Learn how to get rid of hard water buildup in water heaters, the laundry, toilets, coffee machines, and more so you can enjoy your well water to the fullest.
What can I do about the household effects of hard water?
We live in the country with our own well, which gives us delicious well water full of minerals. But when it comes to pipes, appliances, and faucet fixtures, hard well water can be rather troublesome.
Water heaters are a big problem for us. When the water is heated, the minerals in our water eventually harden in the water heater. A good rule of thumb is to drain your water heater once a year to remove the sediment. If you can do this regularly, your heater will last much longer.
To allow for easier draining, put your water heater on a rubber container mat designed for the purpose. This will allow any leaking water to drain through the plumbed drain hole. Then, attach a water hose to the spigot at the bottom of the heater and run it outside or down the drain. Alternately, you can install an on-demand water heater. Turning your heater thermostat down will also help prevent buildup.
Laundry can be more difficult with hard water. I’ve always wanted to be able to use homemade detergent, but the cold well water doesn’t fully clean the clothes, and using hot water cancels out any savings from making the detergent myself, so I buy a natural laundry detergent that works well in cold water. At least once a month, I run a load of hot water and vinegar through the machine to fully clean out any mineral residue, and I use vinegar or baking soda in my laundry to help naturally soften the water.
Toilets present issues too. Limescale can build up in the still water, but citric acid can remove it! Buy citric acid in bulk in powder form (canning sections of the store often have this) and apply liberally to the sides of the toilet bowl, in the bowl, and in the tank. Allow to sit 30 minutes or even overnight. Scrub well and flush. Repeat if needed, but then maintenance once or twice a week should be sufficient to have sparkling toilets.
Drip coffee makers rarely last a year here, and without running pots of vinegar through at least once a month, they’ll last three months tops. I run three pots of vinegar through, and then two pots of water with 2 tablespoons baking soda in each pot. Run two pots of clean water through after this.
Soak sink and shower fixtures once a month in vinegar to remove the mineral deposits. Spray sinks and bathtubs with a mix of warm water and citric acid (2 teaspoons citric acid to 16 ounces water). Allow to sit for 30 minutes, then use a non-scratch scrubbing pad to clean. Wipe metal sinks with vinegar to remove mineral drops.
These tactics help us enjoy our lovely country well water to the fullest instead of dealing with aggravating mineral buildup!
Originally published in the June/July 2025 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS and regularly vetted for accuracy.
