View source for How to Clean Hard Water Stains

Hard water stains are mineral deposits from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water hard water] in your municipality's water system. The stains are also sometimes called lime scale, and can be recognized by their chalky white appearance.

A good way to remove lime scale is to use an acid to dissolve the lime scale. Common household acids include white vinegar, cream of tartar (also known as ''tartaric acid''), and lemon juice.