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slawre89 t1_ja5z5x6 wrote

Reply to comment by SgtEddieWinslow in Maintain your water heater just once a year; it will last forever. by flyeaglesfly777

Citric acid is cheap and likely the main ingredient in the specialized cleaner. It’s a strong chelator which is a fancy way of saying it’s great at dissolving rust. It’s typically sold as a powder so just mix it with hot water for cleaning.

This does the exact same thing chemically as the vinegar (acetic acid) but much better.

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The_Illist_Physicist t1_ja77fxo wrote

Seconding the use of citric acid for descaling, cleaning, disinfecting, and rust removal. It's a very powerful, versatile chemical that really doesn't get the love it deserves.

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