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Water with a lot of calcium, magnesium and other minerals can accumulate on surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom and appliances. The calcium and magnesium in your tap water will wear down your faucet filter and lead to poor water flow. Your tub, showerhead and toilet bowl may become grimy. Common appliances, such as humidifiers and dishwashers, also suffer from mineral deposits. To get rid of mineral deposits, you will need vinegar and a little determination. [1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Mineral Deposits in Your Kitchen

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  1. Fill the water reservoir with half white vinegar and half water. Turn on the coffeemaker. Halfway through the cycle, turn it off and let it sit for an hour. Then, turn the coffeemaker back on and finish the brew cycle. Finally, empty the vinegar solution from the coffeemaker and run two cycles with water to rinse everything. [2]
  2. Boil a pot of vinegar for three minutes. Add a quarter cup of baking soda to the mixture and swish it around. Empty the pot. Finally, remember to thoroughly rinse the teapot before making your next cup of tea. [3]
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  3. Mix a cleaning solution of half white vinegar and half water. Dip a clean rag in the solution and rub off the mineral deposits in your fridge. Use another clean rag to rinse the area. [4]
  4. Unscrew the filter on the end of your faucet, remove rubber gaskets and give it a rinse. Heat up a cup of white vinegar to just before boiling. Put the filter in the hot vinegar and let it sit for an hour. Scrub the filter and then screw it back onto your kitchen faucet. [6]
    • You should avoid putting any rubber gaskets in the hot vinegar.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Getting Rid of Mineral Deposits in Your Bathroom

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  1. Start by emptying the toilet bowl. Then, fill it with a gallon of white vinegar. The vinegar should cover any of the brown or black mineral deposits. Let the vinegar sit for between eight and twelve hours. Finally, scrub away the mineral deposits with a toilet brush. [7]
    • For stubborn stains, you can scrub the toilet bowl with a pumice stone. You may want to loosen up the stain with a cleaner, such as vinegar or a commercial cleaner.
  2. If you have a flexible showerhead, you can put it in a bucket of vinegar on the floor of the tub. If your showerhead is fixed, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and then tie to the showerhead using elastic bands or string. Let the showerhead sit in the vinegar for an hour. You can use an old toothbrush to scrub away any remaining deposits. [8]
    • If your showerhead has been running poorly, it may be due to mineral deposits.
  3. Fill a container or bucket with a mixture of vinegar and warm water. Use a sponge and the vinegar mixture to wipe away any mineral deposits from your tub and shower curtains. [9]
    • A mixture of vinegar and baking soda can also be used to clean fiberglass tubs and showers. [10]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Getting Mineral Deposits Off Appliances

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  1. Fill the steam reservoir of your iron with one third vinegar. Turn it on and let it steam for ten minutes, or until all the vinegar steams off. Finally, fill the reservoir with water and turn it on for another ten minutes to get rid of any remaining deposits.
    • If the surface of your iron is also dirty, you can use a damp rag and a dryer sheet to clean it.
  2. Fill the inside of your humidifier with white vinegar. Let the vinegar sit for five hours and then empty the vinegar and any deposits that have been removed. Rinse the humidifier with water. [11]
  3. Fill a cup with vinegar and leave it on the top rack of your dishwasher. The next time your run the dishwasher, the vinegar will help get rid of mineral deposits. [12]
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  • Question
    Can vinegar get rid of mineral build-up on glass?
    Community Answer
    Yes! Vinegar is the bomb for mineral deposits - effective, safe, and cheap. If there's a lot, you might want to wet a paper towel with vinegar and let it soak. If it's really bad, the vinegar will soften it and you can scrape it off instead of waiting for it to dissolve.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • White vinegar
      • Clean rags
      • Sponge
      • Plastic bags
      • Clean bucket

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean mineral deposits in your bathroom, empty the toilet bowl, fill it with a gallon of white vinegar, and let it sit overnight before scrubbing the loosened deposits away with a toilet brush. You can also immerse your showerhead in vinegar and use a mixture of vinegar and warm water to wipe away mineral deposits from your tub and shower curtains. For tips on removing deposits from kitchen surfaces and appliances, read on!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Wendy Hanson

        Dec 27, 2019

        "Ruined an old faucet by using too strong of chemicals to remove mineral deposits. Now that I have a new faucet, ..." more
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