Use muriatic acid for a salt cell.

Yes, that’s what you should use. A 4:1 water-to-acid soak for 10–15 minutes dissolves calcium scale fast. Vinegar works too, but takes forever and might not get it all.

Here’s the deal: kill the power to the cell first. Mix the acid into water — never the other way around. Wear gloves and goggles. Submerge the cell, watch the bubbles, rinse thoroughly. If it’s really crusty, a plastic brush helps. Most cells only need this once or twice a season.

Don’t use a metal brush or scrape the plates. And check your manual — some cells are self-cleaning and acid soaking voids the warranty. If yours isn’t, this is the way.

Future you will thank you when the flow switch stops screaming.