4 ways to remove limescale for good

Confused by all the products promising to fix hard water? These are your four main options — and how to choose the right one for your home.

In this article:

• 1. Regular consistent cleaning

• 2. Install a water softener

• 3. Fit a limescale inhibitor

• 4. Use specific products in problem areas

• What's the best way to get rid of limescale?

  
  

When I first started learning about hard water, I had no idea there were so many ways to deal with it.

So when a customer rang our plumbing company one morning and asked, perfectly casually, “Can you install a limescale inhibitor on our mains supply?”

I smiled and said, “Yes, I’m sure we can help with that” — while silently activating swan mode: calm on the surface, frantically Googling underneath. (What even is a limescale inhibitor? More on that in a minute.)

That call made something click: there are plenty of ways to deal with hard water — but most people (me included back then!) don’t know what they are, how they compare, or which one might actually suit their home.

The good news? There are a few simple, proven ways to tackle hard water. You just need to pick the one that suits your home, your budget, and how much effort you’re willing to put in.

Here’s a no-nonsense guide to the four main ways to remove (and prevent) limescale — for good.

1. Regular, consistent cleaning

If you’ve got limescale on taps, shower screens, kettles, sinks or toilets, regular cleaning does make a difference. The trick is consistency — once scale hardens, it’s much harder to shift.

Natural acids like citric acid, lemon juice or white vinegar work well on visible limescale. Or try ready-made descaling sprays and gels designed for kitchens and bathrooms.

A quick weekly soak or wipe-down can stop light build-up turning into hard crust.

The downside: it only tackles what you can see. It won’t stop limescale building up inside your boiler, washing machine or pipes.

2. Install a water softener

This is the gold standard if you want to fix hard water at the source. A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium in your water (the minerals that cause scale) and replaces them with sodium using a process called ion exchange.

Once installed, you’ll likely notice shinier taps and fewer streaks on your shower screen, softer skin and hair and your appliances and heating systems that run more efficiently and last longer.

The downside:

~ Higher upfront cost (typically £400–£1500)

~ Needs salt refills and occasional servicing

~ Not recommended for drinking — you’ll need a separate supply for kitchen taps and the garden

~ Slight environmental trade-off due to salty wastewater during regeneration

3. Fit a limescale inhibitor

If a softener feels like too much, an inhibitor could be a smart middle ground. It doesn’t remove minerals — instead, it changes how they behave, so they’re less likely to stick to surfaces. Types include:

Magnetic or electronic: These models alter mineral structure

Polyphosphate dosing units: Release tiny amounts of food-safe additive to keep minerals in suspension

They’re compact, lower cost, and can help protect your boiler and pipes from scale. Some are even DIY-installable, but we recommend getting a plumber for anything that needs cutting into pipework.

The downside:

~ Doesn’t actually soften water

~ Won’t improve skin or hair

~ Effectiveness varies depending on quality and usage

4. Use specific products in problem areas

You don’t have to overhaul your plumbing to see improvements. A few smart upgrades can go a long way in key spots:

Shower filters 

Reduce mineral residue and leave water feeling softer on skin and hair

Filtered kettles or descaler balls 

Cut down on flakes and chalky tea

Tap filters 

Attach to your tap or sit under your sink to reduce calcium and magnesium (e.g. Water2’s undersink filter claims a 10% reduction in limescale, and many users notice a real difference)

These small upgrades are simple to install and ideal if you rent, or if you just want to start small before investing in a bigger system.

What's the best way to get rid of limescale?

There’s no single “best” way — it depends on what’s bugging you most. If it’s cosmetic build-up, start with regular cleaning and a few smart products. If you want long-term prevention, consider an inhibitor or full water softener.

Whichever route you take, you’ll be saving your appliances, your energy bills — and maybe even your next cuppa!

✨ Limescale lowdown ✨

~ Consistent cleaning helps, but only on the surface

~ Water softeners solve the root cause, but cost more upfront

~ Inhibitors can help control scale, especially inside pipes and boilers

~ Targeted filters and upgrades offer instant wins for skin, hair and kettles

Author bio: Lucinda is the founder of Hard Water Home, a UK-based blog helping households in hard water areas understand the challenges and solutions more easily — and make smarter choices for their health and home. Based in Poole, she also runs an award-winning plumbing company, giving her unique insight into how water quality affects our homes. Away from the desk, she’s happiest at the beach with her family and a good cup of coffee (minus the floaty bits!). More about us ➡