What workarounds did people try for "How to remove thick, baked-on hard water scale"?

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Community members documented 92 workarounds:
1. Using The Pink stuff paste
2. Using Barkeepers Friend MORE spray
3. Using Bar keepers friend cream cleanser with a scrub daddy sponge or plastic scrubbing brush
4. Using a Mr. Clean magic eraser for porcelain
5. Using CLR cleaner
6. Glass polishing liquid
7. Lemon juice
8. Acetone
9. Limescale remover
10. Dish soap
11. Using heavy duty limescale remover and steel wool
12. Leaving the damaged fixtures in place to avoid contacting the landlord
13. installing an entire house descaling system
14. using citric acid instead of vinegar for descaling
15. using a Brita filter to descale water before cooking
16. using a kettle with a net at the spout to catch floating scale
17. topping up dishwasher salt and setting the machine to maximum water hardness
18. Using specialized calcium removers like CLR
19. Using a magic eraser while in the shower
20. Spraying walls with an after-shower spray every time you get out to limit scrubbing
21. Using cream Bar Keepers Friend with a plastic scrub brush or magic eraser
22. Soaking the shower head in CLR for an hour or two
23. Installing a showerhead with a hard water filter
24. Using a pumice stone to physically chip away at the buildup
25. Applying harsh chemical cleaners such as citric acid, muriatic acid, CLR, or Zep acidic toilet bowl cleaner
26. Draining the water from the toilet bowl before letting acid cleaners soak
27. Using standard sanitizer
28. Using limited amounts of ice machine cleaner
29. Contacting the manufacturer for recommendations
30. cleaning the salt
31. Draining the toilet and scrubbing with vinegar and a sponge
32. Using toilet bowl drop-ins
33. Using Zep acidic toilet bowl cleaner and letting it sit overnight
34. Using a ceramic or glass stove cleaning product along with a ceramic/glass stove scraper as directed.
35. Soaking in CLR and scraping it off
36. Using CLR and a scrub brush
37. Soaking in citric acid or Lemi Shine
38. Soaking in unsweetened lemonade mix
39. Using CLR
40. Soaking for several hours or overnight
41. Using CLR and letting it sit with elbow grease
42. Using Magic Eraser with Dawn dish soap
43. Using cleaning vinegar (10%)
44. Using a squeegee after every shower to prevent future buildup
45. Spraying shower cleaner or diluted dishwasher Jet Dry on wet doors
46. white vinegar
47. dawn
48. dawn powerwash
49. scrubbing bubbles mega shower foam
50. Zep acidic shower tub and tile cleaner
51. bar keepers friend multi surface cleaner
52. bar keepers friend soft cleanser
53. CLR
54. intense scrubbing with a no-scratch blue Scotch Brite sponge
55. Trying to wipe down or use general cleaners
56. Using a house cleaner every two weeks
57. Applying CLR or metal polish like Flitz
58. Mixing citric acid crystals in warm water with a rag
59. Spray down with vinegar and scrape
60. Use CLR applied via soaked paper towels left on for hours
61. Use a razor blade scraper at an angle
62. Use a steam cleaner
63. Use a magic eraser or melamine sponge with vinegar and dish soap
64. Use steel wool or SOS pads
65. Use cleaning vinegar or citric acid
66. Use a squeegee after every shower
67. Apply Rain-X products after cleaning
68. Using white vinegar or citric acid mixed with water to soak or spray the deposits instead of scrubbing.
69. Soaking items overnight in a citric acid solution or using vinegar sprays.
70. Running an empty cycle with citric acid in the dispenser
71. Adding dishwasher salt if the machine has a reservoir
72. Using commercial dishwasher cleaner tablets on the hottest setting
73. Scrubbing the sides and seals with a plastic brush
74. Treat the area with household acids like vinegar.
75. Moisten the area and apply citric acid powder to let it sit on the stain.
76. Use a coffee urn cleaner.
77. Squeegeeing after every shower
78. Scrubbing with a soft Scotch-Brite or Scrub Mommy
79. Soaking fixtures in vinegar
80. Using a mixture of cleaning vinegar and dish soap
81. Using commercial descalers like Lime-A-Way or Stone Pro's Stone & Glass Scrub
82. Testing water hardness with a TDS pen instead of strips
83. Applying multiple rounds of CLR spray (specifically the standard grey bottle).
84. Using Zep mold and mildew spray for leftover stains in a well-ventilated area.
85. Asking online communities for heavy-duty chemical recommendations.
86. Pressure washing the affected area
87. Scouring the tiles with Lime Away
88. Replacing the tiles completely
89. vinegar and dish soap scrub
90. lime away spray
91. vinegar and baking soda mix
92. RMR 86 spray

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