How to Remove Water Spots from All Types of Faucets

We all love the look and smell of a freshly cleaned bathroom, but water spots left over on your faucet can make this busy household area look grimy and unpolished. So, why do water spots keep appearing on your chrome or stainless-steel faucet?

Hard water is almost always the culprit. Because hard water is high in calcium and magnesium, these minerals eventually build up over time, creating noticeable soap scum and spotting residue that gets left behind on your faucet area.

If you’re dealing with unsightly water spots on your bathroom or kitchen fixtures, here are some simple DIY tricks that will leave your faucets looking sparkling clean.

Types of Faucets and How to Remove Water Spots

How to Clean Water Spots Off Chrome Faucets: Chrome is typically one of the most common types of metal faucets available in homes, condos, and apartment buildings. It’s also the type of material that makes water spots more noticeable. To naturally remove and prevent water spots on chrome faucets, all you need are the following items:

• A toothbrush
• A Washcloth
• White Distilled Vinegar
• Water
• A Towel

Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a bowl. Using your cloth, soak up the mixture and then apply the cloth around your faucet, letting it rest there for 10 minutes. Afterward, remove the cloth, and using the remainder of your mixture, coat your toothbrush and begin lightly scrubbing your faucet and its surrounding area. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Stainless Steel Faucets: For this remedy, you’ll two things:

• A Washcloth
• White Distilled Vinegar

Allow your cloth to soak up the vinegar and then begin scrubbing your faucet and sink. Once complete, add lukewarm water to the cloth and wipe down the area. It’s important to use a cloth vs. a toothbrush or harsh scrubber to avoid scratching your stainless steel faucet. Pros recommend leaving your vinegar-soaked cloth wrapped around your faucet overnight to allow the acidic properties of the vinegar to thoroughly remove any remaining water spots.   

How to Clean Nickel Faucets: Nickel is another common material you see used on bathroom and kitchen faucets. To learn how to clean polished nickel faucets, you’ll need the following household items:

• A Washcloth
• White Distilled Vinegar
• Water

As with removing spots from a chrome faucet, you’ll want to combine equal parts vinegar and water. Once blended, use your washcloth to soak and apply the mixture to your nickel faucet. It might help to allow the cloth to rest on the faucet for at least 5 minutes to allow the acidic properties to clean and polish your fixture.

How to Clean Bronze Faucets: As with any bathroom fixture, bronze requires regular cleaning to maintain its antique shine and copper-like appearance. The following items are recommended for cleaning water spots off bronze faucets:

• Furniture wax
• A Clean, lint-free cloth
• Salt
• Water
• Flour
• A Towel

To remove water spots, you’ll first need to create a paste that combines 1 tsp salt, 1 cup water, and 1 tbsp flour. Once you have the right consistency, you’ll want to apply the paste to your faucet fixture, and let it sit for at least an hour. Once the paste dries, you can remove it using warm water.

Use a towel to carefully dry your sink. To help you achieve a polished look, use the clean lint-free cloth on your faucet to remove any dust particles before applying furniture wax. Allow the wax to dry before using your faucet. 

Need Help Removing Water Spots for Good?

Though cleaning your faucets regularly can help minimize hard water stains, an effective way to remove future issues is by installing a Kinetico water softening system. With soft water flowing throughout your plumbing pipes and fixtures, you’ll instantly eliminate mineral build-up, saving you hours of weekly cleaning.

As an authorized dealer of Kinetico Water Softeners, our team at Aquarius Water Conditioning works to ensure customers throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin enjoy the health and cost-saving benefits of an effective water softening solution.

If you’re dealing with water spots on your faucets, bathtub, or other household appliances, contact us today or request a free online quote!