Build up of calcium in drains can leave residue and stains in your shower. These stains do not just look nasty, they can be a sign of an unclean bathroom. The easiest way to get rid of calcium buildup is to learn the signs and catch them early. Calcium buildup usually starts as white stains in your shower and is easy to clean. But, when left untreated it can escalate to more severe issues. It collects as white or grey much in drains and pipes, causing blockages. Slow water drainage or pools on your bathroom floor show such blockages.
How to Get Rid of Calcium Buildup in Shower Drains
Calcium buildup is a very common issue faced by households. There are various products aimed at eliminating calcium buildup. The easiest method of all uses common household products. A simple DIY solution can help you remove calcium buildup in your shower drain. For this, you would need the following items –
- Boiling water
- Half a cup of vinegar
- Half a cup baking soda
- An old rag
Step 1
Begin by pouring some hot water down the drain. This will help loosen up any bits of built-up gunk that have collected down the drain.
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Step 2
Now pour all the baking soda into the drainage hole.
Step 3
Follow the baking soda with the half cup of vinegar and immediately cover with an old rag.
The vinegar will react with the baking soda and start frothing. This frothing will help speed up the breakdown of all the built-up residue in the drain. Covering the drain prevents the reaction caused by this mixture to bubble over the surface. Keeping the reaction contained will also help the solution work better.
Wait for about five minutes for the frothing to settle down. During this period the soda will break down the accumulated sludge.
Step 4
Now remove the rag and pour boiling hot water over the baking soda vinegar mixture. This should wash away all the muck within, leaving you with a clean shower drain.
For most drains, this should be enough. In case the water still drains out slower than usual, repeat the above steps a couple more times till you see improvement.
Best Lime Drain Cleaners to Use
Lime drain cleaners prove useful in getting rid of the collected gunk in your drain. They are easy to find and to use. Limescale buildup can be stubborn and last a long time. This makes it necessary to regularly clean it out, and investing in good lime drain cleaners makes the job easier. Here are some of the top shelf lime drain cleaners you can buy today –
1. Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver
Thousands of positive reviews and the manufacturers claim this product eats through any clogs. The Green Gobbler drain cleaner is sure to leave you with clean drains and pipes. This two-part cleaning system comes with easy-to-follow instructions. Leaving the product in drains for longer than 10-15 minutes is not recommended.
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2. Lime-A-Way Calcium Rust Cleaner
This limescale cleaner works magic on your entire bathroom. Suitable for pipes and drains, as well as tiles, sinks, and glass surfaces. It has promising reviews that claim visible results in a short time. Just spray it on surfaces, wait for the build-up to dissolve, and wash it off with water.
3. CLR Pro Cleaner
The CLR Pro Cleaner is a value-for-money product. The bigger size makes it ideal for large-scale jobs. Its quick-acting formula removes calcium deposits, limescale build-ups, and even rust! It can be safely used on various surfaces like steel, aluminum, plastic, concrete, fiberglass, and more.
What causes calcium buildup in the shower drain?
The biggest culprit behind calcium buildup in showers is hard water. Hard water is water that flows through areas containing high mineral content. This means minerals like calcium, limestone, and magnesium get carried with the water. In your home, they get deposited on various surfaces as the water evaporates. This is noticeable on bathroom floors, faucets, showerheads, and drains. White stains on these surfaces are tell-tale signs of mineral build-up as a result of water.
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White streaks on utensils after cleaning them are also a sign of high mineral content in your water. Indirect signs of hard water in your area can be coarse hair after a wash, irritation of the skin, and itchy throat.
How Often to Clean Up Limescale in Shower
As mentioned before, when hard water stays stagnant and then evaporates, it leaves behind a white residue. This unsightly white residue is also known as limescale. The amount of buildup in your shower depends upon the mineral content in the water you use. Higher mineral content would mean cleaning up limescale more often. A safe bet is to clean up limescale once every 8 weeks. If you observe a faster buildup, make sure to clean up once every 4 weeks to keep surfaces shining.
How to prevent calcium buildup in shower drains
One can invest in a water softener to prevent limescale. These are devices that deal with the problem at its source. Once hooked up to your plumbing, it helps lower the mineral content of hard water. This leads to softer water which prevents calcium buildup and related issues. While this is an expensive investment, it is less time-consuming.
Preventing calcium build-up in shower drains otherwise requires diligent effort. It is a timely task but ensures that your shower remains clean and hygienic. There are many products in the market that help get rid of limescale. But the easiest way to prevent calcium build-up and limescale is to wipe down surfaces. Using a dry towel, wipe all surfaces that come in touch with water in your shower after use. Remember to wipe down tiles, faucets, as well as showerheads. Using a squeegee is an easy way to prevent water from pooling on bathroom floors.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, calcium buildup or limescale is a very common problem, with simple solutions. While they can be a little time-consuming, they’re easy to follow.
Regularly following these steps can not only help remove limescale, but it can also prevent the problem.
But, if the problem is not solved by following the above steps it is wise to call a professional. Have a plumber take a look at your drains and pipes at the earliest!
You can also stop water running out from the shower to avoid calcium getting built up in the shower drain.
Early intervention is the best way to prevent higher future costs.
