If your taps are marked and dirty no matter how many times you clean them then they are likely covered in limescale stains, but it is easy to get rid of them in just five minutes. 

Limescale is a crusty residue that naturally occurs when minerals are left behind when water evaporates, and these minerals will then be hard to remove once they crystallise.  

It is important to remove limescale as soon as you notice it on your taps as this stain can trap bacteria and make your sink unhygienic no matter how many times you wash your hands. 

However, Raichel Phipps – an eco-cleaning expert and founder of Replenish Refills – has shared that limescale is quick to remove as long as you use a simple natural solution. 

Raichel said: “To remove limescale from your kitchen or bathroom taps, make up a solution of citric acid and hot water: 500ml of boiled water [and] two tablespoons of citric acid.”

How does citric acid work to remove limescale? 

Citric acid is naturally found in citrus fruits such as lemons and is incredibly effective at breaking down sticky limescale due to its natural acidic properties. 

What is fantastic about citric acid is that it is strong enough to dissolve limescale but will be gentle on the metal or plastic materials on your taps. However, do not use citric acid on marble, stone or wooden surfaces. 

You can use lemon juice to clean with but a tougher and crystalline version of citric acid can be found in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets for only a couple of pounds. 

At Asda and Tesco, one box of citric acid costs £1.75 while you can only buy some at Sainsbury’s for £2.00. This is an eco-friendly and non-toxic way to descale your taps without having to use an expensive cleaner filled with harsh chemicals.  

How to use citric acid to descale a tap 

All you need to do is boil your kettle and pour 500ml of hot water into a container. Add two tablespoons of citric acid and mix the solution together until the crystals dissolve.

If you like, you can also add a few squirts of washing-up liquid to this cleaning solution which will help remove any soap marks on your taps. 

Put on a pair of gloves, pour the solution into an empty spray bottle and spray a generous amount onto your taps. Leave the solution for at least 20 minutes to give the citric acid time to dissolve the limescale. 

Once the time is up, use a sponge or old toothbrush to scrub the limescale and it should brush off quickly with no resistance. Rinse the taps with warm water, dry with a cloth and your taps should now be sparkling clean once again.