There is nothing more frustrating than a faucet that is chalked up – the water runs more slowly and often this also means that the water jets face east and west. It is both impractical and looks ugly with a faucet that is full of limescale.
Does your kitchen faucet or bathroom faucet need descaling? It does not have to be difficult to remove scale from the tap. With a few very simple steps, you can easily manage the descaling of the faucet yourself.
We have collected our best tips on how to easily descale your faucet so that it is as good as new again.
Why is my faucet getting limescale?
It is different how hard and soft the water is in different areas of Denmark. The hardness of the water is a term for how much lime is in the water – hard water means that there is a lot of lime in the water.
If there is very hard water in the area you live in, you should remember to descale your faucet more often.
It is therefore important to remove limescale from the tap regularly
It goes without saying that a faucet that is full of limescale does not work as intended. It affects how efficient your faucet is, but even worse is that stubborn limescale deposits can form a breeding ground for bacteria. When you drink the water from a kitchen faucet that has been limescaled, it means in the worst case that the water can be full of bacteria.
That is why it is a really good idea to have the scale removed from the fittings in the bathroom or in the kitchen at regular intervals to be sure that your faucet will last for many years. Remember to also remove limescale from the faucet aerator or from the mixing jet on the faucet.
Descaling of fittings – you need that
- seaweed
- Cloth
- Descaling agent
- Glass cleaner
- Old toothbrush or other brush
- Glass
Selection of descaling agent
There are several different types of descaling agent that you can choose to use for descaling the faucet. All cleaning agents that remove limescale have one thing in common: they contain acid. However, there is a difference in the degree of acidity – and thus the strength. Generally speaking, you can choose to use the following cleaning agents:
- Acetic acid
- Household vinegar
- Citric acid
- Hydrochloric acid
As far as possible, you should refrain from using acetic acid or hydrochloric acid to descale your faucet – it is far too strong for the fitting, which could risk damage from the harsh chemicals.
Instead, use either household vinegar or citric acid to descale the fittings in the bathroom or kitchen. It is easy and cheap, and in most cases it effectively removes limescale.
How to descale your faucet
We have created a simple step-by-step guide on how to descale your faucet and the faucet head:
- Fill a glass with household vinegar.
- First, take the cloth and your pliers. Put the cloth around the aerator on the faucet and carefully unscrew it with your pliers. In this way, you avoid the aerator being scratched.
- Place the air mixer in the glass with household vinegar so that it is completely covered. Leave it for 24 hours.
- If there is a lot of external limescale on the fixture itself, you can try to make a mixture of citric acid and water in the proportions stated on the packaging – often 1 tablespoon of citric acid to a liter of water. Pour a little of the mixture onto a soft cloth and dry it gently.
- If there is no limescale on the outside of your faucet, you can simply wipe it with a little glass cleaner so that it becomes beautifully shiny again.
- If there is dust and dirt around the edges of the fixture, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub it away.
- Rinse both faucet and fixture with water.
- Rinse the aerator thoroughly and attach it to the tap again.
Descaling of the faucet without the use of tools
Need a quick way to descale your faucet? This may be in the event that you do not have the time or opportunity to disassemble the faucet. In that case, you can try using a tea towel or dishcloth instead. Moisten the tea towel or cloth with vinegar and water or lemon juice and water and wrap it around the faucet. Leave the mixture on for a while before removing it again and rinsing thoroughly with water.
If you have a balloon or a plastic bag lying around at home, you can also try filling it with vinegar and putting it over the tap – let it soak for a few hours. It helps to dissolve the lime deposits on the aerator. Does the shower in the bathroom need descaling? Read our guide to how to easily descale the shower head .
Find everything for the bathroom at Focus Plus
Take a look at our webshop and explore our selection of, among other things, shower heads and shower sets , bathroom mirrors and bathroom furniture . We have functional and aesthetic products in Nordic design and of the highest quality. In addition, we also have a huge selection of tiles for the bathroom, which includes both beautiful terrazzo tiles and the popular lava stone tiles . If you have questions about one of our products or are thinking about renovating the bathroom or the kitchen, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone, just as you are always welcome in our Showroom in Indre By where there is always coffee on tap.