How to Remove Limescale

If you live where there is hard water, you may find yourself dealing with a disgusting, white residue on taps, washers and even kettles, that is so hard, it looks like you'll need a chisel to get it off. Thankfully, the solution is much easier than that. It's as easy as sour wine. That's what vinegar is...literally. It comes from the French "vin aigre". Vinegar is the result of bacterial activity that creates a type of acetic acid. Not only does that produce the sour taste, it also produces the "power" that has made vinegar a favorite cleansing agent for thousands of years, not a surprising fact when you consider how popular wine has been throughout history. One of the most common places to find limescale is in your electric kettle. To clean it off, pour in 1/2 cup each of white vinegar and water, or the same proportions in whatever amount needed to cover the element. Bring to a boil, then let it set with the mixture inside, overnight. Wash out the next day, and it's ready to use. Scale on taps or in toilet bowls, can be cured by a blend of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 borax. Put the mixture on your taps and leave for a couple of hours before scrubbing. For use in the toilet, drain the bowl, put the mixture on the scaled areas and let set for a few hours before cleaning. In the shower, straight vinegar can be used on tiles, which you can wash with soap and water after. Or if needed, scrub with the vinegar/borax solution. Showerheads benefit from simply soaking in a container of white vinegar for several hours.