At Star Domestic Cleaners, we know that limescale can be the cause of a lot of headaches if you don’t regularly maintain the appliances at home that have direct contact with water.
You should take extra care of your coffee machine, kettle and boiler as hot water runs through them regularly.
How Each Type of Descaler Deals with Limescale
- Chemical descalers interact with alkaline-carbonate elements through hydrochloric acids or other chemicals
- Water softening method ‘rinses’ the limescale with the help of calcium hydroxide
- Ion-exchange resin replaces the hard ions of calcium and magnesium with soft, sodium and potassium ions.
- Organic descalers such as white vinegar and baking soda remove limescale as their chemical base is acidic or salt which dissolve limescale agents
- Electric water conditioning – uses electromagnetism to reduce the rate at which limescale builds up on any surface
- Mechanical descalers – as the name suggest, this method is done by professional cleaners with special equipment
Now that you know the various types of descalers, let’s find out how each one works in more details:
How Do Chemical Descalers Work?
Acid-based descaling agents are the most common descalers you can find at the stores. They use compounds like hydrochloric acid to interact with the built up of alkaline carbonate elements (limescale) and dissolve them. The chemical reaction produces a mixture of soluble salt and carbon dioxide gas (CO2 ) which is then easily cleaned.
Descaling by Water Softening
Another way to protect your appliances from limescalе is to reduce the hardness of the water coming in your property. To do so, you can use various methods of water softening such as:
Lime Softening, Also Known as Clark’s Method
Through the precipitation process, lime water (calcium hydroxide) interacts with calcium and magnesium ions, ‘rinsing’ them from the treated area. It also helps remove any microorganisms or other organic residues.
Note: this method should be done by a professional who knows how to use the special equipment needed.
Ion-exchange Resin
Ion-exchange softening replaces calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. It is a different process from reverse osmosis, which uses a membrane. Read the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s hardness guide.
Wait, What is Reverse Osmosis?
By the use of a special membrane, this process uses hydrostatic pressure gradients which selectively omit only pure water molecules. These membranes have a limited timespan and should be replaced regularly.
Organic Descalers – Lemon, Baking Soda, White Vinegar and More
Here comes the saviour of home cleaning, white vinegar. The reason it is so universally used is it contains around 5 to 20% acetic acid and is fully soluble in water, making it the perfect companion for cleaning most stains at home. You may not like the way it smells, but it is dirt cheap and will become your best friend.
Another organic limescale descaler is lemon acid or just lemon. Again, it contains acid which can break down the hard compounds in the scale. You can also use lemon to clean your oven, too.
Baking soda is alkaline, not an acid descaler. Do not taste cleaning ingredients or assume baking soda dissolves mineral scale. Choose a descaler approved for the surface or appliance.
How do Mechanical Descalers Remove Calcium Scale?
Mechanical descaling, as the name suggests, requires the manual cleaning of the affected areas. It is advisable to use an expert for manual descaling as the job requires experience for each type of appliance that will be descaled.
In general, it takes more time and money than the chemical based method.
Limescale cleaning with Electric Water Conditioning Method
Some devices are sold as physical water conditioners. They do not soften water by removing its hardness minerals, and their performance should be assessed for the intended household use.
Before purchasing a conditioning device, ask for evidence of performance in the home setting. The Drinking Water Inspectorate distinguishes these devices from ion-exchange softeners.
Do not assume a physical conditioner will solve every scale problem or make water suitable for a particular diet. Seek appropriate advice about any installed water-treatment system.
Are Descaling Agents Safe to Use?
Descaling agents which use chemicals such as acid to clean calcium scale should be used with caution as some of them may cause skin or eye irritation. Read the description of each product carefully to learn how to properly use it.
What really is limescale? Types of limescale
Limescale is the buildup of alkaline elements in metal parts of various appliances or pipes where constant interaction with water is present.
What is the Difference Between Soft & Hard Water
Hardness refers mainly to calcium and magnesium in the water. Total dissolved solids is a different measurement, so a TDS reading alone should not be treated as the water-hardness result. Ask your water supplier for local hardness information.
Think of it this way, when rain falls, the water in the drops is soft as it barely has any mineral molecules in it. When it falls to the ground, however, it goes through rocks such as limestone and chalk and its mineral consistency increases. Elements such as calcium and magnesium become part of its content.
Which are the Areas in London with the Hardest Water?
Water hardness can vary with the supply. Check your water company’s information for your postcode instead of relying on a general ranking of London boroughs. Check water hardness with the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
The visible rate of scale also depends on water use and maintenance. Living in a particular borough does not remove the need to follow appliance care instructions.
Did you know? Mineral water is also hard water!
What Causes Limescale Buildup?
There are various alkaline compounds in hard water which, when interacting with metal surfaces, stick on and create a layer of minerals which in time can become a major nuisance and a headache for any homeowner. Most common compounds causing limescale are magnesium hydroxide, calcium sulphate and calcium carbonate.
Appliances which use hot water, such as boilers, coffee machines and heating systems are extra susceptible to limescale buildup as the heat quickens the process of scaling.
When left untreated, limescale can alter the performance of your appliances, heating system and boiler, reducing their lifespan and increasing your electric bill. The layer of calcium and magnesium inside your pipes acts as an extra layer of insulation, and you don’t want that when it comes to heating your home, as less heat is emitted.
How to Clean Limescale at Home?
Now that you’ve learned all about the types of limescale descalers and how they work, let’s find out how to maintain and clean your home appliances without the use of chemical agents and sure you are trouble-free when it comes to unwanted buildup.
And remember, if you ever feel frustrated with doing the cleaning yourself, know that the one-off cleaning service by Star Domestic Cleaners is designed to satisfy even the most demanding homeowners.
How to Descale Your Coffee Machine or Kettle?
In order to remove limescale from your coffee machine, simply
- Use the descaling programme and product specified by the kettle or coffee-machine manufacturer. Do not substitute lime water, improvise a full-day soak or dismantle components outside the user instructions.
How to Remove Limescale from Your Bathroom?
- Identify the bathroom surface first. Use a permitted descaler according to its label; do not spray undiluted vinegar across unknown finishes, joints or stone. See hansgrohe’s product-specific tap care advice.
Do not leave an acid-soaked cloth wrapped around taps for hours unless the fitting manufacturer explicitly permits that treatment.
How to Remove Limescale from Your Toilet?
For toilet limescale, select a product permitted by the toilet manufacturer and follow its label. Do not mix cleaners or put an improvised mixture into the cistern. Read cleaning-product safety advice.
- Keep any toilet cleaner separate from bleach and other products. Follow the chosen product’s application, contact-time and rinsing instructions.
How to Remove Limescale From Boiler & Heating Pipes?
As the surface affected in this case is hidden and hard to reach, you might want to consult a professional. In order to protect your pipes from scale, you can install a water softener membrane or get an electric water conditioner.
The next best thing is to explore boiler tube cleaning methods and techniques.
How to clean limescale from kitchen sink and glassware?
The method here is similar to the one for cleaning your coffee machine.
- Check glassware, sink and tap care instructions separately. Use a permitted product and contact time, then rinse as instructed; an appliance recipe is not a general treatment for all kitchen materials.
Acid descaling is unsuitable for some worktops and finishes, including calcareous stone. Check the exact material before treating a frequently wet surface. Check natural-stone care advice.
For choosing a method for taps, screens and different finishes, read material-safe bathroom limescale checks.
