Best Tips for Removing Hard Water Stains from Plastic
Plastic is one of the most popular materials used in the world today. However, it is also one that is prone to hard water stains.
Many people encounter hard water stains when their washing machine is located in a basement. Below is a list of a few tips and tricks you can use to prevent hard water stains from forming and to remove the ones that have already formed.
This list of tips has been composed by the professional team at PuroClean, a company that specializes in the cleanup and restoration of water, fire, and mold damage.
What are hard water stains?
Hard water is water that is rich in minerals. It’s caused by an increase in the pH level of water that goes through a treatment process. Hard water stains are noticeably different from regular stains because they are more difficult to remove. Regular stains are caused by dust, rust, or other particles that can be removed with a regular cleaning regime. It is caused by minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron that build up into residue in your sink. The minerals can also build up in a dishwasher and cause brown or black stains to develop on your dishes. The best way to remove hard water stains is to use a cleaner that is designed for the task, like CLR for example!
Moreover, this water has high amounts of minerals. Hard water stains are the white rings that form on sinks and other hard surfaces in homes. These are generally always white, but they can be different shades of white. These are caused by minerals in the water, such as calcium and iron. In order to prevent hard water stains from developing, it’s important to know what causes them!
How do hard water stains form?
Having hard water stains is the worst! They can make it look like you have dirty dishes or filthy laundry despite the fact you have been doing laundry and dishes regularly. There are several reasons you might have hard water stains. Hard water contains calcium and/or magnesium, and sometimes both! Soap and detergent can leave behind a residue on glassware and dishes that reacts with the calcium, forming hard water stains. Unlike some stains won’t typically go away on their own. Instead, you have to use special cleaning products to remove it. The ingredients in these products help to break down calcium and magnesium.
Tips for Removing Hard Water Stains from Plastic
Some things are required for removing hard water stains.
- a gentle cloth
- Spray bottle
- Vinegar (white)
- Water
- Scrub brush with soft bristles
- Digestive enzyme
Process
- To begin, clean the area as usual to eliminate any debris or dust.
- Remove any upright plastic pieces and arrange them as flat as possible.
- In the spray bottle, combine equal amounts of white vinegar and water.
- Allow at least 15 minutes for the discolored area to soak. If the item is not lying flat, place a moistened cloth with the solution on top of the stain (or tie it around the area)
- Allow the solution to soak for several hours overnight for persistent stains. Use pure vinegar instead of the solution in places with significant discoloration.
- Remove the cloth and use a soft-bristled scrub brush to gently scrub away any leftover stains.
- Repeat as needed.
- If vinegar does not eliminate the deposits, an enzyme digester may be used. Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleanser is designed particularly for cleaning hard surfaces such as plastic, although any enzyme cleaner should suffice. Follow the instructions on the label of the cleaner you’ve chosen.
- Another approach is to chop a lemon slice and massage it over the deposits. Scrub the deposits with a scrub brush, then thoroughly rinse the area.
What kind of plastic is most likely to have hard water stains?
Plastic water bottles are problematic because they are hard to clean. While you may think that a bottle of water will eliminate the need to drink from other, dirtier sources, this is not always the case. Bottled water may be convenient, but it is almost always more expensive and many of them contain chemicals and other additives. This can be a very serious health risk. A better alternative is to choose a water filter. Models like the Aquasana are very easy to use. They are simple to install. People also love how much better the filter works at removing dangerous contaminants than the average filter. A filter is also much cheaper over time than purchasing bottled water. Read more from WPC2026.
If you notice small yellow or white stains on your bathroom counters or in the tub, it could be a problem with hard water. This is usually caused by the water having high levels of iron, copper, or manganese. While there isn’t a way to remove the iron or copper, you can remove the hard water stains caused by manganese by using powdered acid.