Limescale – What is it and how do I get rid of it? Limesclae is that milky white deposit often left in your shower/bath and appliances that use water, such as your kettle. It is made up mostly of calcium carbonate, so poses no problems for our health but can cause issues with your plumbing if allowed to get out of hand. Limescale comes from hard water, which is more alkaline, that means some mild acids will dissolve the troublesome build up without causing damage to the surface it is attached to. If you would like to check what kind of water you have in London, click here to visit the Thames Water website for more info. Tip No.1 – What works best? Mild acidic liquids such as lemon juice and vinegar usually work perfectly for removing limescale, lime juice can also be used on tougher patches. You should mix these with water, about a 50/50 mix should work nicely. Usually it needs about an hour’s soak to soften the limescale which can then just be scrubbed away. Tip No.2 – Your kettle Tea and coffee are very important - we all know that. So having limescale in your kettle can ruin you perfect cuppa. The best way to fix this issue is to fill ¼ of your kettle with vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for about an hour. After this, fill the rest of the kettle with water and put it on the boil. Pour away the water while it is still hot and make sure you rinse several times to get rid of the vinegar or lemon flavour. Your Kettle should now be limescale free and your perfect cuppa just a few minutes away! Tip No.3 – Washing Machines and Dishwashers Both these appliances are common victims of limescale. Luckily there is a simple process for both types of machines to get rid of this pesky build up. For your washing machine, just put a large cup of either vinegar or lemon juice in place of your usual detergent and run a normal washing cycle. For your Dishwasher, empty a large glass of either liquid into the bottom of your dishwasher and run a normal washing cycle. Please remember not to have dishes or clothes in your machines when carrying out this process. Tip No.4 – Taps One of the challenges with removing limescale is keeping the descaling liquid in contact with the affected area. This is where a little bit of creativity is required, for taps it can be best to pour the solution of vinegar or lemon juice into a tub and immerse the tap into the liquid, then using a towel to wrap around both the tub and tap holding them together. Other ideas are to soak cotton wool or a sponge in the solution and wrap them around the area – making sure you give them a squeeze every now and then to release the solution. Tip No.5 – Tiles & Other Surfaces Limescale deposits on flat surfaces is usually thinner than the build-up you can get on other appliances or taps and that makes it a little easier to remove. It doesn’t usually require quite as much of a soak. Often the best method is to create a vinegar or lemon solution in a spray bottle and generously cover the area. After leaving for a little while, gently scrub the surface and the limescale should be easily removed. If the tips don’t work, or the build-up has damaged your plumbing it is time to call an expert. Tradesmen for London’s expert plumbers are here for you any time, day or night. Click here for our website where you can find all of our contact information and have a look at the services we provide.