Limescale will never stain shower heads again if you rub 1 item that 'acts as a barrier'

Crusty and off-putting, limescale rears its ugly head wherever there's water around the home. It builds up on taps, kettles, showerheads in hard water areas.

What you see are the minerals, like calcium and magnesium, left behind when hard water evaporates. Hard water stains can be difficult to keep in check nonethelesss prevent, but home and bathroom experts say there are some items around the home you may not realise could do the trick. Andy Ellis of Vidalux, a shower retailer, recommends preventing limescale stains from returning using candle wax.

"To prevent a build up of hard water stains returning, rub some candle wax onto faucets and showerheads," he advised. "The wax will act as a barrier between the surface and the water and will prevent hard water from being able to settle onto the surface."

Candle wax won't remove hard water stains - more on that later - but it works as a preventative measure. The wax sits as a buffer between water and surfaces prone to limescale, meaning the minerals can't penetrate through to taps or showerheads and create a stain.

To prevent limescale using this method, all you have to do is rub candle wax onto taps and buff it onto the surface.

As for cleaning limescale stains, Andy recommended two toiletries likely already sitting in the cupboard: shaving cream and toothpaste.

It may sound unusual, but the important thing when removing limescale is to clean with something containing acid as it can cut through the stains. Limescale is insidious - the longer the stains sit on surfaces, the harder they are to remove.

The bathroom expert explained: "The trick with hard water stains is to use something that is acidic and abrasive enough it can break down the strong minerals. Some of the best cleaning products you can use are likely to already be in your home."

"Toiletries such as shaving cream and toothpaste both contain properties that help cut through the minerals left behind from hard water.

Shaving cream

The foaming agents found in shaving cream can help break down minerals left behind from hard water.

Apply a layer of shaving cream to the area and let it sit for around 15 minutes. Wipe it away with a damp cloth and then buff the area with a dry one for a streak free finish.

Toothpaste

This bathroom essential is abrasive enough to clean but gentle enough that it won't damage any appliances. But one word of warning - make sure to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride as this is the key ingredient that will help break down the stains.

Apply toothpaste to the stains and let it sit for five minutes before rinsing. If you find the toothpaste is too stubborn to spread across the stains, add some water to loosen it up.