I was skeptical when I tried cleaning hard water stains on my faucets with toothpaste – but it's so effective, I'll now be using it every time

Blue bathroom with blue wallpaper, mirrors, blue storage cabinet, cabinets on left, blue woodwork and ceiling, side table with flowers, basin with towel storage, blind.

Even though I genuinely do keep on top of my bathroom cleaning routine, there's one thing that always seems to keep coming back – hard water stains.

These bothersome marks are caused by mineral deposits left behind when water evaporates, meaning they will just keep returning to your shower, sink and faucets unless you soften your water at the source, with an often-expensive filtration system.

While I usually remove water marks successfully with a good clean, when I saw this cleaning tip involving the humble toothpaste, I was so intrigued I had to try it.

How to clean hard water stains on faucets with toothpaste

So, why does toothpaste work? Much like when I recently tried cleaning my mirror with shaving foam, toothpaste is a gentle cleaning product containing abrasives and surfactants, which work to polish teeth, and therefore can do the same for your faucets.

Make sure you go for toothpaste which contains fluoride, as this is the miracle component which effectively reacts with the magnesium and salt in hard water stains, breaking them down and banishing them completely.

This trick can also be used on porcelain, glass, and stone surfaces, and proved to be a great addition to my 15 minute bathroom cleaning and organizing routine.

Rated 4.7 stars

Biotène Fluoride Toothpaste

If you usually use fluoride-free paste to brush your teeth, this toothpaste is perfect for cleaning your bathroom, as it's high in fluoride, sugar free, and alcohol free, to protect your surfaces and make them shine.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

What you will need

If you're as interested in trying this as I was, all you need is:

• Toothpaste: any you already have at home will work, or purchase an affordable, regular option, such as the Colgate Cavity Protection Regular Fluoride Toothpaste available at Amazon for your cleaning supplies.
• A cleaning cloth: I used a J-cloth, such as the Clorox Handi Wipes Multi-Use Reusable Cloths available at Amazon.

How to clean hard water stains with toothpaste

Step 1: Apply

I didn't apply the toothpaste thickly, but instead spread a thin layer for even coverage. (Image credit: Ottilie Blackhall / Future)

First things first, to clean a faucet head or clean chrome faucets with toothpaste, you will need to apply it.

I squeezed some out onto my fingers, mixed it with a little water to loosen it up, and spread it on the faucet with my hand. As I was only tackling my taps, this was easy enough, but for larger areas, I recommend using a microfiber cloth to do so, such as the HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloth available at Amazon.

Step 2: Wait for five minutes

(Image credit: Divine Savages / Ca'Pietra )

Then, I waited approximately five minutes, allowing the toothpaste to work its magic. This is a great opportunity to get other tasks done.

Task stacking will help you clean a bathroom in 30 minutes or less, such as using a damp duster like the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster available at Amazon, to quickly dust baseboards in a while I waited.

Step 3: Rinse

My faucet looked wonderfully shiny, and all stubborn hard water stains were effectively and easily removed. (Image credit: Ottilie Blackhall / Future)

After around five minutes it was time for the grand reveal and, to be honest, I was feeling a bit skeptical.

But, I was genuinely amazed by the results – after I used my cloth and some water to wipe my faucets they were shining, sparkling and spotless, all in less than 10 minutes.

Step 4. Buff dry

I then buffed my taps dry with a soft towel, and stood back to admire my handy work.

My verdict

While I'll still be reaching for my Lysol Power Foaming Cleaning Spray for Bathrooms (available at Amazon) for cleaning larger areas, this is a great trick to speedily touch up taps, particularly if you need to clean a house fast.

FAQs

What dissolves hard water stains?

There are plenty of other DIY solutions to dissolve a hard water stain, such as cleaning with vinegar or baking soda.

Simply mix up a paste of one part baking soda to two parts vinegar and apply liberally to affected areas, before letting it sit for 30 minutes. Then, rinse off – ideal for removing years of built-up hard water stains, or quickly brightening your bathroom.

Does The Pink Stuff remove hard water stains?

While there are many things you can clean with The Pink Stuff, it is not recommended for use on hard water stains.

This is because it is an alkaline cleaner, and acidic-based products, such as Lime-A-Way Bathroom Cleaner available at Amazon will work more effectively.

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For a natural alternative to an acidic cleaner, why not try cleaning with lemon juice?

One of our editors tried cleaning stubborn faucet limescale with lemon juice, and it was so amazingly effective, they ditched shop-bought solutions for good.