HG Professional Limescale Remover 500ml

Full review

HG Professional Limescale Remover is what you escalate to when Viakal hasn’t shifted something. The formula uses a stronger acid concentration than Viakal, formic and acetic acid blend. Which makes it faster and more thorough on severe limescale, at the cost of being more aggressive overall.

Specific situations where HG outperforms Viakal: heavily-encrusted showerheads where Viakal’s softer formula has left some calcium behind, kettle interiors with multi-year build-up, taps with visible white encrustation around the base, glass shower screens that haven’t been deep-cleaned in 6+ months.

For routine limescale prevention or moderate cases, Viakal is genuinely sufficient and significantly easier to use. HG’s strength is a benefit only when you actually need it.

At 90p per 100ml on the 500ml bottle, it’s about 30% more expensive than Viakal per volume. Subscribe & Save at 10% off helps but the underlying premium is real.

Ventilation is more important with HG than with Viakal. The formula is volatile enough that the bathroom needs an open window or running extractor fan throughout use. Don’t use in an enclosed unventilated space.

Surface restrictions are the same as Viakal: no natural stone, anodised aluminium, brass without lacquer, or acid-sensitive materials per the bottle’s care guide.

For a hard-water UK household, having both Viakal (for routine) and HG (for the entrenched cases) is a sensible kit. The Viakal handles most cleaning; HG handles the specific problems that Viakal can’t shift.

Buy this if: Viakal hasn’t worked on a specific limescale problem, or you have severely-neglected fittings to restore.

Skip this if: Viakal handles your limescale (it usually does for routine cases), HG is overkill for prevention or moderate problems.

For the full ranking of how this product compares with the alternatives, see our guide to the best limescale remover.