How to remove limescale in a hard water city like Birmingham
4 August 2026 · 4 min read
Birmingham's supply is softer than the south east, but limescale still builds on shower screens, kettles and taps. These are the methods we use on jobs every week.
Taps and shower heads
Soak a cloth in white vinegar, wrap it around the tap and leave it for an hour, then scrub with an old toothbrush. For shower heads, unscrew and soak in a 50/50 vinegar and water solution overnight.
Shower screens
Spray with white vinegar, leave five minutes, then squeegee. To stop it returning, squeegee the glass after each shower, and it's the single most effective habit.
Kettles and toilets
Half fill the kettle with vinegar and water, boil, leave an hour, then rinse twice. For toilets, drop the water level, apply a descaler around the bowl and leave overnight.
What not to do
Never use vinegar or acidic descalers on natural stone, marble, or unlacquered brass, because it etches the surface permanently. Use a stone-safe cleaner instead.
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