotted time, rinse the aerator under running water and carefully clean the holes with a needle.
The cleaned nozzle should be collected and screwed into place.

Often the holes in the hydromassage nozzle are clogged. can be heated with vinegar. For this you need:

pour table vinegar into a container and heat it;
soak the parts of the disassembled shower head in warm vinegar;
leave at 1 - 2 hours;
after this time, rinse the parts with running water and carefully clean the holes with a needle;
collect the watering can and screw it back.

Deal with old limescale - not the easiest task. It can damage the faucet. To prevent this, you need to regularly clean plumbing from plaque. Then it will serve the owner for many years.

Poor water pressure in the tap brings constant inconvenience to the residents of the apartment. Before the breakdown of the water supply systems of a residential building, people do not really think about how from a jet clean water Absolutely all processes in the kitchen depend on the tap. Delays in the bathroom are undesirable, especially in the morning. How to fix an unpleasant problem and avoid its occurrence in the future?

Global pollution problems cannot be eliminated on their own

Causes of low water pressure

A person strives to equip his own home, making every possible effort to create a special comfort. Regarding installation new plumbing In this way, a person takes care of himself and his family. Phenomena over which the owner of the house has no control are the work of centralized systems. These include water supply, electricity or gas supply. It is extremely difficult and quite expensive to prevent problems of this kind, given the cost of calling emergency services. Remains Alternative option- independently understand the reasons for the decrease in water pressure in the tap. To begin with, you should inspect the main taps and identify the root cause of the breakdown. Failures in the operation of systems, akin to a human disease, if the disease is eliminated, the symptoms will pass over time.

Common causes of a sharp decrease in water pressure in a residential building:

clogged pipes or faucet;
blockage in the main part of the underwater pipe;
reduction of the total pressure in the pipeline;
breakdowns in a separate water supply line, when arranging a home.

Global problems cannot be fixed on their own, but minor problems disappear in a matter of hours. A faucet made of different metal alloys can rust in the inner part in contact with the water jet. This happens when the indicators of the liquid that falls on the table of the residents of the house do not meet accepted standards.

Poor quality material can cause an annoying breakdown. Scale is one of the most common problems leading to a decrease in water pressure.

Faucet Troubleshooting

Before diagnosing a breakdown, you should find out which pipes or taps in the house began to work worse. If the problems affected only one faucet (in the kitchen or in the bathroom), then the probable breakdown overtook minor details inside a simple fixture. Replacing damaged parts will eliminate all pressing problems with water pressure.

How to clean the faucet in the bathroom inside?

If the problem bad pressure determined, then you should immediately start troubleshooting. To begin with, you should apply the most gentle methods of cleaning the tap. Special products for removing contaminants from metal products, apply only subject to certain rules:

Use funds general purpose(bleach) is not recommended for such purposes. You can buy special mixtures at any hardware store, and follow the instructions to clean inner part crane. Unsuitable aggressive substances will only aggravate the condition of the pipes.
Mixing two different substances is strongly discouraged. When combined, strong mixtures can release new dangerous compounds.
To clean heavy dirt, it is advisable to use means in the form of a liquid or foam.. Powder preparations are unevenly distributed throughout the pipe and their cleaning power is significantly reduced.
Before using chemical mixtures, a person must protect his own skin and respiratory tract (from toxic fumes). Simple precautions can help prevent burns and allergic reactions.
Simple dirt (scale or rust) requires no more than two cleanings with chemical solutions. Pipes and faucets should be cleaned no more than twice a month, otherwise the integrity of the chrome coatings will be compromised.

Often the question arises, how to clean the mixer

Faucet mixer

Dust or rust does not only affect faucets, often debris and corrosive accumulations clog part of the pipeline. The same fate can befall the mixer mesh or filtration system. Over time, such a problem will lead to a complete disconnection of the house from the water supply system. The danger of such a breakdown lies in the fact that the pressure of water, which is blocked by scale, can find weak spots in the pipe, and then leaks are inevitable. It is not worth dragging out time, if the water pressure has decreased significantly, it is necessary to find the cause of such an unfortunate phenomenon as soon as possible.

