The main ingredient used is concentrated citric acid. This is exactly what you will find in lemon juice so all of those recommendations you see to wipe your taps with half a lemon will have a similar effect. All natural ingredients – this is the main selling point of this product and it is nice to have something that is 100% naturally derived from a big name company and will be easy to find in supermarkets HG’s professional range is ideal for heavy-duty cleaning, and their limescale remover is no different. This high concentrate bathroom descaler is suitable for removing limescale from your taps, shower, plastic bath, sink, shower door, tiles and shower head. We then assessed and compared these recommendations against those given by hundreds of Mumsnetters who’ve tried and tested these products in their own homes. Whether you need an all-rounder limescale remover for your bathroom and kitchen, or a powerful formula that will finally give you the stain-free toilet that you deserve, we’ve got something for you here.

After wiping the foam away with a damp cloth we could see – and this was quite a surprise – some of the limescale was indeed starting to dissolve and wipe away. However, it was by no means gone so we decided to give it another shot! Now, the taps aren’t covered with hardened limescale but inevitably after use during the day they did have water marks on them. To be fair, these marks can probably be polished away with a soft dry cloth if done every day so not a tough test to begin with! Limescale on loos can be tough to clean, but Harpic Power Plus can effortlessly remove limescale, hard watermarks, stubborn stains, rust and strong odours as well as 99.9% of germs. Viakal Limescale Remover is the perfect all-rounder and one of the strongest limescale removers around. It leaves shower screens sparkling and draining boards shiny and clear. You can spray it on taps and it helps built-up limescale to disappear.

4. Best limescale remover for shower doors: Cillit Bang Limescale Remover

To use it, just apply it with a sponge, leave it for a few minutes, wipe it off with water and then rinse. You can also submerge clogged shower heads in the remover for 30 minutes and then scrub with a brush. Pros If you want a limescale remover with eco credentials, but don’t have the time or patience to make your own from lemon, vinegar or bicarb, then try Ecover. Firstly, we just sprayed the foam onto the effected areas and left for 10 minutes to give it a fair try at removal. Phosphoric acid is found in fertilisers and water softeners, and is particularly useful at cleaning metals -- it is widely used as an industrial metal cleaner. This can be seen in some Cillit Bang ads, in which an old coin is rendered shiny.

The new formula also makes your surfaces dirt- and water-repellent, which helps to prevent stain build-ups and makes cleaning easier. For the best results, use Cillit Bang regularly (at least once a week). Pros When Mumsnet users ask for limescale solutions, the name Viakal comes up again and again. This powerful spray works on all your kitchen and bathroom surfaces, including shower doors, chrome taps, tiles and ceramic sinks, so you won’t ever need to worry about limescale build-up in your home again. You expect a product that says it will remove limescale to do just that and in all of our tests it did do a very good job. Significant build up of limescale will require a few treatments to get rid of it altogether but I think any non-naturally derived product would be the same. After the recommended 5 minutes the foam was wiped away with just a damp cloth and after a buff with a dry cloth we were really impressed – the taps were absolutely gleaming – sparkling like new with not a hint of the watermarks at all. Test Number Two

2. Best budget limescale remover: Stardrops The Pink Stuff Paste

Not only is this versatile paste budget-friendly, but it also uses 99% natural ingredients, is non-toxic and suitable for vegans. However, you need to be careful when applying this formula to glass, plastic, ceramic, acrylic, steel and ceramic hobs as it may scratch the surface if you apply too much pressure. We recommend you do a patch test first. Kettles and coffee machines can also use vinegar or lemon juice to remove limescale. Fill the kettle or coffee machine a quarter full with either liquid and leave to sit for an hour. Then top the kettle or coffee machine up with water and boil it or run the coffee machine as normal. Pour away the water and vinegar/lemon juice liquid and rinse it with cold water a few times to remove the smell and taste. What is the strongest limescale remover? One Mumsnet user, Laila747, says, “White vinegar in a spray bottle, add some Fairy Liquid and spray all over shower screen, leave for 15 minutes then rinse. Perfect streak-free shower screen every time!” Flat surfaces are much easier to remove limescale from, which is why baths, showers, sinks and tiles will only need some lemon juice or vinegar applied and some scrubbing on your part. If lemon juice or vinegar don't work, you can use bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar. Combine two parts bicarbonate of soda with one part white vinegar - this should create a paste, which you then can apply to the surfaces and leave to sit for 15 minutes. Then scrub off the limescale residue. Washing machines and dishwashers

Using a shower squeegee after you have a shower might also help you keep on top of your limescale build-ups. How do you get rid of limescale naturally? Vinegar method: Pour a generous amount of vinegar into a food bag and fasten the bag with string around the shower head. Leave the bag on overnight and wipe the shower head clean in the morning. Baths, showers, sinks and tiles Some limescale removers have high concentrations of acid, which may damage chrome taps. Before using any limescale remover, we recommend that you read the label and follow the instructions on the bottle.Removing tough limescale with a natural product can be a tough ask so we found 3 common areas where limescale can build up at different levels to see just how well it works. Test Number One As you can see in the photos there is a significant limescale build up around the rim of the kettle and inside the spout so we concentrated on these two areas. When using bleach, you might think that your limescale problems are dealt with, but what you're doing is just covering them up, and soon the discolouration will return. To properly dissolve limescale, you need a proper limescale remover. How do you remove stubborn limescale from glass? I also find Viakal very good for limescale around taps, for e.g. Have to use it regularly since we’re in a hard water area.” (Rated by Mumsnet user GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER)

Seriously, Cillit Bang lime and grime. Totally works. I've cleaned away horrendous limescale in about 30 minutes with stuff.” (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Happycow)To remove limescale from your toilet, you need to use vinegar. Pour vinegar (straight from the bottle) into the toilet bowl and leave it to sit for three hours or longer. Then scrub the bowl with a toilet brush to wipe off the limescale residue and flush. Taps What descaler are you using? Oust sachets are good. Just re-boil the kettle when the water stops fizzing and repeat until the scale has gone. I only quarter fill the kettle before adding the oust.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user MaisyMary77) It’s almost impossible to see a Cillit Bang product without uttering their slogan “Bang! And the dirt is gone!” but that’s exactly what happens when you use their limescale remover.