Are your taps looking crusty, dull, and a bit past their best? Here’s how to remove limescale from taps quickly and easily using something you probably already have at home: white vinegar.

I love using white vinegar in my bathroom to keep everything sparkly and clean.

I use white vinegar to clean my shower head and to make my own reusable cleaning wipes solution. And I use white vinegar infused with herbs to make an all-purpose cleaning spray that I use all around the bathroom.

Why the vinegar love? For a start, it’s cheap as chips. But it’s more than that. It’s non-toxic, low-waste, and far more eco-friendly than many conventional cleaning products, and is way more effective at tackling soap scum, limescale, and all the other less-than-lovely things our bathrooms and kitchens can throw at us.

If your taps are looking a bit crusty, then here’s exactly how to use white vinegar to remove limescale from your taps:

How To Remove Limescale From Taps Using White Vinegar

Wondering what’s the best way to use white vinegar to remove a build-up of limescale from your taps? Here’s my tried-and-tested top technique so that your sink gleams in no time. And the good news is that you likely already have everything you need at home.

You Will Need

• White vinegar
• Three cleaning cloths
• String, elastic bands or similar
• An old toothbrush
• Small bowl
• Bicarbonate of soda (optional)

Method

My bathroom tap with cloths around the handles, before I removed the aerator or put a cloth on the spout.

To get rid of limescale from taps using white vinegar:

• Soak your three cloths in white vinegar until they are fully saturated.
• Wrap a cloth around each handle of your tap. Use string or elastic bands to keep the cloths snug against the taps.
• If your tap has a removable aerator, unscrew this and place it in a small bowl of vinegar.
• Take the last cloth and wrap it around the spout of the tap, again securing it with string or similar.
• Leave everything to sit for up to 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, remove the cloths from the tap and remove the aerator from the bowl. Using the old toothbrush, give everything a good scrub. The limescale should just flake off.
• If any limescale is particularly stubborn, rinse the taps with water. Then dip the toothbrush in some dry bicarbonate of soda and gently scrub to remove any lingering pieces of limescale.
• Once done, rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth – remembering to pop the aerator back on!

Job done! You can repeat this any time you see limescale appearing on your taps.

Why White Vinegar Helps To Remove Limescale

Limescale is made up of mineral deposits left behind when hard water evaporates – mainly calcium carbonate.

White vinegar works so well because it’s acidic. That acidity reacts with these mineral deposits, dissolving them so they can be wiped or scrubbed away with very little effort, and without any harsh chemicals.

Vinegar is also effective on soap scum, grease, and everyday grime, which often build up alongside limescale on taps. That means you’re able cleaning the whole surface all in one go.

How To Prevent Limescale On Taps

Once you’ve taken the time to remove limescale from your taps, it’s worth knowing some preventative steps you can take to keep the crustiness at bay.

I find that a quick wipe with a dry cloth after use can stop water droplets from drying and leaving mineral deposits behind. You can also give taps a light vinegar wipe once a week to prevent build-up before it becomes noticeable.

More Eco Cleaning Guides

If your taps were covered in limescale, there’s a good chance your toilet has the same issue. To help you tackle that next, here’s how to remove limescale from your toilet using citric acid. It tends to work better than vinegar in the loo, where build-up can be more stubborn.

Wendy Graham