The question often arises, how to clean the faucet if the water pressure has dropped significantly? Modern faucets are made of different alloys - brass, copper or bronze. Depending on the type of mixer, the correct cleaning is performed:

Brass when interacting with environment fades, so it is worthwhile to approach the cleaning of such mixers more carefully. Viscose cloths and or soap solutions are suitable for wiping the brass surface. Excessive friction will cause unwanted cracks to form. Brass faucets do not tolerate hard brushes and strong chemicals. To remove dirt, tomato paste or a homemade mixture of lemon and salt is useful. It is enough just to apply the mixture on the damaged surface, and then rinse everything with warm water.
Copper faucets. For complex cleaning of a similar part of the water supply system in a residential building, it is necessary to disconnect the tap from the pipe. Copper faucets are cleaned with a simple detergent or vinegar solution. At heavy pollution parts can be boiled in salt water. Pharmaceutical acid (citric or ammonia) helps to get rid of "colorful" spots on a shiny surface.
Expensive taps - bronze, get dirty very quickly. Mixers of this type need special care and attention. Bronze pipes or faucets can be cleaned with concentrated zirconium or sodium powder. It is best to remove contamination on the dismantled part (disconnect from the water supply and disassemble the parts).

The degree of contamination of the product plays a decisive role in how quickly the contamination is removed. It is easiest to remove fresh, non-stagnant stains or stains.

Pressure drop in pipeline

The water pressure is provided by the pressure created inside the pipeline. Problems on pumping station, from which water enters a hundred houses and apartments, lead to a sharp decrease in pressure in the tap. In such cases, diagnosing pipes will not give any result. Violation of the sealing of systems leads to undesirable consequences. Weak pressure in the kitchen or in the bathroom will be a problem for all residents of the house. Failures of stations or underground pipelines will be eliminated by utilities, and from common man little depends.

The restructuring of water supply systems in the process of repairing a house or apartment (replacing pipes and taps) is carried out according to clear instructions, and violation of the accepted rules leads to improper operation of the pipeline. Supplying water to apartments is a complex process, so unfortunate breakdowns often occur, the owner of the house has to react to them in time.

Today, water is not flowing from the taps of most domestic cities. best quality. This does not even apply to the fact that it is strongly not recommended to drink it. The thing is, she's very tough. Such water contains a lot of third-party impurities and. in particular salt. The liquid that somehow remains in the faucet or connected pipes provokes the gradual deposition of these salts.

Cleaned mixer

They are the cause of the appearance of an unpleasant raid. Especially often it appears at the junction of individual parts of the mixer, the joints of the faucet and the sink (sink), on the reverse side of the sink. All this leads to the fact that it is quite difficult to detect the accumulating plaque in time. When they finally see him, he will already have time to acquire such proportions that it will be extremely difficult to cope with him.

Such deposits are called calcareous because they are predominantly formed from calcium and magnesium salts.

It is these chemical compounds that are found in water in significant quantities. Accelerating the process of plaque formation is possible if you use hot water frequently, since high temperatures contribute to more active formation of salt sediment.

Plaque on the mixer

It is very important to remove the water stone in a timely manner. The fact is that the duration of the operational life of the crane and the mixer as a whole directly depends on this. If you don't want to change expensive pipe fittings every few years, it is highly recommended to pay a little attention technical condition faucet in the bathroom or in the kitchen, promptly cleaning it from accumulating limescale.

Powdered products, as you know, consist of small abrasive particles, respectively, it can damage a thin chrome layer, leaving behind quite noticeable scratches. It is because of this that they are more relevant for bathtubs, sinks, sinks and other enameled products.

Due to abrasive particles, the powder can scratch the chrome plating

Liquid-based cleaners do not have abrasive particles. Therefore, it is advisable to clean the taps from salt deposits with their help, since their action is much more easily tolerated by the metal components of the mixers.

Liquid products to be careful of the chrome-plated surface

Given the fact that household chemicals are far from always suitable for dealing with limescale on taps, you can resort to more simple ways traditionally referred to as domestic. Their essence lies in the fact that you do not have to run to the store for any expensive or cheap chemical agent– all the ingredients necessary for the event are already at home.

You can clean the mixer with improvised means

Perhaps the easiest way to get rid of a sickly plaque. The mesh must be soft. You should also take care of gloves. You need to rub very carefully, because we must not forget that the chrome surface is subject to the influence of abrasive materials.

Take a regular brush and some toothpaste. This substance copes well with many contaminants. An important advantage brushes (villi should be soft) is that it is able to penetrate into hard-to-reach places.

A small amount of ordinary salt is poured onto a clean, damp cloth, after which the tap is gently wiped at the site of contamination. Salt is an abrasive material, we must not forget about it, and therefore it is also necessary to clean with it very carefully.

Despite the fact that chrome surfaces do not mix well with various acids, this does not apply to lemon. You need to take a piece of lemon and carefully rub it all the surfaces on the mixer. After that they are washed clean water and wipe with a dry cloth. To date, this is one of the most effective answers to the question - how to clean the taps in the bathroom from limescale.

