June 10th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

A basic fact of science is that limescale will always build up in appliances that use water. Hard water areas are worst affected but the calcium carbonate present in all mains water will be deposited on heating elements and components over time as the water evaporates and leaves the residue behind. The effects can vary, depending on the appliance:

• Irons can leave powdery particles on clothes or even brown sludge-type marks
• The water from kettles or coffee machines can contain flakes or have scum on the surface
• Washing machines and dishwashers may not wash as well or become noisier
• Showers and taps can lose pressure

Many appliances that are affected by limescale build-up will have their performance compromised in some way and have to work harder as their components become clogged up. This will overwork the motor/machine and eventually lead to the appliance failing prematurely.

Can limescale be prevented?

Yes and no. As explained earlier, unless you are using very filtered water, any appliance that uses water will be subject to the build-up of limescale, due to minerals naturally present in it. While you can’t prevent it as such, you definitely can keep on top of it and avoid it becoming a problem. You can do this by regularly descaling your appliances; just think of it as another task to integrate into your usual cleaning regimes. It means that limescale doesn’t get a chance to take hold, and it keeps everything clean, internally and externally (no chalky residue around faucets and shower heads).

Ideally, you should be descaling appliances around every 3 months or so. If you live in a hard water area, however, more frequent descaling can be required. Items with high usage such as taps and showerheads should also be more frequently descaled.

Is descaling a big job?

Not at all! There is very little work involved for you as the product does most of it. Methods will obviously vary between different appliances (see the instructions on the product) but in the main, it’s about adding the descaler with some water and then letting it do its thing (often through running the appliance). Its active ingredient creates a fizzing action, which breaks down and dissolves the limescale and allows it to be poured away. If you choose a multi-purpose descaler, such as this Cleenly Extreme Descaler, you can use it across all appliances as well as taps and showers, so it saves you buying multiple products.

5L Cleenly Multi Purpose Descaler

Price: £19.96

Buy Now

Can you remove excessive limescale that has developed over time?

Yes, you can. A powerful descaler such as this one will do that, though you may have to do a couple of treatments. However, the damage could already have been incurred to motors and heating elements so you may find the appliance still fails and needs replacing. However, keeping up with descaling your appliances going forward will help you preserve the lifespan of your pipes and appliances.