Show
After a long day of traveling, you finally get home after some time away, and make a beeline for the bathroom, and a familiar toilet. Except instead of the gleaming white toilet bowl you left behind, you find one full of brown lines and a ring. This is
(probably) because you live in the 85% of the United States that has hard water.
02:50 Chopping Basics Wednesday 11:09AM 01:38 How to Retire in Phases Wednesday 10:53AM If you were only away for a short period of time, your usual cleaner and a quick swirl of your toilet brush should take care of any new stains. But stains that have been there for several weeks (or months, or years) will be far more stubborn. Here’s how to rid your toilet bowl of its worst hard water stains. What causes hard water stains in toilets?Hard water contains dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. When hard water dries on surfaces like chrome sink faucets, it often leaves behind chalky, white stains (which are technically mineral deposits). That residue can end up in the dry parts of your toilet bowl, too, but if your toilet is white, you probably don’t notice it. It’s much harder to ignore brown or rust-colored rings or stains, which are typically the result of having iron or manganese compounds in your water. How to remove hard water stains from your toiletStart with
vinegar and baking soda, then work your way up to the other methods: Vinegar and baking soda
G/O Media may get a commission Vinegar and borax (or salt)This is best to try when you plan to be home all or most of the day:
Citric acidDo not attempt to use citric acid to clean your toilet if your home has a septic system. Otherwise, here’s what to do:
Pumice stoneWhile using a pumice stone or stick will likely remove the worst of your toilet bowl hard water stains, it should be kept as a last resort, rather than your go-to method. That’s because pumice can scratch porcelain toilets, and permanently damage those made of marble, laminate, plastic, or fiberglass—so don’t even attempt this method if you have any of those. If you have a porcelain toilet and are out of other options, make sure that both the pumice stone and the stained surface are completely wet. Then, gently scrub the stains or rings with the wet stone until they are gone. Rinse it all away with a final flush. How do you remove hard water stains from toilets?First, flush the toilet and then pour a quarter of a cup of Borax into it, using your toilet brush to swish it around. Next, add one to two cups of vinegar and let the mixture sit for 20-30 minutes. You should be able to scrub the stains away and flush the toilet to reveal a fresh, and clean bowl.
How do I get rid of brown limescale in my toilet?How To Remove Limescale From Your Toilet. Pour vinegar into the toilet bowl.. Leave for 3-4 hours.. Scrub the toilet bowl.. Flush the toilet.. Repeat as necessary.. What is the best tough toilet stain remover?Our top pick for the best toilet bowl cleaner is the Lysol Hydrogen Peroxide Toilet Bowl Cleaner, as it's a strong, effective formula that easily tackles soap scum, grease, limescale, and more.
How do I remove severely stained toilet bowl?3.Vinegar and Borax. Grab the Borax and pour ¼ cup into your toilet bowl. Then, using a toilet brush, swish it around.. Add 1 cup of vinegar. Allow the solution to sit in your toilet bowl for about 20 minutes.. Use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl clean and eliminate any remaining stains.. |