Why do you get limescale?
Limescale is produced when calcium and magnesium ions deposit on walls, taps, etc. Calcium and magnesium naturally occur in water, but the quantity differs from area to area.
Even areas with soft water may still have calcium. This is because the water may pass through water pipes that contain calciferous components before the water reaches your house. These calciferous parts may end up in your drinking water through a natural process.
Remove extreme limescale
Extreme limescale is a common problem. Limescale is formed when water dries up. As a result, limescale occurs frequently on surfaces that come into contact with plenty of water, such as bathrooms, toilets and the kitchen. At first, limescale seems reasonably innocuous. However, a build-up of this innocuous deposit produces extreme limescale before you know it.
The surface feels rough and looks dull. Sometimes, extreme limescale discolours. This is tricky, because the deposits don't look good and they are difficult to remove. If you need to remove heavy limescale, you can try various tips. All the tips for removing extreme amounts of limescale are on our tip page. If you would like to do it properly once and for all? You can remove limescale from glass, shower doors, tiles or the bathroom and the toilet with our HG limescale remover foam spray super powerful.
Read our tips for removing heavy limescale.
How to remove limescale from glass in the bathroom
There is nothing new about limescale on taps in the bathroom. If you have trouble with limescale in your bathroom and you want to remove limescale from the bathroom floor or from other surfaces in the bathroom, this is easy with our tips and our HG products. We have written a page with tips for removing limescale from the bathroom. If you are looking for a ready-to-use product, we recommend our HG limescale remover foam spray. HG limescale remover foam spray removes limescale quickly and safely and has a fresh green fragrance.
Read our tips for removing limescale from the bathroom.
Removing limescale in a kettle and cleaning an electric kettle
When you use your kettle, you end up with limescale on the inside of the kettle. How quickly this happens depends on how often you use your kettle. The amount of limescale in your electric kettle also depends on whether you have hard or soft tap water.
If you want your kettle to have a long lifespan, proper maintenance is important. Limescale can prevent your electric kettle from working properly. You can clean a kettle in various ways. On our tip page we discuss tips for simply removing limescale in the kettle and we recommend the right products for a scale-free electric kettle.
Read our tips here for cleaning your electric kettle.
How to remove limescale from the coffee maker
A delicious cup of coffee is a wonderful thing. If you want to retain that great coffee taste, it is important to descale your coffee maker on a regular basis. Limescale can affect the taste of your coffee. Limescale also makes for colder coffee and your appliance makes more noise during use.
How often do you need to descale a coffee machine? And what do you use to descale a coffee machine? We have worked it out for you. Depending on the use and the hardness of the water, we recommend you descale your coffee maker once every three months. It is best to clean your coffee machine with our HG descaler for appliances. You find more about how to remove limescale from your coffee maker on our product and tip pages.
Read our tips and products for removing limescale from your coffee maker.
How to descale an espresso machine
Cleaning and descaling your espresso machine would seem like a big job. However, it's not too bad, particularly when you use the right product. Depending on the use of your espresso machine, it is recommended to clean and descale the machine at least four times a year. This means that your espresso machine lasts longer and that your coffee retains the right flavour.
Limescale is one of the factors that may shorten the life of your machine. When you clean your espresso machine, it is important to use a product that descales the machine. We prepared a phased plan so it's easy for you to remove limescale from your espresso machine.
Read all our tips for descaling your espresso machine.
Clean and descale a Nespresso
It is actually impossible to prevent limescale in your Nespresso machine. Tap water contains limescale and that leaves a trace in your machine. The inside and the loose components of your Nespresso machine become covered with a layer of limescale.
The accumulated limescale can reduce the lifespan of your machine. The limescale also changes the taste of your Nespresso coffee. Therefore it is important to clean your Nespresso machine regularly. There are various ways to descale a Nespresso machine. On this page we tell you what you should or should not do when you descale your Nespresso.
Read all our tips for cleaning your Nespresso.
Remove scale from a Senseo
Do you like a cup of Senseo coffee? To make sure your coffee continues to taste good, it is important that you descale your Senseo machine regularly. The limescale in your Senseo also reduces the life of your machine and means the coffee is not as hot as it should be. Limescale is caused by water, and is inevitable when you use your Senseo machine.
Descaling a Senseo may seem like a massive task, because the limescale is on the smallest components. With the right products, it is easy and quick to descale your Senseo. How you do that, you can read on our tip page.
Read all our tips for descaling your Senseo.
Descale a washing machine
A washing machine is virtually unmissable in any household. So it is important to maintain your washing machine in the best possible way. It means your washing machine lasts many cycles longer and you prevent high repair costs.
