LifestyleCleaningA woman has shared a simple cleaning hack to remove hard water stains from taps and sinks by using just one common item that most people already have in their cupboards17:57, 08 Jul 2026If you live in a hard water area, you'll know just how tricky it can be to keep taps and bathrooms free from limescale buildup. Around 60 per cent of the UK is classed as having hard or very hard water, which contains a high concentration of naturally dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.‌When this water is left to evaporate, it leaves behind these deposits, staining surfaces such as taps, sinks, and showers. As a result, it can feel like a constant battle to keep these areas sparkling clean, with many common cleaning products and methods failing to shift the stains entirely.‌But now, one woman named Elena Grabovets claims to have found the ultimate method to banish these marks in minutes, using nothing more than a single everyday cupboard staple.‌"Stop scrubbing your hard water stains! One of the easiest cleaning hacks I've tried," she wrote in the overlay text of the video, before going on to demonstrate the technique.How to remove hard water stainsElena began by taking a sheet of kitchen roll and folding it several times to create a thicker pad. She then soaked it thoroughly in white distilled vinegar.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌Once the paper was fully saturated, she wrapped it around the bathroom tap, making sure to cover the areas most affected by the hard water stains.She then took a second sheet of kitchen roll and repeated the same process on the drain fitting in the sink, which was equally plagued by hard water marks.Elena then left the kitchen roll to work its magic for a few minutes before peeling it away. Although she didn't specify exactly how long she left it in place, other similar methods recommend allowing the vinegar to soak for between five and ten minutes.‌As she removed the kitchen roll, she revealed the built-up grime and limescale that had transferred from the tap onto the paper.Once the kitchen roll is taken off, simply buff the surface with a microfibre cloth to leave the tap and drain gleaming and looking as good as new, she added.The comments section quickly filled up with viewers eager to share their thoughts, with many offering their own tips on how to get even better results from the vinegar method.Article continues belowOne viewer shared: "I do this. It works. It's also not bad on rust.""I just spray a cleaner, use a brush and gone... takes one min," someone else added.Another viewer also said: "Clorox mould and Mildew perfect for everything. No rinse needs."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CleaningLife hacksTikTok