Tuesday, September 10, 2013

How to Remove Mineral Deposits from Fixtures

Rainshower shower heads are certainly a wonderful luxury, but what happens when you turn on your shower and water doesn't flow like it used to? The problem may not be your plumbing but the showerhead itself.

Household faucets and showerheads are designed to direct water flow in a specific direction. This means they do not have a very wide opening but instead have small screens or holes that let a jet spray through.

Most water in the United States (and everywhere for that matter) carries dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium through your plumbing system and through your faucets. When water evaporates, these minerals are left behind, where they build up on the outflow of the opening and around the opening. Eventually, these tiny crystals of minerals become a hard, scaly deposit that doesn't just look bad -- it may block your water flow.

To prevent and help reduce buildup, it helps to wipe down your faucets with a damp rag and dish detergent regularly. Make sure you put a lot of attention into the back of the faucet and underside of the spout.

For tough stains, lemons are the solution. Wipe own the lime deposits on your faucets with half a lemon or lemon juice. This mild citric acid will help to quickly dissolve those stubborn mineral deposits but it won't harm the fixture at all. It may be used on brass, chrome and copper faucets without worry.

If the stains remain, try using vinegar. Wipe a bit of vinegar onto a problem spot and let it sit for 3 minutes before rinsing it off. Combining baking soda and vinegar can also create a paste you can rub on the stain, which may sit for up to 90 minutes to get rid of the deposit.

If you have a showerhead that's clogged with deposits, you don't necessarily need a Corona plumber to fix the problem! Try pouring vinegar into a plastic baggy and tying it around the showerhead with a rubber band. Leave it for about three hours, then remove it and wipe away the deposits, scrubbing anything left over with an old toothbruth.

For faucets with an aerator installed, you can clean deposits away by twisting off this insert that holds the screen in place. Flush off any debris then use a toothpaste to get rid of deposits. You can also soak the whole aerator in vinegar if you're having trouble.

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