We have a real problem with real hard water and calcium stains. I must spend a fortune on Lime-Away! It is the only thing that really works. I have tried vinegar...just doesn't cut it. Is there any other homemade cleaner that would work?

-- Karen (mountains_mama@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002

Answers

Karen, No home made, but I have really bad hard water and I use "Bar Keepers Friend" It is usually with the house hold cleaners,Comit etc.. very little goes a long way and it has No oder. Hope you find something as it can be a dog to clean hard water stains.

-- Sue in PA (suelpn30@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

This is surprisingly easy....( secret from my grandma )... LEMONS...just cut a lemon in half and rub it on the hard water stains. Let it sit, refreshing the juice if it starts to dry up, and the acid in the juice will loosen the water stains, allowing you to litterally wipe them away. This works well for hard water deposits , but doesnt do a thing for rust. Hope this helps. Kristean

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), February 07, 2002.

I have severe iron stains on toilets and sinks/bathtubs. We used plain bleach & sink cleansers, but now even that doesn't work.

Here's what we discovered:

1) Borax works. "20 Mule Team". At $2.67 for four pounds + it's a bargain and doesn't screw up the septic system.

2) Powder dishwasher soap, when mixed with a small amount of water and placed in the sinks, dissolves the calcium buildup.

-- al (yr2012@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

Try heating the vinegar to boiling and pouring it on the stain slowly.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

Muriatic acid will shine a bowl in a few seconds but you must have open ventilation in that the fumes are dangerous and they will pitt plated metal such as doorknobs and hindges. I also use it to unclog drains when the clog is on down the line by pouring it down the air stacks.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 07, 2002.

We have hard water...very hard water...have to clean/scrub the toilets every day to keep the stains at bay. Anyway, I use a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda....be careful it will fizz but works. It worked on my shower doors so well that most people thought we had just installed them.....five years ago :-)) Good luck!

-- Krista Dennis (krista@nacsdc.org), February 07, 2002.

I use a pumice stone to gently scrape the stains and then just wipe them away. The pumice doesn't scratch. Baking soda works well, too.

-- MicheleRaePadgett (michelesmelodyfarm@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.