As we thrive to keep our homes immaculately clean we find new and interesting areas in need of special attention for the spotless finish we aspire to! One of them might be right under your feet if your standing on a hardwood floor – hard water stains. Hard water stains are most commonly found in our kitchens, bathrooms, and wherever else we may have had a little water spill around the house. Some other areas where we may find hard water stains are tabletops, windowsills if there are leaks, countertops, and other stain worthy surfaces alike.

The more recent the water stain, similar to most other type of stain, the easier it will be to remove it from whichever surface it’s found. For example, water stains on hardwood floors that are mopped often are unlikely to have tough stains to remove but if liquid leaks through carpet to hardwood floors beneath the carpet they may be a permanence once removing the carpet long after the spill making for refinishing required of the hardwood floors.

One trick of the trade in household items to get rid of tough to remove hard water stains is vinegar but this you do not want to use on wood finishes as the acidic elements in vinegar can harm wood surfaces. For best results on surface other that wood, take an empty spray bottle, an old ‘Windex’ bottle if you will, and pour vinegar into the bottle. If you have a large area yet not much vinegar, dilute it with water in your spray bottle. After spraying the areas in need with vinegar, wipe the affected areas with a cloth and rub accordingly until you have a spotless surface!

In cases with tougher to remove hard water stains that vinegar don’t seem to be doing the trick with, consider getting some baking soda from your pantry and mixing it with the vinegar to make a solution with a paste-like consistency. After applying the vinegar and baking soda, wipe the area clean with water and a towel. Last, but not least, for wood surfaces you can use white toothpaste and a damp towel; apply until the stain is removed! Hopefully this helps in getting your home as shiny as possible!