Limescale 'melts off' your tap in '2 minutes' with 1 kitchen ingredient that's not vinegar

Limescale is a common nuisance in homes and can be discovered wherever water is regularly used, such as shower heads, toilets, pipes, bathtubs, kettles and of course taps. Limescale build-up is also easy to identify a hard deposit with a white, chalk-like appearance, which it gets from the high quantity of calcium carbonate present.

While it can be one of the most frustrating cleaning challenges for homeowners due to build-up occurring quickly, it is easy to tackle and remove with the right product. Nancy Emery, a cleaning whizz at Tap Warehouse, has divulged how to banish stubborn limescale deposits from taps using a genius natural method - lemon juice.

Lemons are a cleaning powerhouse and can be used to clean shower glass, kettles and microwaves. They're also ideal for cleaning taps as they contain citric acid which can "melt off limescale". Nancy advised: "To get rid of limescale on your taps, you'll need to make a 75 to 25 solution of lemon juice and water."

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"All you need to do is use a soft sponge and gently wipe the solution, leaving it on the tap to dissolve the limescale deposits for two minutes. Once the time is up, rinse thoroughly with water."

She added: "For special finishes such as brushed brass, matte black or chrome, it's especially important to avoid using harsh chemicals such as vinegar when cleaning. Lemons are quite acidic, so make sure you don't let the lemon juice solution sit for longer than two minutes."

After rinsing the taps with water, they should be dried with a microfibre cloth. This won't only add shine but will help prevent limescale.

The lemon solution can also be utilized to clean the aerator in your tap (a small attachment that either fits onto the end of the tap or can be inserted inside of the existing spout) which is often susceptible to limescale accumulation.

To eliminate the limescale, employ a toothbrush and the lemon juice solution to scrub it off.

To avoid stubborn limescale build-up on your taps, clean them regularly - around once a week, especially if you're living in a hard water area.