With 1 in 3 Brits claiming hard water has got worse over the past year in their homes, limescale is becoming an epidemic in UK households. As a nation that’s renowned for loving a hot brew, and the winter months being a key for the use of hot water, household appliances and plumbing are under more pressure with limescale lurking and becoming a nuisance.
The research also found the effects of hard water costs Brits £25.8M due to damage and disrepair of appliances like irons, pipes, showerheads, boilers and kettles. Limescale can be found in kettles, your dishwasher, shower and even boilers and pipes. Once hard water is heated it creates a chalky off-white crust that creates limescale that is hard to clean off, making appliances look tired and worn.
The great news is there is a solution! It doesn’t need to take hours of hard labour scrubbing it away. Actually it can take just 10 minutes! From grimy irons to annoying residue in your morning brew, limescale build up can be easily managed with these handy tips:
Use a descaling product
Did you know that limescale build up starts from the first time you use your appliance? Oust All Purpose Descaler works in just 10 minutes to remove 100% of all limescale on a range of household appliances including kettles, irons, coffee machines and showerheads. Just pop it in the appliance and let it do the hard work for you.
Vinegar isn’t just for chips
Build-up of limescale on chrome fixtures like taps and showerheads can cause dullness and if left untreated chipping or peeling. Limescale can be decreased by simply dipping a cloth in vinegar and securing it to the fixture for a few hours for a shiny finish.
Drain your heater
Limescale is produced by the heating of hard water and therefore can form in your hot water heater. By draining the tank a couple of times each year along with regulating or lowering the water temperature can help avoid build-ups of limescale.
Purify your water before boiling
Sick of the little flakes of limescale in your morning coffee? By pre-treating your water by boiling it or by using a purifying filter, you can remove some of the minerals from the water that cause limescale.
Treat your appliances on a regular basis
The key to the prevention of limescale damage is regular descaling of appliances or surfaces. If you live in a hard water area it is advised to descale every 3 months and every 6 months in soft water areas.
