Understanding Limescale: What It Is and How to Tackle It
- Marcin Włodarczyk
- Sep 19
- 7 min read
Have you ever stood in front of your kitchen sink, absentmindedly washing your dishes on auto-pilot like an actual dishwasher, to then be suddenly awakened from your daze because you noticed a chalky white residue all around your taps? You know, the residue lingering in that small space between your wall and the tap that you can never reach while cleaning because the tap has been installed one centimeter away from the wall? That residue in your bathroom that adds a few more settings to your shower head, like: “spray everything but my body” and “trickle like I did not pay my water bills?”
That is limescale. A stubborn buildup and a common problem in areas with hard water. It can cause issues serious enough to affect the efficiency of your appliances, plumbing and even your heating systems.
If you cannot or do not feel like relocating “just because of water” and are living in a hard water area, this will feel like a never ending problem for you. However, with the right tools, techniques, and preventive measures, you can keep that 1 centimeter of space behind your tap sparkling clean and your kettle running smoothly.
In today's article, we will break down what limescale is, why it forms, and most importantly, how you can eliminate it in natural ways and stop it from coming back. Whether you are cleaning your home or managing a property, understanding limescale is the first step to maintaining a spotless and efficient space.
WHAT IS LIMESCALE EXACTLY?
and why not lemonscale
Do you remember times when you would take baths as a child in your parents house and your bathtub was always full of lather and bubbles but then you grew up, moved out, took a bath in your brand new, century-old rented apartment at the other end of the world and it turned out that bubbles do not exist, just like Santa, and that lather is a myth? That is soft and hard water, respectively.
The hardness of water depends on the geological makeup of the area and the natural sources of the water supply. Hard water is common in areas with high levels of limestone, chalk, or gypsum in the ground. Calcium and magnesium released by these rocks into the water are the primary components that cause water hardness and limescale is primarily made up of them. It is a hard, chalky deposit that forms when hard water is heated or evaporates, leaving behind the dissolved minerals.
If you, like us, are wondering why “limescale” sounds like “a peel from a citrus fruit” rather than “a stony cleaning nuisance”, we come to inform you that - they do not share the same etymological roots. This is one of those situations where we imagine an ad where we sell a limescale remover and compare it to a lemon-scented product from a different company, by putting both on an oldschool beam balance and our solution wins and tips the proverbial scales in our favor because ours smells like limes.
IS LIMESCALE HARMFUL?
on a scale from 1 to lime
It is said that limescale is not harmful when consumed. In moderation, minerals like calcium and magnesium are safe and usually beneficial for your health. However, we do not imagine you are a fan of the taste of limescale residue in your water. Swallowing some loose leaves from your tea is one thing. Making tea from that last bit of water in the kettle, and drinking limescale chips straight out of it - is something else.
If that last scenario does not make you pull out your hair, the fact that hard water can leave a residue on your hair and skin (potentially causing dryness or irritation) just might do it.
However, limescale can definitely be detrimental to the state, efficiency and lifespan of your devices and equipment. Remember that “spray everything but my body” setting on your shower head that we jokingly mentioned earlier? That is the result of limescale buildup clogging up the spray nozzles. That is why the water flow is reduced and the spray pattern you chose is nothing like they advertised.
Since limescale loves heated hard water and surfaces where water evaporates, the list of appliances and fixtures in and around your property that it can affect is pretty extensive:
KITCHEN | BATHROOM | OUTDOORS |
taps sinks pipes tiles kettles coffee machines dishwashers | taps sinks pipes tiles showerheads boilers washing machines toilet bowls glass screens | taps garden hoses sprinklers |
HARD WATER IN EAST SUSSEX, UK
including DaisyFresh region - Brighton & Hove
East Sussex primarily receives its water supply from groundwater sources, particularly from chalk and limescale aquifers prevalent throughout the region. This geological composition results in the water being classified as 'hard,' meaning it contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium minerals. The county's water services are managed by two main companies: South East Water and Southern Water. Both companies source a significant portion of their water from these aquifers, contributing to the hardness of the water supplied to households.
They ensure hard water is safe to drink and meets all quality standards, but they also suggest it may be a good idea to install water softening systems if you are worried about your appliances long term.
