For appliances like washing machines and kettles, you can’t go wrong with Oust Powerful All-Purpose Descaler. How we chose our recommendations

Viakal limescale remover is a very abrasive cleaning product. It should never be used on any natural stone surface. The acid in the product will eat away at the stone and leave a horrible looking white burn mark. This is because one of its main purposes is to remove residue, which means that it adapts very well to removing limescale staining. On ceramic and porcelain, like toilets, you can use an old pumice stone to gently rub away the limescale below the water level. 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.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? In the morning, use a toilet brush to remove any limescale that has been left behind, before flushing the toilet to wash away the residue. WD-40

Rinse the Viakal off with water on a cloth and for the best shine, buff the tap with a dry microfibre cloth. With just a few minutes of work, your taps will be unrecognisable, and you might even be able to see your reflection! 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 For washing machines, you need to pour a large cup of either vinegar or lemon juice into the machine and then run your usual washing cycle. For dishwashers, you need to pour a large cup of either vinegar or lemon juice into the base of the machine and run the dishwashing cycle. Kettles and coffee machinesHowever, it is worth remembering that it is not suitable for use on natural stone and most metals. It also cannot be safely mixed with bleach. Glass If you are just looking for a way to remove limescale across a multitude of surfaces and do not want to have to store multiple chemicals to achieve this, you can’t go far wrong with Viakal.

These commercial cleaning chemicals from brands like Suma and HG are often concentrated, meaning professional cleaners can just dilute what they need when they need it rather than transporting huge bottles of ready-to-use chemicals. Simply spray lemon juice across the affected surface, and let it sit for about an hour. At the end of this time, just wipe the residue away with a clean cloth. Lithofin Stain Stop - This product will seal the pores in your natural stone and prevent water damage. You can use this once a month with a dry cloth. 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)

We like that the bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic and that Viakal is safe to use (as long as you don’t mix it with bleach) as it’s free from ammonia, bleach and chlorine. 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)