1. 

   phoo
   

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   I finally broke down today and turned on my baseboard heaters (blech). Before now, I've been keeping a crockpot full of water going. I started using filtered water after I noticed I ended up with precipitate without filtered water. Even with filtered water, there are white deposits all over the crock and lid (calcium? lime?). I could use CLR to clean it, but I don't have any around and prefer not to use heavy chemicals on my cooking surfaces. I tried boiling vinegar water with no joy. I may try baking soda water, but that's a lot of baking soda and it may still not work. Scrubbing is ineffective enough that I need something else to give me an edge. Cleanser may help, but may also wear away the finish on the crock.

   Thoughts?

   Posted 5 months ago #
2. 

   great idea
   

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   does turning on the baseboard somehow affect your water quality?
   is it plumbed so that the water runs through the baseboards before reaching your faucet?

   I have no problem with Ballard water and drink it unfiltered.

   anyway, I'd try oxy-clean, or a few tablespoons of baking soda as you mentioned.

   I don't think a cleanser would wear away the finish but you never know.
   a little 'bon ami' goes a long way (hasn't scratched yet).

   Posted 5 months ago #
3. 

   phoo
   

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   GI: I can't use my water unfiltered because it comes in colors here. I know I need iron in my diet, but I prefer it in pills.

   Posted 5 months ago #
4. 

   Ernie
   

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   Ballard water quality is great, if you've got "colored" water it's coming from the rusty pipes in your house/ building, not the water supply.

   Posted 5 months ago #
5. 

   Corvus
   

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   Phoo, something isn't making sense here. The quality of the water in Ballard as far as clarity is quite good. The quality of water in western Washington, relative to other places I have lived, is also very high and very low in calcium.

   I use vinegar to remove the hard water deposits from the coffee maker and pots and pans but I don't boil it. Perhaps that is the difference?

   Posted 5 months ago #
6. 

   phoo
   

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   Ernie: Yes, that is why I use a filter, because of my pipes. However, the water deposits are more likely from the water supply. I'm not aware of pipes causing white buildup, am I wrong? I thought perhaps someone had found a trick to scrubbing them out.

   Corvus: Yes, the clarity is fine (once I filter out the rust from my pipes) - I only had precipitate when I long boiled (and continually replaced) the unfiltered water.

   Posted 5 months ago #
7. 

   angeline
   

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   Try applying a paste of cream of tartar and water -- makes a non-abrasive acid cleaner that is good on hard water staining.

   Posted 5 months ago #
8. 

   boatgeek
   

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   I've always used Bon Ami for light deposits on pots and pans. Abrasive enough to be effective but not scary harsh.

   Posted 5 months ago #
9. 

   phoo
   

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   Thanks, folks! It seems baking soda and a green pad did the trick!

   Posted 5 months ago #

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