Even though I genuinely do keep on top of my bathroom cleaning routine, there’s one thing that always seems to keep coming back – hard water stains.
These bothersome marks are caused by mineral deposits left behind when water evaporates, meaning they will just keep returning to your shower, sink and faucets unless you soften your water at the source, with an often-expensive filtration system.
While I usually remove water marks successfully with a good clean, when I saw this cleaning tip involving the humble toothpaste, I was so intrigued I had to try it.
How to clean hard water stains on faucets with toothpaste
So, why does toothpaste work? Much like when I recently tried cleaning my mirror with shaving foam, toothpaste is a gentle cleaning product containing abrasives and surfactants, which work to polish teeth, and therefore can do the same for your faucets.
Make sure you go for toothpaste which contains fluoride, as this is the miracle component which effectively reacts with the magnesium and salt in hard water stains, breaking them down and banishing them completely.
This trick can also be used on porcelain, glass, and stone surfaces, and proved to be a great addition to my 15 minute bathroom cleaning and organizing routine.
Rated 4.7 stars
Biotène Fluoride Toothpaste
If you usually use fluoride-free paste to brush your teeth, this toothpaste is perfect for cleaning your bathroom, as it’s high in fluoride, sugar free, and alcohol free, to protect your surfaces and make them shine.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
What you will need
If you’re as interested in trying this as I was, all you need is:
How to clean hard water stains with toothpaste
Step 1: Apply
I didn’t apply the toothpaste thickly, but instead spread a thin layer for even coverage.
(Image credit: Ottilie Blackhall / Future)
First things first, to clean a faucet head or clean chrome faucets with toothpaste, you will need to apply it.
I squeezed some out onto my fingers, mixed it with a little water to loosen it up, and spread it on the faucet with my hand. As I was only tackling my taps, this was easy enough, but for larger areas, I recommend using a microfiber cloth to do so, such as the HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloth available at Amazon.
Step 2: Wait for five minutes
(Image credit: Divine Savages / Ca’Pietra)
Then, I waited approximately five minutes, allowing the toothpaste to work its magic. This is a great opportunity to get other tasks done.
Task stacking will help you clean a bathroom in 30 minutes or less, such as using a damp duster like the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster available at Amazon, to quickly dust baseboards in a while I waited.
Step 3: Rinse
My faucet looked wonderfully shiny, and all stubborn hard water stains were effectively and easily removed.
(Image credit: Ottilie Blackhall / Future)
After around five minutes it was time for the grand reveal and, to be honest, I was feeling a bit skeptical.
But, I was genuinely amazed by the results – after I used my cloth and some water to wipe my faucets they were shining, sparkling and spotless, all in less than 10 minutes.
Step 4. Buff dry
I then buffed my taps dry with a soft towel, and stood back to admire my handy work.
My verdict
While I’ll still be reaching for my Lysol Power Foaming Cleaning Spray for Bathrooms (available at Amazon) for cleaning larger areas, this is a great trick to speedily touch up taps, particularly if you need to clean a house fast.
FAQs
What dissolves hard water stains?
There are plenty of other DIY solutions to dissolve a hard water stain, such as cleaning with vinegar or baking soda.
Simply mix up a paste of one part baking soda to two parts vinegar and apply liberally to affected areas, before letting it sit for 30 minutes. Then, rinse off – ideal for removing years of built-up hard water stains, or quickly brightening your bathroom.
Does The Pink Stuff remove hard water stains?
While there are many things you can clean with The Pink Stuff, it is not recommended for use on hard water stains.
This is because it is an alkaline cleaner, and acidic-based products, such as Lime-A-Way Bathroom Cleaner available at Amazon will work more effectively.
For a natural alternative to an acidic cleaner, why not try cleaning with lemon juice?
One of our editors tried cleaning stubborn faucet limescale with lemon juice, and it was so amazingly effective, they ditched shop-bought solutions for good.
Even though I am diligent about keeping my bathroom clean, hard water stains always seem to reappear. These stubborn marks are caused by mineral deposits left behind when water evaporates, and they will continue to come back unless you soften your water at the source with a costly filtration system.
While I usually manage to remove water marks with a good clean, I was intrigued by a cleaning tip involving toothpaste that I just had to try.
How to clean hard water stains on faucets with toothpaste
Why does toothpaste work? Toothpaste, like shaving foam for cleaning mirrors, contains abrasives and surfactants that help polish teeth and can do the same for faucets.
Choose a toothpaste with fluoride, as this ingredient reacts effectively with the magnesium and salt in hard water stains, breaking them down and eliminating them completely. This trick is also suitable for porcelain, glass, and stone surfaces, making it a great addition to a quick bathroom cleaning routine.
Rated 4.7 stars
Biotène Fluoride Toothpaste
If you usually use fluoride-free toothpaste, this high-fluoride, sugar-free, and alcohol-free toothpaste is perfect for cleaning your bathroom surfaces and making them shine.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
What you will need
If you’re interested in trying this method, all you need is:
How to clean hard water stains with toothpaste
Step 1: Apply
I applied a thin layer of toothpaste for even coverage.
(Image credit: Ottilie Blackhall / Future)
To clean a faucet head or chrome faucets with toothpaste, start by applying a thin layer of toothpaste. Use your fingers or a microfiber cloth for larger areas.
Step 2: Wait for five minutes
(Image credit: Divine Savages / Ca’Pietra)
Let the toothpaste sit for about five minutes to work its magic while you attend to other tasks.
For a quick bathroom cleaning routine, multitask by dusting baseboards with a damp duster like the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster available at Amazon.
Step 3: Rinse
My faucets were shining and all hard water stains were removed.
(Image credit: Ottilie Blackhall / Future)
After five minutes, rinse off the toothpaste to reveal shiny, spotless faucets in less than 10 minutes.
Step 4. Buff dry
Finish by buffing the faucets dry with a soft towel to admire your handiwork.
My verdict
While I prefer using Lysol Power Foaming Cleaning Spray for larger areas, this toothpaste trick is perfect for quickly refreshing faucets, especially when you need to clean in a hurry.
FAQs
What dissolves hard water stains?
Vinegar or baking soda can dissolve hard water stains effectively. Create a paste of one part baking soda to two parts vinegar, apply it to the stains, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then rinse off for a clean and bright bathroom.
Does The Pink Stuff remove hard water stains?
The Pink Stuff is not recommended for removing hard water stains as it is an alkaline cleaner. Opt for acidic-based products like Lime-A-Way Bathroom Cleaner for more effective results.
For a natural alternative, try cleaning with lemon juice. Our editor found success in removing stubborn faucet limescale with lemon juice, ditching commercial solutions for good.