Rub hard water stains with lemon juice

Cut a lemon in half and rub it directly over the hard water stains on the glass, squeezing gently to release juice onto the mineral deposits. Let the juice sit for 5-10 minutes, then scrub with a soft cloth and rinse with clean water.

Why It Works

Citric acid in lemon juice dissolves calcium and lime deposits the same way vinegar does, but with a milder, pleasant scent. Direct rubbing with the lemon half provides light mechanical action alongside the chemical cleaning.

Tips

• Bottled lemon juice works but fresh lemons provide both acid and a gentle abrasive texture from the pulp
• Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the lemon half for extra scrubbing power on stubborn spots
• Works especially well on drinking glasses and glass pitchers