The one-ingredient solution to clean the crusty calcium buildup off of your faucets: Video

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We use faucets a lot. You may have noticed a crusty buildup develop the more you use your kitchen sink or shower head. This is typical in areas that have hard water and is caused by the minerals in the water that flows through your pipes, according to Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

The ugly buildup is fairly easy to remove. The process can be time-consuming, so you may want to do it in the evening before bed, but the good news is: you barely have to do anything. 

Watch this video to see how you can easily clean crusty faucets.

How to clean a faucet

If you can, remove the faucet head from the sink or your showerhead. This will make cleaning it a lot easier, but you can still use this method to clean even if you are not able to remove it. 

Gently scrub as much of the loose hard scale buildup off of the faucet head with water and a sponge or old toothbrush. 

Then, place the faucet or faucets into a large resealable plastic bag standing upright, with the crusty side down. Pour in enough distilled white vinegar to cover the bottom of the faucet head. Seal the bag and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Place the bag in a bowl or other container, just in case it springs a leak. If your faucet head is not removable, use something like a rubber band to secure the bag with vinegar around your faucet so it’s still able to soak. 

The white distilled vinegar will do most of the hard work for you and will also work to descale the inside of the faucet. A lot of the buildup will be left behind, floating in the vinegar once it's done soaking. Brush off any scale still on the faucet with a toothbrush or sponge. Reattach it and flush it with clean water, and it’s good as new! 

Regular maintenance will prevent the need for a deep clean or soak. You can make a solution of even parts white distilled vinegar and water. Spray it on your faucets and shower heads once a week. Let it sit on the faucets for a few minutes before wiping it off. 

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Cleaning the house 

Cleaning your faucets is just one cleaning chore. To tackle others, keep a well-stocked cleaning closet with a few essentials that can handle many of the messes you’ll encounter. 

There is no one-stop solution for all stains, but there are some items you should have:

• Distilled white vinegar.
• Baking soda.
• Isopropyl alcohol.
• Hydrogen peroxide.
• Blue Dawn dish soap.
• Bar Keepers Friend. 
• Lemons.
• Steam cleaner.
• Distilled water.

Don’t forget to also stock up on cleaning tools, like microfiber cloths, sponges, spray bottles and gloves.