The Best Way to Remove Unsightly Calcium-Mineral Build Up

The Secret Revealed!

Calcium-mineral build up. If you are like most people in Las Vegas you have the conundrum of what to do about the build up of calcium or mineral deposits (the more technical term for the stuff) on your faucets, shower enclosures or just about any place that water meets metal.

Why It Happens

• We have very hard water which is high in minerals
  • Some of those minerals are calcium, magnesium, iron etc.
  • The results are a whitish mineral deposit build up on most anything metal, here are some examples
    • Garden Hoses
    • Sprinkler heads
    • Faucets
    • Shower Doors
    • Drains
    • Windows
    • Waterning wands
    • Shower heads
    • Exposed Plumbing Pipes, ie. Pedestal sink plumbing

How can you rid your items from this Calcium-Mineral Build Up?

• The most common and effective way is to use White Vinegar
  • White Vinegar is a weak acid
  • It’s used to dissolve many of these types of deposits
  • White Vinegar has been used traditionally for Centuries as a Cleaning Solution
• The active ingredient in White Vinegar is Acetic Acid
  • Acetic Acid has cleaning and descaling properties
• Malt Vinegar on the other hand isn’t suitable for cleaning, only White Vinegar is Ideal
• Once used, White Vinegar is not harmful to your children, your pets or even YOU

How to Use White Vinegar to remove the Calcium-Mineral Build Up

• For small items you can soak them White Vinegar overnight
  • With a soft bristle brush scrub away the build up
  • If some still remains soak for additional time and then scrub again until all build up is removed
  • Rinse with clean clear water and dry with a soft cloth
• For larger items, soak a wash cloth or hand towel in the White Vinegar and wrap around the item
  • To maintain the wetness of the Vinegar wrap plastic wrap around the cloth to seal in the moisture
    • You can also use paper towels soaked in Vinegar
  • Allow to soak for a least one hour
  • Using a soft bristle brush scrub away the build up
  • For tight areas a soft bristle toothbrush works beautifully

What about Toilet Bowls and Calcium-Mineral Build Up?

• Once again White Vinegar comes to the rescue.  You can also try Lemon Juice which is also an Acid
  • Put Vinegar or Lemon Juice in a spray Bottle
  • Shut off the water to the toilet at the water supply shut off valve (also know as the angle stop)
  • Flush the toilet to remove the water setting the bowl
  • Spray the entire inside of the toilet bowl with White Vinegar
  • Close the lid down to help maintain the moisture in the bowl
  • You will most likely need to reapply the Vinegar a few more times and let set
  • DO NOT ALLOW the bowl to dry completely between sprays
• Once the bowl has soaked for at least 30 minutes scrub with a soft bristles scrub brush
  • If the calcium deposit is stubborn and doesn’t want to come off you can also use plumbers cloth to scrub it away
    • In lieu of plumbers cloth you can also use a very fine water sandpaper to remove the rest

White Vinegar can be purchased at any Grocery Store or Home Store in 1 Gallon bottles and is very inexpensive

That’s this weeks tip Folks.  Hope you find it helpful, informative, and most of all, Useful

HAPPY DE-CALCIFYING