White vinegar can’t remove the limescale on the showerhead? Try this instead.

With the arrival of spring, some people take advantage of the warmer weather to tackle the long-term accumulation of dirt in their homes, such as limescale on showerheads. If using vinegar or regular cleaning agents does not eliminate this limescale, you may want to consider an effective alternative method.

According to a report from the UK’s Daily Express, when limescale builds up on showerheads, it not only makes the showerhead look unsightly but also clogs the drainage holes, reducing water flow. Despite vinegar being a commonly used natural descaling solution, a woman named Lianne Wood found that it did not produce the desired results due to severe limescale buildup.

At the suggestion of others, Wood tried using British 2 pence coins to clean the showerhead and was surprised at how quickly and effectively it worked. She later shared this hack on a Facebook group called “Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips,” created by UK influencer Sophie Hinchcliffe, known as Mrs Hinch.

Wood explained in her post that she had been living in her current house for a long time. The showerhead in her home was clogged with limescale, making it unable to spray water properly. Despite trying to clean the showerhead for years, including using vinegar, she was unable to completely remove the limescale.

She noted that she came across the method of using 2 pence coins and decided to give it a try. To her amazement, the limescale was removed within 15 seconds, yielding excellent results. She also shared before and after photos of the cleaning process for reference.

Wood’s method involves wetting British 2 pence coins (containing copper) or other copper coins and gently rubbing the limescale to make it come off. This is because a chemical reaction occurs between the copper in the coins and the limescale (due to calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate precipitates), leading to its breakdown.

This approach is supported by plumbing expert Ryan McNicholl, who explained the scientific principles behind it. According to McNicholl, copper coins have a natural abrasive surface that can gently scrape off limescale, and the mild chemical reaction between copper and calcium carbonate helps break down the limescale.

Not only is this cleaning hack quick and effective, but it is also an economical way to remove limescale as most households already have copper coins readily available. Furthermore, this method is not limited to showerheads and can also be used on faucets and toilets, providing a simple and convenient solution to tackling limescale buildup in homes.

McNicholl advises wetting the copper coins and gently wiping the affected areas with care to avoid applying too much pressure. The limescale will peel off along with the coins. After completion, rinse with water and wipe dry to reveal sparkling clean surfaces!

In addition to limescale removal, copper coins have another surprising use that many may not be aware of—repelling wasps that may fly around and potentially sting people.

British physician Amir Khan mentioned on ITV’s show that rubbing copper coins or any copper item on the skin produces a smell that can drive away wasps and other insects because they cannot tolerate the odor.