Are you looking for natural ways to remove limescale from your toilet bowl? In this article, we have briefly discussed some effective methods to remove limescale from toilets, also how you can prevent it.
What is Limescale?
Limescale is a chalky residue found on various items in your home that come into touch with water. Limescale is formed when soluble calcium bicarbonate transforms into insoluble calcium carbonate.
This chemical can be found in taps, toilet bowls, baths, pipelines, and other water locations. When water passes through softer rocks such as limestone or chalk, it picks up minerals, and these minerals also remain in the water after they reach your home, causing limescale stains.
Limescale may appear as a brown, orange, or pink stain on your toilet. If limescale is accumulating in your toilet and you are unaware of how to remove it, this practical guide will educate you on the best methods to do so.
Why Should You Remove Limescale From Your Toilet?
The most common reason for removing limescale from the toilet is that it is unpleasant and unhygienic. Despite how significant this is to us, the visual effect is insignificant. The real danger posed by limescale is that when deposits accumulate, they gradually restrict water flow in pipes, taps, showers, and your toilet.
A restricted water flow means that the toilet may not flush properly, and you can understand how this could impact your home’s hygiene. As a result, it is essential to remove limescale as soon as possible to avoid more significant damage to your toilet.
How Not To Remove Limescale (Methods That Don’t Work)
There are several myths about toilet limescale removal. Many individuals believe that limescale can be easily removed using Coca-Cola or bleach.
Using Bleach
Bleach is a well-known household disinfectant that is virtually unbeatable in killing most bacteria. It can remove difficult stains, brighten dark surfaces, disinfect, and kill almost everything.
Although it is fair to believe that bleach would be perfect for removing limescale, all it does is just lighten the stains. So, while your toilet may appear clean, it is still covered with limescale; it is just more difficult to detect.
In this scenario, the limescale is more damaging because you can’t see it and aren’t aware of the damage it’s causing. Therefore, cleaning limescale from your toilet requires more effort than just using household bleach.
Using Coca-Cola
According to the myth, after emptying the water, pouring a large bottle of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and letting it sit overnight will remove any limescale deposits from the toilet.
The idea is that the acid in Coca-Cola will dissolve any limescale that comes into touch with it; instead, all that is left is a brighter cola-colored limescale stain.
How To Remove Limescale From Toilet
Depending on how much limescale you have to deal with, your methods of cleaning toilet limescale may differ slightly. Before starting your limescale removal task, don’t forget to drain the water in your toilet bowl.
It will help whatever products you choose to interact with the surface of the toilet bowl and remove limescale more quickly and effectively. Let’s have a look at all the different methods that remove limescale from the toilet.
1. Using Vinegar
While there are many specially designed toilet cleaners available to remove unpleasant limescale stains, you can get the same result with a bottle or two of white vinegar and some elbow grease.
Vinegar’s acidic nature is ideal for dissolving and lifting limescale, and it is far less expensive than a commercial toilet cleaner.
Follow these steps to clean your toilet with vinegar:
- Pour one liter of undiluted white vinegar into the toilet bowl and all around its sides.
- Allow it to sit for 3-4 hours.
- Scrub the edges of the bowl, under the rim, and down into the water with extra white vinegar using a standard toilet brush.
- If you have particularly stubborn stains, put on gloves and scrub the affected areas thoroughly using the scourer side of a kitchen sponge. When scrubbing, use vinegar to wet the area first and make sure not to harm the toilet’s surface.
- Once you have removed all of the limescale, flush the toilet several times to remove any remaining vinegar and mineral deposits.
2. Vinegar & Lemon
Another low-cost method to eliminate limescale is to mix lemon juice and white vinegar. Adding a little lemon juice to your vinegar will help eliminate limescale while also improving the smell.
The use of lemon juice and white vinegar as a natural cleaning solution is a significantly more eco-friendly way of dealing with limescale buildup.
Calcium carbonate cannot withstand the additional acid layer present in lemon juice, and it must be soaked for about an hour before it can break down and be wiped away.
3. Using Sandpaper
You may come across a toilet with limescale stains that are so stubborn that you consider replacing the toilet. You may have tried vinegar and professional cleaners, but neither could remove the embarrassing limescale buildup.
It may not be nice, but the limescale may be removed with sandpaper. Every home improvement store has a variety of sandpaper with varied grains, ranging from fine to coarse. Although this may help remove the limescale, there is a risk of damaging the finish of your toilet. So if you use this method, don’t press the sandpaper too forcefully.
We recommend buying two types: one medium grain to remove the majority of the limescale and its stain and one fine grain to remove the remaining limescale.
- Start with scrubbing the inside of the toilet with medium-grain sandpaper.
- Continue until most of the limescale is removed, be careful not to damage the bowl.
- After that, scrub the inside part of the toilet with fine-grain paper until the discoloration is gone.
- Flush the toilet to remove any remaining residue and clean it as usual.
4. Using Vinegar & Soda
Using vinegar and baking soda is another popular method for removing limescale from your toilet. Soda is a chemical compound that functions as an excellent odor absorber.
- Pour one cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl, then one cup of baking soda, and let it sit for about 10 mins.
- When using this as a toilet cleaner, wear gloves and eye protection.
- Allow the solution to stay for another 25 minutes before flushing, guiding the brush around to ensure the toilet limescale is covered. This should clean the bowl thoroughly and remove all limescale from your toilet.
How To Prevent Limescale Buildup In Your Toilet?
An ounce of prevention is typically worth more than the work required to deal with the problem once the limescale has begun to accumulate.
Preventing limescale buildups can be challenging because limescale is created by the mineral content of your home’s water supply rather than a lack of cleaning.
However, employing the methods outlined above regularly will help remove limescale before it becomes a more difficult problem to solve.
1. Vinegar Or Lemon
Once a month, pouring a tiny bit of lemon or vinegar into your toilet can help prevent the buildup of limescale deposits. The acidity of these will help remove any small limescale deposits without the need for vigorous washing.
2. Water Softeners
Installing a water softener in the home is another good option. The water softener will remove minerals from the hard water source, preventing limescale buildup in your toilet. However, it is not always possible, particularly for individuals who live in small houses, apartments, or multi-family residences.
Conclusion
So these were some best ways to remove limescale from the toilet. Use commercial cleaners, white vinegar, sandpaper, or hire a professional cleaning service for the most significant results.
It only takes a few minutes once a month to ensure that your toilet is clean and limescale-free. Maintain the free flow of the bowl to keep limescale out of your toilet.