Water Stains: How They Happen and How to Remove Them

Causes:

Everyone has seen them before - - those nasty stains around your tub, shower, or sink faucets. These stains are commonly known as water stains. Water stains can occur due to a number of things, including rust, hard water, and bacteria. All three of these factors can work together to cause hard to remove water stains.

When water runs over a metal surface and is left on the surface for a while, rust can begin to form. Once the rust has formed in the area, it can run down and cause staining to happen. Hard water is another culprit for water stains for a few reasons. Hard water contains many chemicals and minerals, which can build up on your tub, sink, toilet, and shower, leaving behind those hideous water stains. Bacteria can also contribute to the formation of water stains, and worsen the effects of the stains.

Removal:

Luckily, there are several ways that water stains can be safely and effectively removed from the effected surface. When it comes to removing hard water stains, vinegar is one of your best friends. A fifty percent water, fifty percent vinegar solution is a good ratio to use when trying to remove water stains. For optimal removal of the stains, it is best to spray the solution on the area thoroughly and let it sit on the surface for about thirty minutes prior to removing it from the surface.

After the thirty minute wait period, the stains should be easily wiped away with a cloth or sponge. For the tougher water stains, and deep rust stains, it is best to leave the solution on the surface for an additional thirty minutes. This will give the vinegar solution more time to break down the tougher water stains, and after this, they should be easily wiped away with a sponge o

r rag.

On rare occasions, water stains do not simply wipe away (even after setting into the material for an hour), and may need some light scrubbing to remove. If that is the case, it is best to use a hard bristle cleaning brush, or the roughest side of a sponge to remove the stains.

Water stains (although ugly and annoying) happen sometimes. The good news is that with some vinegar, water, time and effort, water stains, no matter the cause, can be removed from the effected surface. Removal of water stains can leave the surface looking fresh and new.

We can prevent water stains in your Trinity home. Call Roman Plumbing at (727) 858-3412 for help!