Hard water is an issue that could leave an unsightly look on your bathroom tiles. Hard water will coat shower tiles with iron and calcium deposits.

Although the naked eye can’t detect these deposits, they can eventually layer up over time, which causes dark stains on your tiles and grout if left unattended. These brown stains on your bathroom tiles don’t just remove the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom but can also be hard to remove.

If you’re experiencing this problem, you’ve come to the right place. This post will walk you through easy yet practical ways to remove hard water stains from your bathroom tiles.

1. Use a Bathroom Water Softener

Using a softener ensures that hard water doesn’t cause more damage. Your water softener can easily be placed in your primary source of water supply. That way, you can get soft water.

Many household water softeners utilize an ion exchange process. This replaces any excess calcium and magnesium with ions like sodium and magnesium so that you can use soft water for various uses.

Depending on your need, you can opt for a whole-house water softener. As a result, the water you’ll be using is free from hardness and significantly decreases tiles’ stains.

2. Wipe Using White Vinegar

White vinegar is one of the most helpful kitchen ingredients you can use when removing hard water stains from your bathroom tiles. Note that this all-purpose cleaner is mildly acidic and can be great for removing bathroom stains. In the same way, white vinegar prevents mold, mildew, and germ growth in the bathroom.

There should be equal amounts of water and vinegar in your solution. Then, store it in a spray bottle, then spray it on the bathroom tiles. Next, allow the solution to stay there for quite some time before you scrub it off with a brush or sponge. Consider adding a little baking soda to the solution if the stains are too stubborn to remove.

At Planet Maids, (maid service NYC,) we tell clients that when cleaning marble or natural stone floors, refrain from using vinegar, as it may cause further stains.

You can do a surface test by soaking a cotton ball in vinegar and then applying it to a small portion of the tile. You can allow it to stay there for at least 12 to 24 hours before rinsing. If the tile’s appearance isn’t altered, then make sure to use vinegar to clean it.

3. Use a Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is a common ingredient used in baking. However, it’s also mildly acidic and can be an excellent alternative to baking soda.

It has a non-abrasive action that removes hard stains from different surfaces. You can also create a paste, applying it on stained surfaces. You can let it sit there for at least 30 minutes and then scrub it with a damp cloth afterward for a more shiny look.

4. Use a Baking soda

Baking soda removes hard water stains from the floor and even wall tiles. You can also safely use this mild natural abrasive on marble tiles.

With water and a quarter cup of baking soda, create a paste and place it on the affected area  and let it stay for a minimum of 12 hours before you scrub and rinse it off.

Avoid using baking soda to get rid of limescale from ceramic and glass surfaces. That’s because it can damage these surfaces in the long run.

5. Cleaning Tiles Using Salt

Another handy kitchen ingredient when cleaning bathroom tiles is salt, toning down even the ones that have the most stubborn hard water stains.

Salt can also be an excellent disinfectant, killing germs in your bathroom. When using salt to remove stains, see that the floor is wet, sprinkle them on the affected areas, and leave them for at least half an hour or so.

Then, scrub it off using a brush or sponge. The longer they stay on bathroom tiles, the more effective they remove these stains.

6. Rid Stain Using Lemon juice

Lemon juice, either on its own or when mixed with salt or vinegar, can be used in hard water stains.

For instance, to remove mineral deposits on taps and showerheads, you can sprinkle salt on a lemon half and then rub the surface.

Over to You

So there you have it. These are some of the most handy and practical ways to remove hard water stains on your bathroom tiles. Sometimes, getting rid of hard water stains can be frustrating. They can be challenging to remove, but taking necessary precautions beforehand helps ease the task.

That’s because removing hard water stains doesn’t have to be a chore. However, the sooner you act, the better your bathroom tiles will be. Hopefully, these post have helped you immensely.

Clare Louise