May 31st, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

A lot of us tend to take our appliances for granted. We don't think about them until they stop working properly, or until we notice that they are not cleaning as well as they used to. At this point, it's easy for people to assume that their appliances are beyond repair and need replacing, but the truth is that a lot of machines can be brought back to life with just a little bit of time and effort—and in some cases, it might not even require any repair at all! So today we're going to talk about one common household problem: limescale build-up!

What Is Limescale?

First of all, let’s start by looking at what exactly limescale scale is – well if you have ever noticed a layer of off-white curst or scaly texture on taps or inside kettles, well chances are that it is limescale, which is a mineral deposit that is formed from water, calcium and magnesium. Limescale build-up is most often found on appliances that use water such as kettles and washing machines as well as faucets and shower heads. It can also be difficult to remove if you are not using the correct products.

How Does Limescale Build Up?

As mentioned it is a mineral deposit that is caused by a combination of water that is high in calcium and magnesium – these properties are most prevalent in hard water areas that are rich in magnesium and calcium. The minerals inside the water react with the metal present in your appliances which is what then causes it to form. It is important to note that areas with soft water can still seem limescale build-up so it is important to treat your appliances regardless of the water type in your area.  

Why Should I get rid of it?

There are a few reasons that it is important to make sure you remove limescale and keep on top of treating appliances, one of which is that limescale looks incredibly unsightly – and you don’t want to spend time learning and caring for your home for it to be ruined by the presence of limescale but it can also have a direct effect on the performance of your appliance, the taste of your water and even on your well-being.

Effects on Appliances

Limescale build-up on your appliances can greatly affect their performance, efficiency and longevity. Take for example kettles and coffeemakers if limescale builds up on the heating element it will take much longer to heat up, causing more energy to be used, likewise if limescale clogs the spout it can require more water to get the same amount as you normally would. Left untreated this may eventually lead to the heating element ceasing to work together.

Limescale build-up can also affect your washing machine in a similar way with the water failing to heat up so clothes may not be as clean as they would be otherwise, limescale can also cause white deposits on your clothing which will mean that you may have to wash clothes multiple times, using more energy than necessary. It can also cause bad odours to build up in your washing machine and if left untreated it can build up and cause corrosion and breakdown of your appliances leading to pricey replacements.

Effects on Faucets

We have already mentioned that limescale can also affect your faucets, it can cause clogging on the spout and on the water pipes which will lead to a drop in pressure, this means filling bathtubs or sinks will take longer resulting in more wasted water, and the same applies for shower heads too. This build-up of limescale in faucets and water pipes can also lead to corrosion or rusting which can, unfortunately, lead to leaks or even very costly pipe replacements.

Effects on Water Taste

With all that excess mineral deposit in your pipes, it can also have a direct impact on the taste of water making it taste more salty or bitter. It can also affect the taste of the water coming out of your kettle too, so your beverages may not taste quite right.

Effects on Yourself

While you do not need to feel too worried about ingesting water that has limescale in it, since calcium and magnesium are both essential minerals, so while it is important to take care of limescale, do not worry about ingesting trace amounts in your water. That being said limescale in water can affect your skin and hair, which may lead it to feel dry, itchy or tight it can also exacerbate conditions such as eczema.  

How to Treat Limescale

When it comes to treating and removing limescale, it is important to use the right kinds of products. Regularly cleaning products even bleach is not enough to remove limescale, while bleach can alter the colour making it appear less obvious the deposit remains hence the issues will continue. In order to remove limescale, a descaling product is needed as these will effectively break down and remove the mineral deposits.

When it comes to smaller appliances it is recommended to use a descaler at least twice a year, more if needed especially for those in hard water areas. Whereas large appliances that use larger quantities of water and are possibly used more often such as washing machines it is recommended to use a descaler once a month, likewise clean taps and shower heads at least once a month using a descaler.

5L Multi Purpose Descaler

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We hope this blog was able to shed some light on the issue of limescale and why it is important to treat it sooner rather than later. After all, we rely heavily on our appliances and replacements can be incredibly expensive so it makes sense to take time to care for them properly to ensure they will keep going for longer.