It is necessary to use not concentrated, but ordinary light table vinegar. It is necessary to moisten a piece of cloth in it, then wrap it around the mixer and leave for an hour. Next, you need to thoroughly rinse the faucet with water and polish it thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Baking soda

A versatile product that can cope with almost any household pollution. Need to cook special agent- add a certain amount of water to make a thick substance. This mixture lubricates the faucet (not rubbed!). Literally after half an hour or an hour, it is washed off, and the cleaned place is carefully polished with a cloth. This method will help if there is not too much plaque yet, and therefore it has not had time to eat. It is necessary to prepare a concentrated soap solution, moisten a kitchen or bath sponge in it, and then wipe the mixer with it. Next, you need to thoroughly rinse the substance and polish the cleaned areas with flannel.

toothpicks

Even they can help in solving the painful issue associated with limescale. Toothpicks are taken by both edges, strongly pressed against the tap and stretched along its surface. This method is relevant only for small salt deposits, as well as for the corresponding pipe fittings, for example, square-shaped taps.

Ideally, the faucet should be cleaned daily. Do not be lazy, and after each opening of the tap, wipe it several times with a regular cloth. If the mixer is constantly dry, then, accordingly, limescale will not appear on it.

Each person at least once in his life faced with the problem of how to remove limescale from a tap, but few people thought about the true reasons for its appearance. The fact is that in the water that is supplied to our houses and apartments through pipeline systems, there are always various mineral impurities. Their number may vary depending on the area of residence, but still they exist and have a direct impact not only on the hardness of the water, but also on the formation of an unpleasant plaque on the internal and external surfaces of pipeline equipment. In this article, we will tell you how to clean a limescale faucet at home and how to avoid further contamination.

How to avoid the formation of plaque?

In the care of any sink, shower or bathtub, it is best to try to avoid the formation of limescale than to go to great lengths to get rid of the pollution. To make it easier to take care of household plumbing, it is recommended to observe the following rules of its operation:

after each use of the sink or bath, thoroughly rinse the bowl and faucet, and wipe them dry with a soft cloth;
carefully remove every drop of liquid on plumbing to avoid the formation of dry streaks;
every month, you should take the time to thoroughly disinfect the bathroom, which will prevent the formation and reproduction of mold and fungi, which can lead to health problems.

By following these simple rules, which take no more than a couple of minutes, you can long time not to think about the problems associated with clogging of faucets and the need for weekly cleaning of taps.

How to clean the faucet from limescale?

If there are still unpleasant contaminants on the tap, then you can get rid of them using several methods. The main difficulty here lies in the fact that these structures usually have a relief surface. To achieve the desired result, be patient and use one of the following cleaning methods.

Method #1 - Acetic Solution

A concentrated solution of vinegar and water, which is prepared in a ratio of 1: 1, will help to clean the faucet from limescale at home.

Clean the faucet surface as follows:

In a pre-prepared bowl, mix equal amounts of water and 9% table vinegar.
Soak a kitchen sponge in the prepared solution.
Treat the surface of your faucet carefully.
Rinse the structure with running water.
Wipe the faucet dry with a dry, clean, soft cloth.

Important! If the plaque is already old and large, it is better to unscrew the tap and place it in a container with such a solution overnight. This time will be sufficient for the effective splitting of salt deposits on the metal surface.

Method #2 - Hot Acetic Acid

To clean the faucet from limescale, you can use acetic acid differently:

Heat, but do not boil, the vinegar - the table solution should be warm, but not hot.
Soak a soft cloth in the resulting liquid.
Wrap cloth around your faucet.
Leave the plumbing in this state for half an hour or an hour.
Rinse the surface of the faucet thoroughly - warm water is best for this.
Wipe the faucet dry with a soft cloth.

Important! When working with vinegar, be sure to use personal protective equipment - rubber gloves and a respirator. These precautions are necessary to protect the skin of the hands from irritation when interacting with acid. It is also very important to protect the respiratory tract, because when evaporated, vinegar has a rather pungent odor, inhalation of which in large volumes can lead to irritation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

Method #3 - Citric Acid

A solution of water and citric acid has a sufficiently high cleaning effect. Cleaning using this tool is carried out as follows:

Method #4 - Baking Soda and Soap

Such simple means cleaning products, like laundry soap and baking soda, are sure to be at hand for every housewife. However, not everyone knows that with their help it is enough to simply remove limescale from the tap. For best results, follow these cleaning tips:

Dissolve a bar of laundry soap in hot water.
In the resulting thick solution, add a small amount of table soda.
Soak a kitchen sponge in the prepared cleaning agent and carefully treat the surface of the faucet.
After cleaning, wash off the remaining soap with running water;
The surface of the tap must be wiped dry with a soft cloth.

