Mineral Buildup…What is It and How Do I Get Rid of It?
Depending on where you live, mineral content can flow through your water system at home. This might include dissolved minerals such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, and so on.
There’s what’s called “soft water” and “hard water”. If you live in an area where your running tap water has a higher level of mineral in it, it’s likely you have “hard water”.
You’ll find mineral buildup in any place where there’s running water (and if you live in a place where there’s hard water). The likelihood of mineral buildup greatly increases in places where there’s standing water on a surface. This might include:
Toilets
This will show as a discolored ring around the perimeter of the water line in the toilet.
THE FIX: Drywall sanding screen. See this article I wrote for step-by-step instructions on how to use drywall sanding screen to remove a toilet ring.
Sinks
Mineral buildup will occur the most on porcelain (or ceramic) because it’s a ‘porous’ surface and deposits will often buildup inside of the pores of the sink. It may show in other sinks however, such as sinks made out of fiberglass, stainless steel, granite, and quartz.
THE FIX FOR PORCELAIN SINKS: You may need to try a few things, depending on the buildup. First, try baking soda, dish soap, water, and a brush to scrub the sink. Rinse, dry, and check the sink. If that doesn’t work, try scrubbing a small area of the affected surface with drywall sanding screen to test it (ensure it doesn’t scratch the porcelain). If the drywall sanding screen works, proceed with caution with the rest of the affected area.
THE FIX FOR FIBERGLASS & STAINLESS STEEL SINKS: Put white vinegar (non-diluted, at full strength) in a spray bottle and generously spray the surrounding surface of the sink. Let sit for 15 minutes and sprinkle the sink with baking soda. Turn on the water and scrub the sink to create a paste as you scrub. Rinse and dry.
THE FIX FOR GRANITE & QUARTZ SINKS: Use a high heat steamer and slowly run the steamer over the affected areas.
Showers
This might include the shower surround or the shower door. If you have a shower that is anything other than white (such as black or a colored hue), mineral buildup might show more due to the mere fact that mineral buildup is typically an off white color.
THE FIX: First, try scrubbing the shower with The Tidy People Shower Cleaner, the abrasive side of a sponge, and rinse + dry (see: Shower Cleaning Guide here).
If there is still mineral buildup, try a high heat steamer. Test a small area first (to see if your efforts are working) before proceeding forward with the entire shower. I recommend going slow - the longer the heat/steam runs over the surface, the higher likelihood of the mineral buildup removing from the surface.
Lastly, I’ve tried this hard water stain remover before and it’s worked. It can be hit or miss, depending on the conditions of the buildup.
Faucets & Shower Head
Check the type of metal your faucet is, first. The most popular are stainless steel, but some have a coating of some sort that can easily be ruined. If this is the case and you live in an area that’s mineral buildup prone, you might be better off replacing your faucet with one without a coating or try one of the preventive steps below in this article.
THE FAUCET FIX: Dip paper towels or napkins in white vinegar (fully saturate) and lay the soaked paper towels on the faucet and let sit overnight. Remove in the morning and polish dry with a towel.
THE SHOWER HEAD FIX: Add white vinegar to a large ziplock bag (one big enough for your shower head to fit inside of) and dip the shower head inside and fix in place with a clamp. Let sit overnight and wipe clean with a dry towel in the morning.
Dishwasher
If your dishwasher is newer and heats up at high temperatures, you may see less mineral buildup (effectively, the steam works to help break down any calcified minerals). But, it CAN happen nevertheless.
THE FIX: Add a cup of white vinegar to a container and place in the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Run a cycle as normal, but without any dishes.
Washing Machine
In addition to potential mineral buildup, there’s a chance your washer can mold if it’s not aired out properly in between cycles.
THE FIX: Add white vinegar to the detergent receptacle (sans detergent) and run an empty cycle.
Coffee Maker & Hot Water Kettles
You’ll notice this in the bottom of a kettle usually or on the interior of the coffee maker.
THE FIX: Add white vinegar to a brew cycle, twice. Then run water through it for another brew cycle to clear the vinegar.
PREVENTION
If you want to add in the step of preventing mineral buildup from occurring in the first place, this can help save time (and potentially prevent a surface from being permanently stained).
🚿 Replace shower head with a Jolie filtered shower head (plus, it’s better for your hair!)
♻️ Add a Hydroflow to your hot water heater for an earth friendly alternative over toxic water softeners
💦 Add a descaler to your water entry points in the home
✨ Squeegee shower after each use
🧼 Wipe down sinks when finished using them
