How to Remove Limescale Before Moving Out
London's water is some of the hardest in the UK — typically 280–310 mg/L of calcium carbonate. That chalky white buildup on your taps, shower screen, and toilet is limescale, and it's one of the most common reasons deposit schemes approve cleaning deductions. Here's how to remove it properly before your checkout inspection.
290+ ppm
Typical London water hardness42%
Landlords flag bathroom cleaning as top checkout issue#1
Cleaning is the most common deposit deduction reasonWhat Limescale Is and Why It Forms Faster in London
Limescale is a hard, chalky deposit of calcium carbonate that forms when hard water evaporates or heats up. London's water supply travels through chalk and limestone geology before reaching your taps, meaning it carries high concentrations of dissolved minerals — well into the "very hard" classification.
Every time you shower, boil a kettle, or wash your hands, a small amount of mineral residue gets left behind. Over weeks and months, that residue hardens into the white scale you see on taps, shower screens, showerheads, toilets, and around basins.
The practical problem for tenants: limescale looks like neglect — even though it's just chemistry. Inventory clerks treat it exactly like any other form of dirt when assessing your property at checkout.
What You'll Need
Stick to gentle, acid-based solutions — they dissolve calcium carbonate without scratching surfaces.
White Vinegar
Acidic and safe for most surfaces. Your go-to for taps, shower screens, and kettles.
Citric Acid Powder
Stronger than vinegar. Excellent for baths, basins, and heavy buildup on tiles.
Soft Microfibre Cloths
For wiping, buffing, and drying. Prevents scratching on chrome and glass.
Old Toothbrush
Gets into crevices around tap bases, grout lines, and showerhead nozzles.
You'll also want a spray bottle, rubber gloves, non-scratch scouring pads, and a squeegee for shower screens. Avoid steel wool and harsh abrasives — they scratch surfaces and make future buildup worse.
How to Remove Limescale — Step by Step
Taps and Fixtures
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Soak a cloth in white vinegar or a 10% citric acid solution
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Wrap it around the affected area and leave for 15–30 minutes
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Scrub gently with a toothbrush or soft pad
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Rinse and buff with a dry microfibre cloth until it shines
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Tip: For crevices around tap bases, soak cotton pads in vinegar and wedge them under the edges. This targets the exact spots inventory clerks check.
Shower Screen and Tray
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Spray citric acid or vinegar solution liberally across the glass
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Let it work for 20–30 minutes on stubborn spots
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Scrub with a non-scratch pad, paying attention to bottom edges
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Rinse well and squeegee the screen completely dry
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Tip: The squeegee step matters — drying prevents new scale forming before your inspection. Shower screens show buildup fastest because water droplets evaporate and leave minerals behind.
Showerhead
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Unscrew the showerhead if possible
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Submerge in a bucket of white vinegar for 30–60 minutes
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Run warm water through to flush loosened scale
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Brush nozzles gently with a toothbrush if residue remains
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Can't remove it? Fill a plastic bag with vinegar, secure it around the showerhead with a rubber band, and leave for the same time.
Toilet and Cistern Rim
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Spray citric acid solution inside the bowl, focusing below the rim
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Let it sit for 20–30 minutes
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Scrub with a toilet brush and flush
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Tip: Scale under the rim and around the waterline is a common inspection flag. Angle your spray upward to reach under the lip where buildup hides.
Kettles and Appliances
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Fill with equal parts water and white vinegar (or 1–2 tbsp citric acid in water)
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Bring to a boil, then let cool for 20 minutes
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Rinse thoroughly and boil plain water twice before next use
Surface-Specific Guidance
Glass & Tiles
Scale is usually softer here. Use vinegar with a sprinkle of citric acid, work top to bottom, and dry immediately to prevent streaks.
Chrome & Stainless Steel
Acid works but don't let it sit beyond 15–20 minutes — prolonged contact can dull the finish. Buff dry straight away.
Grout Lines
Grout traps minerals. Apply the acid solution, let it sit, then scrub with a stiff toothbrush. This is a spot inventory clerks check closely.
Silicone Sealant
Bleach doesn't remove scale and damages silicone. Use vinegar only and wipe gently — if sealant is stained black, that's mould, not limescale.
What Not to Do
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Don't use bleach. It doesn't dissolve limescale — it whitens stains but leaves the scale intact, and damages silicone and grout over time.
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Don't use steel wool or metal scourers. They scratch chrome, glass, and ceramic. Scratches trap more minerals and make future buildup worse.
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Don't ignore hidden spots. Limescale forms inside extractor filters, behind taps, and inside appliance drums. Inventory clerks check these areas.
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Don't wait until the final day. Heavy buildup needs soak time. Start 2–3 days before your checkout if scale has been building for months.
Preventing Re-Build Before Checkout
Because London's water is hard, scale can reappear within days of cleaning. After you've descaled, dry all surfaces with a squeegee or cloth after each use. On your final walkthrough day, give each fixture one more wipe-down. Focus on anywhere standing water or splashes collect — this prevents last-minute spots appearing during inspection.
When DIY Isn't Enough
In some cases — particularly around very old fixtures, neglected bathrooms, or shower screens with years of baked-on scale — DIY methods won't fully clear it. If vinegar and citric acid aren't making a visible difference after two or three treatments, consider a targeted commercial descaler formulated for heavy buildup, or professional end of tenancy cleaning that includes bathroom descaling as standard.
Bathroom limescale is one of the most common reasons tenants add professional cleaning to their move-out plan — especially if the rest of the clean is manageable but the bathroom has defeated them.
Protecting Your Deposit
Limescale removal isn't just about appearances — it directly affects your deposit outcome.
Document everything
Take timestamped photos of each cleaned surface on move-out day. Close-ups of taps, shower screens, and the toilet bowl give you evidence if the landlord disputes the condition. Your rights as a tenant include challenging any deductions that aren't backed by evidence.
Compare against check-in
Your inventory report is the benchmark. If limescale was present when you moved in and the check-in report didn't flag it, you can't be charged for it at checkout. This is core to how deposit return disputes are assessed.
Use free dispute resolution
If your landlord deducts for limescale you've already addressed, raise it through the deposit protection scheme at no cost. The burden of proof is on the landlord — they need to show the issue existed and that the cost is reasonable.
Limescale Removal Checklist
Tick off each item as you complete it. Take photos as you go.
Taps shine with no chalky residue
Shower screen streak-free and dry
Showerhead nozzles clear of buildup
Toilet bowl and rim clean — no waterline ring
Kettle and appliances descaled and rinsed
Grout lines scrubbed — no trapped mineral deposits
Silicone sealant clean (no mould or scale overlap)
Timestamped photos taken of all cleaned surfaces
Professional Cleaning With Full Bathroom Descaling
Our end of tenancy cleaning includes bathroom descaling as standard — with a 72-hour re-clean guarantee if your landlord raises any cleaning issues.
Deni is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of experience in content marketing and vast knowledge in the cleaning business. He specializes in creating engaging content that drives growth and builds brand identity. Passionate about innovation, Deni believes in delivering value through impactful messaging and providing value to readers in a concise and comprehensive manner.
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