Cure for Scaly Mineral Build-Up

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cure-for-scaly-mineral-build-up.html

posted by Annie B. Bond Oct 9, 2000 8:40 am

filed under: Healthy Home, Non-Toxic Cleaning

By Annie B. Bond

Water that has been left to sit in glass can leave rings of discoloration and a residue of what is called “scale.” This happened to me recently, both on a crystal champagne glass that I didn’t want to abandon (it looked ruined with the scale), and a glass cooking bowl that had been used outside for a project. I had a senior moment, forgot what I know about how to clean this problem, and scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail (you realize why the residue is called scale!), and even sent them through the hot dishwasher, thinking for sure that heavy duty detergent and heat would work, but no such luck.

When I remembered what to use for scale, it of course worked immediately and like magic! This trick can be used anywhere hard water minerals build up, such as in the shower.

Vinegar performs the magic! All you need to do is pour straight household vinegar into the bowl or glass with scale and it instantly dissolves the minerals and it is crystal clear clean. For the shower stall or around a sink faucet, soak a washcloth in straight vinegar and lay the cloth over the area for as long as needed.

Heinz white distilled vinegar is made of vegetables, not petroleum.
For glass you can use organic apple cider vinegar, but this can stain fabrics, so use with care.

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Barb Hathaway says
Mar 17, 2008 6:54 PM

be careful with the pumice stone though. I got a little overzealous and took off some of the glaze and ruined the bowl.

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Daren Dacanay says
Mar 16, 2008 12:52 AM

Where can I get a natural pumice stone? Do they last long?

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Sandra Schrawder says
Mar 12, 2008 4:10 PM

Another solution for those nasty scaly shower heads is to put some vinegar in a plastic ziplock bag and seal it around the shower head and let it sit until the scale is dissolved.

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Tiffany D. says
Oct 9, 2007 7:01 PM

If you have mineral deposit build-up in your toilet bowl you can use a natural pumice stone to gently scrub them away. The pumice removes the build-up without scratching the porceline bowl. This tip is courtesy of a great British TV show called "How Clean Is Your House" which features two delightful ladies named Kim and Aggie. They give out a lot of natural cleaning tips on their shows.

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By Annie B. Bond, Executive Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Channels.

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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