Hard water refers to water that has a very high content of minerals which are mainly calcium and magnesium ions.
This type of water has the effect of leaving those brown and white stains on your sink, shower enclosures and in your tubs.
Actually, the mineral deposits will tend to leave a stain on every surface that has a faucet and water runs through.
If the stain is not removed immediately, it will penetrate the structure of the surface.
In the end, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to remove.
The effects include an increase in lime deposits, scum, and film.
The stains will appear on stainless steel, porcelain, china, enamel, tile, glass, among other surfaces.
Which are the best methods for removing hard water stains? The trick about these type of stains is that the longer they remain on the surface, the harder they will be to remove.
Too long and the stain will be permanent.
Acids such as white vinegar and lemon juice are acids that sometimes well in the removal of these stains.
The acids work by loosening the stains and they work bet on glass shower enclosures.
Cleaning companies engage the services of professionals who use the extremely strong acids such as hydrochloric and phosphoric acids to remove the hard water stains.
Do not under any circumstance use abrasive cleaners on your sinks and tiles, because the cleaner will damage the delicate finish on the surface.
You might also decide to use chlorine bleach, which will work, but don't leave the bleach on the surface too long since it will damage the surface.
There are a variety of other methods of removing hard water stains.
Also, to get rid of the hard water stains, you can mix up a baking soda and vinegar paste and rub it on the stain.
Allow the paste to stand on the surface for up to 15 minutes, and then rinse both the stain and the paste off.
These are just a few of the many methods of removing hard water stains available.