How to remove rust/calcium from pressure washer hose and fittings ?

I live in Hawaii and my hose connections, fittings, and pressure washer connects have this rust or calcium build up on it and I’m looking for advice on how to remove it and maintain it in the future?

https://imgur.com/IarRoXu

https://imgur.com/1Ghs6jF

 

CLR calcium lime and rust remover?

 

I'll have to try something like that but I'm also not sure how to prevent this from happening.

 

Use softened water is the only way to prevent it...
Or use distilled water.

 

I figured that was the only true way to prevent it but there is no way for me to get softened or distilled water here until I move. I guess I just have to clean it every so often?

 

Soft or distilled water will stop the calcium build up but it will increase the corrosion rate. The purer the water the "hungrier" it is. If you look at purified water systems used in industry (reverse osmosis, distiller or dionized) they use specific grades of stainless steel. Quite often 316L.

Soft water is actually more corrosive than many "city" waters. When you soften water by the most common method, ion exchange, as you remove the calcium and magnesium hardness you put some sodium into the water.

 

I think you are confusing that with R.O. water. R.O. water will make the water slightly acidic. Softened water is still slightly basic in most cases.

 

We use Phophoric Acid (ice machine cleaner) or Manitowoc ice machine cleaner at work. Works great on calcium and rust deposits.

 

Soak in vinegar.

 

Could be. I’m retired after 40+ years of industrial water treatment. It’s not just pH that’s a factor. And the pH is dependent on many factors.

Water is sometimes called the universal solvent. It will dissolve anything eventually. The purer the water the greater the tendency to dissolve stuff.

This is why the water dripping from the ac in our trucks attacks the frames at a much higher rate than water on the street after a rain.