We have all struggled with hard water deposits somewhere in our facility at one time or another. These nuisances are mineral deposits—calcium, lime, and other hard mineral buildup —left over when pure water evaporates. Hard water deposits can leave your surfaces looking dirty, dingy, and gross, giving visitors a poor impression of your organization or business. In some extreme cases, they can even cause expensive damage to appliances.
Fortunately, with a little bit of cleaning know-how and some helpful cleaning aids, you can bring your surfaces back to their natural glory. Use our guide below to both remove these unsightly stains and prevent them from developing in the future.
Restrooms and Toilets
Chances are that restrooms are your most challenging area when it comes to hard water deposits. Virtually every surface in a bathroom is constantly being splashed with water. The two biggest offenders for hard water deposits in restrooms are sinks and toilets. Let’s consider how to clean these two difficult areas to make your restrooms shine instead of stain.
Toilets
Toilets can be the area in your organization most in need of hard water intervention. Toilets pose this special challenge because they are constantly filled with water and therefore can be difficult to clean effectively. Minerals and other impurities can sit on the surface of the water in the toilet bowl and leave their mark for all to see.
Using a product like Handi-Flush Toilet Bowl Crystals can be particularly useful when cleaning toilets with hard water spots. These products are chemically formulated to react with the water in the bowl to dissolve stains, washing away anything problematic. This product is very easy to use. Simply sprinkle it into the tank, let it sit, then flush it away. It’s a great way to address your hard water spot problem with the minimum amount of time investment by your team.
Are you looking for something more powerful to fight tougher hard water deposits in toilets? Try Worldwide Janitor’s Stain Away. This potent cleaner fights even the toughest stains with ease.
Sinks/Showers
While sinks and showers may not be quite as notorious for hard water spots as toilets and other surfaces, they will require maintenance from time to time. Depending on the quality of water in your area, hard water stains can become problematic if not taken care of on a regular basis.
The key to maintaining sinks and showers is ensuring that the most difficult-to-reach places are addressed consistently before they turn into noticeable and challenging hard water stains. For example, don’t forget to clean behind the spout, around the shower head, and in the corners and crevices of shower floors. Remain on top of these tasks and hard water deposits most likely won’t have the chance to build up in sinks and showers.
Try our Natural Citrus Multi-Purpose Foam Cleaner to keep your sinks and showers shiny and spotless, reducing the likelihood of hard water buildup. For an even tougher solution, try our Attack Mildew & Stain Remover.
Kitchen Areas
Food service areas and kitchens may also require attention to remain free of hard water spots and stains. These spaces have a large amount of water involved in their proper maintenance and use. The repeated process of sitting water and heating can leave behind mineral deposits both on and in appliances. Wiping the outside of appliances with a cleaner like Stainless Steel Cleaner or another appropriate to your surface should be enough to prevent it from becoming an issue.
Appliances that are most susceptible to hard water issues over time are ice machines, dishwashing machines, and steam tables. For these, use a product like Delimer & Scale Remover, an acid-based cleaner that is meant to fight tough hard water deposits after they happen. Once your surface is clear of those stains, you can use a general purpose cleaner regularly to keep the area clear of mineral deposits in the future.
Pool Areas
Hard water spots are a major cleaning issue for swimming pools and hot tubs. Water and pool chemicals sit on pool decks and other pool area surfaces constantly. The water then evaporates in the heat, leaving lime deposits and other impurities behind. If these deposits accumulate for long enough, they can clog the water filtration system of your pool, costing your facility money in repairs.
Regular pool testing and chemical maintenance is the best way to prevent these deposits from deteriorating the appearance of your pool or hot tub. You can also use products that work specifically to prevent mineral buildup in pools and hot tubs. Our popular Muriatic Acid is one of the most effective ways to ensure mineral deposits don’t become an expensive problem for your pool or spa.
Cleaning hard water spots can be a struggle, but equipped with the right products and a careful daily cleaning ritual, they can easily be prevented. Have any questions about how to address your hard water spots? Send us an email. We are happy to help!
