Which factors cause the limescale
Limescale formed by calcium and magnesium in hard water. It consists mainly calcium carbonate and normally is evident in kettle, pipework, boilers, shower screens, showerheads, taps, sinks, toilets etc. The colour can also vary but in UK is normally white. Limescale is notoriously difficult to clean, especially from hard-to-reach areas such as washing machines. The hoses in the washing machine can get blocked and ultimately damage the appliance if not treated on time. Not to mention that the limescale can damage surfaces such as bathroom screens, toilets, shower heads etc. Other invisible limescale build up occurs in radiators, water pipes and the heating system pipes.
Why the limescale is a problem?
There are three main problems associated with limescale build up. The first one is the possibility of increased energy cost. This is because your heating system pipes become blocked with limescale, and they need to work much harder to reach the desired temperature. The second known issue is the damage to appliances. If you hear a strange noise coming out from your boiler is because has build up significant level of limescale and it will have to work much harder to keep up. As a result, it will reduce your boiler lifespan significantly. The third problem is associated with maintenance. Don’t leave the limescale to build up significantly. We know it’s very hard to deal with something that you don’t see, especially in areas that are difficult to reach, but it will be worthwhile to spend some money on cleaning products and regularly treat the limescale to prevent it from building up.
How to remove limescale from known surfaces:
- Showerhead
Ideally, the showerhead should be detached. Soak it in limescale remover product or bleach and leave it for at least 30min. When you put the showerhead back in position simply run
- Toilet
You can simply buy a strong cleaning product to treat the limescale in your toilet. Some toilets that have build up significant amount of limescale may require scrubbing with sandpaper. For this the best option is to drain the toilet, apply the chemicals and leave it for at least 24h before you start scrubbing. In this way surely you will remove the limescale below the water line successfully.
- Tiles
Bathroom tiles are known to build limescale and they will require more frequent cleaning. You can use some homemade cleaning product made with baking soda and vinegar, but we would recommend you buy a cleaning product from the shops that are designed to clean limescale. The cleaning products you can buy in-store are inexpensive and effective. Simply scrub the tiles and wash down with water to reveal sparkle clean tiles.
- Kitchen sink
Treating the sink can be done in a similar way to the bathroom tiles. You can use a homemade paste of baking soda and vinegar or you can use limescale remover product. If you are using limescale remover product bought from the shops, be aware that you will need to scrub gently and rinse straight away to prevent any damages to the sink such as discoloration.
These are some of the most common areas which you can find in your property to treat limescale. Unfortunately, it has to be done on regular basis. If you leave the limescale to build up for a long period of time, you will be risking a damage to your appliances and surfaces. From our experience in conducting an end of tenancy cleaning services in London for nearly a decade, we treat limescale on daily basis. In rented properties, we have seen what’s happening when you don’t treat limescale and leave it to build. The results are shocking, and often we have to deal with very heavily limescale build up. Luckily, we have a vast experience in dealing with limescale and will transform your bathroom, appliances and surfaces.