2 Pence trick to remove limescale from taps

Ninco! · 24 Jul 2020 at 21:00

Apologies if this is old news!

I was bemoaning about replacing my taps as they were looking a bit rough, I tried Cif etc, but the results only lasted a few days.

Well, I got told of this trick the other day and it only bloody works!

If you have a tap which is clad in lime scale, grab a 2 pence coin and gently scrape, it will remove the limescale and leave the tap looking as new and completely unscathed.

I'm using it on chrome taps and the sink surround, zero scrapes etc, and now looks as good as new.

bremen1874 · 24 Jul 2020 at 21:14

Doesn't that assume the 2p you choose isn't one of the modern plated steel ones? I can see the old none steel ones being soft enough not to mark.

Ninco! · 24 Jul 2020 at 21:19

Crikey, I didn't think of that, I just grabbed what I had! I think you are right!

Just checked the one I used - dated 1971 :eek:

Its a keeper! I wish I had before and after pictures.

fobose · 24 Jul 2020 at 21:38

I put up with limescale for years. Decided to get a water softener last March. 100% the best solution, makes cleaning a doddle!

bremen1874 · 24 Jul 2020 at 21:54

Easier to live in a part of the country where limescale isn't an issue. My kettle gets descaled roughly once per year and it isn't that bad then.

jpaul · 24 Jul 2020 at 22:02

the limescale that's hard to remove is usually right at the end of the spout - about the most inaccessible place ?
all I've ever heard is ovenight vinegar soaked cotton wool you mold around them, and cling, or plastic wrap.

Kaka · 25 Jul 2020 at 12:28

fobose said:
I put up with limescale for years. Decided to get a water softener last March. 100% the best solution, makes cleaning a doddle!

What unit did you have installed?

fobose · 25 Jul 2020 at 13:35

I went with a kinetico premier compact. So far it has been a great unit but it was expensive! The installer did a really neat job of all the pipe work.

Lonewolf · 25 Jul 2020 at 16:46

jpaul said:
the limescale that's hard to remove is usually right at the end of the spout - about the most inaccessible place ?
all I've ever heard is ovenight vinegar soaked cotton wool you mold around them, and cling, or plastic wrap.

Tried the white vinegar and bicarb trick but with mixed results

Kaka · 25 Jul 2020 at 18:40

fobose said:
I went with a kinetico premier compact. So far it has been a great unit but it was expensive! The installer did a really neat job of all the pipe work.

Just had a look at that and yeah that's pricey. Will try and see if there is something a bit more in my budget.

Fluke? · 25 Jul 2020 at 18:57

Being ocuk forum members I'm surprised people have anything less than £20 notes to hand

We use a Combimate system which seems to work pretty well. £30 a year in replacement sealing rings and refills and that it.

Demon · 27 Jul 2020 at 14:41

The best thing I've found (bar a water softener of course) is something like Calsolve or similar descalers.. I believe it's just citric acid in granular form, you pop some in warm water, let it dissolve then apply to said surfaces.. for a kettle you can boil about 1/3 kettle of water with some in and it'll remove the limescale completely, and for spouts etc, I just put some in a jug/bowl and dip the spout in for 30 seconds.. you can see it effervescing and the limescale disappear before your eyes.

I bought a 1Kg tub which will last forever and I've taken some to work and descaled all the kettles there as they suffer badly through constant use.