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How Do You Remove Hard Water Stains From Natural Stone?

How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Natural Stone

Natural stone can perform a lot of roles in your home, and many of them leave stone surfaces susceptible to interactions with food, liquids, water, and more. Stone is naturally porous, which means that water can seep into the tiny holes of the stone surface and cause buildup. One version of this is in the form of hard water stains. We at Impression know that stains of any kind can be a real headache for homeowners, and hard water stains especially so. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what causes these stains, how to remove them, and how to prevent future stains from ever coming back!

What Causes Hard Water Spots and Stains

Hard water refers to water that contains various minerals, most often magnesium, calcium, and various bicarbonate compounds. When these minerals come into contact with your fixtures and appliances, they may leave water spots. These spots are dried portions of mineral deposits from water that dried on your surface. Each stone – limestone, marble, and terracotta – have different methods of cleaning, but this guide generalizes the cleaning process.

Removing Existing Water Stains

Most water spots on natural stone can be easily removed by a specialty cleaner. Use a non-scratch pad or a soft cloth to rub and scour the area for a few minutes. After, rinse away with water. Make sure that any water you use to rinse the stone is thoroughly dried up afterwards to avoid any new hard water spots.

If there’s anything not to do, it’s to use more DIY options commonly touted on the internet. For instance, white vinegar is known for stain removal, but the acidic nature of vinegar can actually damage the surface of your stone, leaving it open to more potential stains in the future. Additionally, always use soft cleaning tools on your stone. Scrubbing brushes and tough bristles can cause etching and scratches, which are even worse dangers than hard water stains!

Preventing Future Water Stains

The buildup that results in water stains can be easily mitigated through regular cleaning and care of your stone. Regularly cleaning your stone features once a week can reduce not only water stains, but soap scum, mildew, and other unwanted substances as well. You’ll want to choose a cleaner that is specially formulated for your specific stone type. Miscellaneous and typical “every day” cleaners are often filled with harsh chemicals. If acidic or caustic enough, they’ll cause damage to the surface of your stone. Once the surface of your stone is damaged, harmful compounds and chemicals are more likely to settle deeper with the stone, which shortens its lifespan and may deteriorate its appearance. 

To really go the extra mile, squeegee your stone shower or sink after every use. Squeegeeing it will remove water from the surface, making it less possible for water-based mineral deposits to leave their mark.

Top-Quality Stone Is Available From Impression

One last effective way of keeping your stone free from water spots is by choosing high-quality stone materials from providers who care, like the artisans and stone specialists of Impression. We’re proud to offer a wide variety of stone materials, and our showroom is guaranteed to have the stone of your dreams. Our professionals know how to help you pick stone that will best complement your project, giving you options that are built to last for a lifetime. With Impression, it’s never been easier to create the home of your dreams through custom, natural stone home features. Contact us today to get started with designing and building your ideal house.

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