Limescale

Limescale is the chalky mineral buildup that forms on taps, showerheads and tiles wherever hard water runs, and Malta's water is hard enough that it shows up fast.

Why it is not a one-off cleaning problem

A single turnover wipes visible limescale off a surface, but the mineral keeps depositing every time water runs through a fixture, so it returns within weeks regardless of how thoroughly a surface was cleaned. Malta's genuinely hard water makes this faster here than in most other places.

What actually slows it down

Descaling a showerhead or tap periodically and drying surfaces after use both slow the buildup, but neither stops it permanently while the water itself stays hard. Any Malta flat, regardless of who cleans it, faces the same underlying problem, which is why a periodic reset clean exists alongside the regular turnover rather than replacing it.

Conclusion

Limescale is a fact of Maltese plumbing, not a sign a flat has been cleaned poorly. A regular turnover keeps it visibly under control between the deeper resets it eventually needs.