Banish water marks on taps and make them shine with common household item - not vinegar

Hard water stains on taps disappear with this hack (stock image) (Image: Getty)

We've all faced the annoyance of freshly cleaned taps tarnishing again with persistent water marks, a hard water area’s frequent plight.

These marks stem from dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium in water, known as limescale, leaving behind deposits on taps, shower heads, and even worktops after evaporation.

Although typical cleaning products tend to remove them initially, it's frustrating when they return swiftly. However, an 'genius' hack by Beatriz, a content creator who often shares videos about home and organisation under the handle @makelifesimpler_ on TikTok, might just be the permanent solution we need.

And it's not white vinegar, which often tends to be a go-to solution for many cleaners. In her recent video "how to prevent water marks on faucets", Beatriz demonstrated that a simple tea light could create a protective barrier on taps, letting water glide off without leaving unsightly stains.

Expounding on the method, Beatriz said: "Here's an easy trick to keep your faucets sparkling. Simply rub candle wax over the faucet and polish it with a dry microfibre cloth for a smooth, water-repellent finish. You can also use wax paper for the same effect! Both methods create a barrier that helps prevent those stubborn hard water stains, keeping your faucets looking brand new!"

The video attracted hundreds of comments, with many viewers expressing their amazement. "You're telling me I just needed candle wax the whole time?" one person exclaimed.

Another simply commented: "Brilliant!" and a third chimed in with: "Genius!" When quizzed on how to remove the candle wax for thorough cleaning, Beatriz suggested white vinegar should do the job. Many households will already have tea lights stashed away, but if not, they can be easily purchased from your local supermarket or online.

Tesco is offering 100 tea lights for a mere £4, which equates to just 4p per candle.

In search of another cleaning tip? Cleaning guru Lynsey Crombie recommends using lemon as an effective solution for limescale and hard water stains.

The expert, who appeared on ITV's This Morning, praises the inexpensive fruit for its 'antiseptic properties' and 'sweet scent', making it an ideal cleaning agent.

"For limescale that is on your taps, very simply cut your lemon in half and run the lemon all over the tap where the limescale is present," she advised.

"Leave the lemon on the tap for a while so that it can get to work and then rinse away. You may need to repeat this process."