Limescale in the washing machine is a common problem. Sometimes it produces scale on your clothes. Furthermore, limescale can cause washing machine components to break down and may cause the washing machine to take longer to warm up. Descaling your washing machine is extremely important. But how often do you actually need to descale a washing machine? Is it possible to descale a washing machine with vinegar, soda or cleaning vinegar? On our tip page we provide you with tips for descaling a washing machine. We also discuss the benefits of HG descaler for appliances to descale your washing machine quickly and efficiently.
Read our tips for enjoying a scale-free washing machine for longer.
Descale a shower head
Blocked shower-head holes or water jets that go any which way, you know the problem. The shower head that used to be so good looks like it needs to be replaced. Before you buy a new one, check the old one for limescale first.
Limescale in a shower head produces blocked holes. That causes the problems we referred to earlier. Fortunately, this problem is easy to solve. Descaling a shower head is extremely simple and produces immediate results. You don't even have to take the shower head apart. You simply remove the limescale in your shower head with HG scale away foam spray.
Descale a shower head with HG.
3 ways to remove limescale
Various blogs describe all types of DIY products for getting rid of limescale. We have selected a number of tips.
- Cola
All manner of special properties are ascribed to cola, including descaling. For example, it is said that cola is suitable for descaling the toilet pan. Pour cola in the toilet pan and leave it to sit overnight. Flush the toilet the next day. - Buttermilk
Drench a tea towel in buttermilk and put on the place with limescale. Leave it there overnight and then you should be able to wash off the limescale without any problems. - Fabric softener
To remove limescale from tiles, you could also use fabric softener. Pour a capful of fabric softener in half a bucket of warm water and then wipe off the tiles. Leave to absorb and then rinse properly with hot water.
Have you tried the tips above and had little or no success? Then try the HG solutions that have been developed specifically for removing limescale thoroughly and safely.
Remove limescale effectively with HG
HG has various solutions for removing scale, such as HG limescale remover concentrate. This is a strongly concentrated product for removing limescale and limestone. The product is suitable for taps, bath tubs, toilets and shower walls and can also be used for descaling your shower head. This concentrated limescale remover also removes rust stains, uric scale and verdigris. HG limescale remover concentrate is available in a 500ml and a 1L version.
HG limescale remover foam spray removes stubborn limescale thoroughly and quickly and leave nothing other than a brilliant shine and a fresh fragrance. This product is suitable for removing limescale, which produces a dull film, from tiles, shower cubicles, plastic bath tubs, washbasins, taps, shower heads and worktops. This product produces a full foam that guarantees a longer active time without affecting chrome, glaze or grout. Besides HG limescale remover foam spray, there is also HG limescale remover foam spray super powerful for removing persistent scale.
Tips to prevent limescale
The best would be to prevent having to remove limescale. The following tips may come in handy:
1. Preventive cleaning with a cleaning agent
To prevent limescale in the shower, the basin or the bath, we recommend you take a cloth with a cleaning product when you take a shower. It means you can keep the shower walls clean whilst you shower. After showering, just rinse with hot water and dry the shower cubicle. HG bathroom cleaner all surfaces is the ideal every-day cleaner, because it removes mild scale and skin grease and soap residues.
2. Water softener
You can also connect a water softener to your water pipe, which is fitted as close as possible after your water meter. With a water softener (and the built-in limescale filter), the water becomes softer and there is less limescale in your water. Unfortunately this is an expensive solution and not financially feasible for everybody.
Frequently Asked Questions about how to remove limescale
How is limescale formed?
Limescale is produced when calcium and magnesium ions deposit on walls, taps, etc. The water pipes the water passes through before it reaches your house may contain calciferous components. These calciferous parts may end up in your drinking water through a natural process.
How do you remove extreme limescale?
You remove extreme limescale with products developed for that purpose, such as HG limescale remover foam spray super powerful.
How do I deal with limescale in the bathroom?
Would you like to remove limescale from the bathroom floor or do you have to remove limescale from other surfaces in the bathroom? You can use various DIY products or HG limescale remover foam spray.
How do I descale my electric kettle
You can try to descale your kettle with cleaning vinegar, lemon juice or cola. This may help, but it produces a lot of mess. For an effective result, you use HG descaler for appliances.
How do I descale my coffee maker, Nespresso, Senseo or Espresso?
You can use various DIY products, but for an effective result without mess it is best to choose HG coffee machine descaler.
How can I descale my washing machine?
You can try to descale the washing machine with vinegar, soda or cleaning vinegar. However, this may not be your best bet. For an effective result, you go for HG descaler for appliances.
How do I prevent limescale?
You prevent limescale by using a good cleaning product and by fitting a water softener to your mains water pipe.