If you are interested in knowing the hardness of water in your specific area, both companies provide resources to do so on their respective websites. My water is definitely hard and it brings a completely new meaning to the phrase “soft and hard-boiled eggs”.
Side note: Soft water occurs in areas where the geology includes granite, sandstone, or volcanic rock, which do not release significant minerals into the water.
For United Kingdom those regions are: Scotland, Wales, Parts of Cornwall and Devon.
If you prefer hands-on research, there are other ways to figure out for yourself if your water is hard or not:
Signs: look for limescale buildup in kettles, taps, and appliances.
Water taste: it may taste slightly salty if softened artificially through ion-exchange processes (where sodium ions replace calcium and magnesium ions).
Soap efficiency: it lathers easily with soap, as opposed to hard water, which can form soap scum.
Home test kits: you can buy test kits to measure water hardness yourself.
4. PREVENT LIMESCALE BUILDUP
how can you do it?
Clean Surfaces Regularly - it will remove water droplets before they evaporate and leave limescale behind. Frequently wipe down sinks, taps, showerheads and refer back to the table we mentioned in the second paragraph, to see what you missed.
Reduce Water Temperature - it will slow down the formation of limescale in devices like your washing machine or boiler.
Flush Your Appliances - it will prevent limescale buildup over time. Regularly service your boilers and maintain kettles or coffee makers in good condition.
Install a Water Softener - it will remove calcium and magnesium from your water. A system like this is installed at the main water supply and is highly effective for long-term prevention.
Use a Magnetic or Electronic Water Descaler - it will alter the properties of minerals in hard water, making it harder for limescale to stick to surfaces. Such a descaler is easy to install and serves as a good alternative to water softeners.
Fit Tap or Showerhead Filters - it will trap minerals and reduce the amount of hard water reaching your surfaces. Some filters soften water as it flows through.
Use Limescale Prevention Products - it will minimize buildup. Products like anti-limescale tablets or liquids to your kettle or dishwasher are widely available and easy to use.
NATURAL WAYS TO REMOVE LIMESCALE
funny how you need lemon to fight lime
Lemon juice and vinegar are your weapons against this scaly residue. In most cases you can use them interchangeably. It all depends if you want to emulate your old-school grandma and clean half your house with vinegar to make it smell like the nearby chippy. You may, however, choose lemon juice and make your clean house smell like a zesty, lemon-garnished fish that they also serve in that chippy. Regardless of your choice, both solutions are high in acidity - that is the key component to solving your limescale conundrum.
Taps & Faucets | Kettles & Coffee Makers | Showerheads | Tiles, Sinks & Toilets |
Soak a cloth or a paper towel in vinegar or lemon juice | Fill it with a mix of equal parts water and vinegar/lemon juice | If removable, soak the showerhead in a bowl of vinegar/lemon juice for an hour | Spray or pour vinegar directly or cut a lemon in half and rub affected areas |
Wrap it tightly around the tap | Boil the solution | If NOT removable, fill a plastic bag with vinegar/lemon juice and tie it around the showerhead using a rubber band | Let it sit for 10–15 minutes |
Leave it for 30 minutes to an hour | Leave it for 30 minutes to an hour | Scrub with a brush | Scrub with a sponge or brush |
Scrub with a brush or sponge | Rinse thoroughly | Rinse thoroughly | Rinse thoroughly |
Rinse thoroughly with water and wipe dry | Boil fresh water once or twice to remove any vinegar/lemon taste | Reattach head if necessary | Wipe dry |
Tips: Use rubber bands to keep your cloths in place if you need to. For stubborn stains, use some bicarbonate of soda as a mild abrasive and rub it into your affected area after the vinegar or lemon juice has dissolved the limescale. It will be easier to wipe it off. You can even cut a lemon in half and screw it onto the faucet spout like a lightbulb! That’s fun!
SUMMARY
with a pinch of limescale in your tea
Hard water may be rich in minerals but as we learned - it is not necessarily always good. And it tastes funny. For household use - like bathing or commercial cleaning like that provided by DaisyFresh services - soft water is often preferred as it avoids the issues caused by mineral deposits. If you ever see us ceremoniously dancing outside your property before we make it in - there is no reason to panic. We are summoning rain. It is naturally soft water after all.