Important! In the hard-to-reach area of the faucet, you can clean with a soft-bristled toothbrush. A special microfiber cloth is perfect for cleaning embossed surfaces.

Use of household chemicals

You can also clean the faucet of limescale with the help of specially designed cleaning products that are sold in every household chemical store. However, when choosing and using chemical substances There are a few very important things to keep in mind:

You can use only those products that are intended for the treatment of chrome surfaces, in no case will rust cleaners, bleaches and detergents for toilets be suitable. This is due to the fact that the chrome coating is very active in chemical terms and can react with acids, which will inevitably lead to the destruction of the faucet surface.
Prefer liquid detergents, as abrasives can cause the surface of the faucet to coat small scratches, which will significantly reduce its aesthetic appeal.
Do not mix several chemical compositions and use only the specified cleaning agent.
In the process of using chemicals, be sure to use personal safety equipment, which will protect the mucous membrane from chemical burns, and the skin from irritation.

In this article, we have shared with you the most effective methods how to remove limescale from a faucet, and we sincerely hope that following these recommendations will help keep your plumbing clean.

But on this we do not say goodbye, come again!

Let's choose the material first.

To start cleaning your faucet, in the bathroom or kitchen, you need to find out what material it is made of. Mostly on the market, sanitary products, faucets made of brass are presented. There are products made from other metals and alloys. They can be made of copper, bronze, stainless steel, and other chrome alloys. It would also be nice to clean up.

Some of our alloys are nickel plated. There are mixers covered with ceramics.
Nickel-plated products are not very practical, at the slightest blow, nickel is chipped. Nickel tarnishes with use and is difficult to restore to its original appearance. Copper and bronze faucets have a rich look and are quite practical to use.
Recently, ceramic and plastic products are often used.

Plastic ones have not yet found their proper application, although they are devoid of all the shortcomings that metal mixers have. They do not oxidize, do not become covered with various raids. They have their own big drawback. They are very fragile and break quickly.

Leading professors are working in this direction.
Ceramic structures have all positive properties, which are possessed by metal and plastic mixers. Their biggest drawback is high price. They are not available to the general consumer.

Methods for cleaning brass products

Brass is an alloy that, over time, begins to tarnish. It has such properties that it is quite easy to bring it back to its original form.
Let's consider some of them.

The first way, you need to take a clean soft cloth, moisten it with hot soapy water and gently wipe the entire mixer. Where you can't get it with a tissue, you can clean it with a toothbrush. Brass will shine with pristine brilliance.

The second way, tomato paste contains acid. It returns brass to its former luster. To do this, cover the entire mixer with a thin layer of tomato paste. Wait about thirty minutes, and then rinse well with water.

The third way, Lemon also contains acid. The lemon is cut in half, sprinkled with a small amount of salt, then the entire plane of the tap is wiped. After this procedure, the product becomes like new.

The fourth way, if your faucet has almost lost its color, you need to prepare the next liquid solution. Salt, vinegar and flour are taken, the mixer is removed and disassembled into separate parts. All this is immersed in the prepared solution, aged for about an hour and washed well with water. The faucet will shine like new.

There is one more universal remedy, which saves brass from tarnishing, is linseed oil. You just need to, after a while, just apply it to the tap. By doing this, you are doing good prevention so that the faucet does not lose its brilliant appearance.

Another tip when cleaning your brass faucet is to avoid using metal brushes and hard cloths to avoid scratches.

Methods for cleaning copper devices

The installed faucet is constantly in contact with water. This is a hostile environment. Copper gradually begins to fade, and if you do not pay attention to it for a long time, it becomes covered with a green coating. You can clean it up in the following ways.

-Added to boiling water detergent for dishes, the tap is placed in this solution. Lasts half an hour. Washes well and rubs with a soft cloth;
-Prepare a solution of vinegar with salt, the mixer is boiled in this solution. Then, as in the first case, it rubs. Your design will shine with renewed vigor.

Methods for cleaning bronze mixers

Bronze products quickly take on a dull appearance. If you want to clean them, first assess how dirty they are. You can arrange them various means which can be bought at the store. This is TRILON-B or GOI paste. In some cases, it is recommended to add gasoline to the GOI paste. There are several other tools that are widely used by the people.

Prepare the next mixture. Add chicory to the water and mix well. We place a bronze structure in this mixture, stand for some time and rinse well.

The item can be boiled in pea broth, the mixer will shine like new.

If it is very dirty, we prepare a solution of caustic sodium or potassium. We put the device in it and stand for about an hour. Rinse and rub well.

The bronze mixer gets a nice look.
If your faucet is dull, then use one of these remedies.

How often do you call a plumber?

Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.