Question: “How can I clean hard water spots from soft plastic window coverings or plastic windows.” Hard
You Will Need:
- Spray bottle
- Soft cloth
- White vinegar
- Water
- Soft-bristled scrub brush
- Enzyme digester
- A lemon
The Removal Process:
- Begin by cleaning the area as normal to remove any dirt and dust.
- If possible, remove upright plastic pieces and lay them as flat as possible.
- Combine white vinegar and water, in equal parts, in the spray bottle.
- Spray the stained area and allow it to soak for at least 15 minutes. If the piece is not laying flat, you can place a cloth that has been moistened with the solution on top of the stain (or tie it around the area)
- For stubborn stains, allow the solution to soak for several hours to overnight. In areas with heavy levels of staining, use undiluted vinegar in place of the solution.
- Remove the cloth and gently scrub away any remaining stains with a soft-bristled scrub brush.
- Repeat as necessary.
- If the vinegar does not remove the deposits, try using an enzyme digester. Nature’s Miracle Hard Floor Cleaner is one that is specifically made for hard surfaces like plastic, but any enzyme cleaner should work. Follow the directions on the label of your selected cleaner.
- Another option is to cut a slice of lemon and rub the lemon over the deposits. Scrub the deposits with a scrub brush, then rinse the area clean.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If your plastic food containers are stained, simply soak the entire container in the vinegar solution for at least 15 minutes (or as long as overnight for tougher stains). Wash as normal before use.
- There are commercial limescale cleaners that you can buy at most supermarkets and online, such as Simple Green Limescale Remover.
- Consider getting a water softener for your home to prevent this problem from returning.
- Wiping a surface dry after cleaning it will prevent the minerals from being deposited onto the surface.
Sources
- Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
- The Miracle of Lemons by Dr. Penny Standway
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About the Author
Mark is the founder and lead content planner here at HowToCleanStuff.net. He spent 4 years as a professional carpet cleaner followed by a career providing professional cleaning services to businesses and residential homes.
i Photodisc/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Hard water stains can develop in your aquarium if you use water with a high mineral content to fill your tank. These stains can make it difficult to see your fish through the glass, as well as cause your entire tank to appear discolored. You can remove hard water stains by properly cleaning the glass in your aquarium.
Step 1
Remove all your fish from your tank by scooping them out of the water with your net. Place the fish in your backup aquarium, where they can safely reside while you clean the hard water deposits off your primary aquarium.
Step 2
Scrape off as much of the hard water deposits as you can with your aquarium scraper.
Step 3
Mix half a cup of white vinegar with a gallon of water and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray on the deposits and then scrub them away with a washcloth.
Step 4
Rinse fish tank thoroughly with clean, fresh water. Make sure to completely wash away all possible traces of vinegar completely from the tank. Refill your tank with clean, fish-safe water and return your fish to their newly cleaned tank.
References
Tips
- You can use commercially available fish tank cleaning products to clean your fish tank in place of vinegar. Make sure to completely and accurately follow the directions on any products you use.
Warnings
- Never use window cleaner or other chemicals in your fish tank because even the slightest chemical residue left behind can sicken or kill your fish.
Photo Credits
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Photodisc/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Writer Bio
Jen Davis has been writing since 2004. She has served as a newspaper reporter and her freelance articles have appeared in magazines such as "Horses Incorporated," "The Paisley Pony" and "Alabama Living." Davis earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication with a concentration in journalism from Berry College in Rome, Ga.