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How do I get rid of limescale in my toilet?

(52 Posts)
Wake Mon 31-Aug-20 01:56:15

We have recently developed brown limescale in our en-suite toilet. Never had it before. I usually use Harpic or Domestos.
We have tried draining the toilet and putting in Coca Cola and white vinegar neither of which have touched it.
Any suggestions?

Lock Mon 31-Aug-20 11:08:27

Empty the loo of water completely. Bail out into a bucket using a disposable plastic cup or similar. Pad dry completely with cheap toilet paper or kitchen roll. Put the wet paper into a bin and dispose of properly.

Use plastic gloves, obviously!
Use a heavy duty descaler, such as Killroc. I use the liquid poured into a teaspoon so that I can get right under the bend.
The Killroc stuff is super strong so you really don't need very much. Any of the Killroc that drips into the bottom, just wipe the fluid around with your gloved hand.

Very effective.

Ramblingrose22 Mon 31-Aug-20 11:10:54

A similar problem - how do you get rust stains off a white ceramic toilet bowl?

I don't know how they get there and they are very small but bright orange so very unsightly.

Last time I used a pumice stone and rubbed it really hard on the stains which worked OK but I no longer have the strength to do the same again.

EllanVannin Mon 31-Aug-20 11:37:39

Parazone to keep the pan clean after you've sorted the limescale, it's better than Domestos.

Seajaye Mon 31-Aug-20 11:41:23

Killrock is good on taps and kettles, and shower heads. Parazone or Harpic blocks are good for loo bowls. Clean toilet with brush normally, then flush. Then for heavy limescake beneath the water line put 3 unwrapped blocks in the water and leave over night. Don't mix different products together . Brush again thoroughly around the bend in the morning and flush. This worked for my son's rented house. Repeat as necessary. Use the domestic black zero cleaner regularly thereafter if you are in a very hard water area. My water in Suffolk starts building up limescale again after about 4 weeks.
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Doodle Mon 31-Aug-20 11:42:11

Empty toilet bowl by using a sponge and bucket. Then apply liberal coating of Cif cream (Jif as was) and scrub with a scouring pad (the soft sort).

jaylucy Mon 31-Aug-20 11:53:30

You could try using a pumice stone - can buy ones on a handle. Bit of elbow grease but it doesn't scratch .
I have that problem now and then as I live in a hard water area. The black Domestos or the black Harpic seems to work but needs to be left overnight.

grandtanteJE65 Mon 31-Aug-20 12:17:30

Salts of lemon made into a paste with a little water. Put the paste onto a double layer of toilet paper and place on the limescale.

If it is in the bottom of the toilet, pump out as much water as possible first with the toilet brush.

Leave it for at least four hours. Repeat if necessary.

Plunger Mon 31-Aug-20 12:18:29

Use Spirit of Salts/Killrock ( hydrochloric acid) available from hardware shops such as Robert Dyas. Can also use to descale kettles, showerheads etc.Limescale is mainly calcium carbonate (chalk) so will react with acid and so be removed. Follow instructions carefully. Coca cola is acidic so you can try that but doesn't look very nice in the bowl! No need to empty the bowl but dont use neat on taps as tends to leave permanent streak marks. Bleach won't remove limescale as it's not acidic it will only remove the stains.

lemsip Mon 31-Aug-20 12:37:58

Harpic 100% limescale remover . blue bottle. can't beat it!

nannypiano Mon 31-Aug-20 12:40:27

I have just received some either GH or HG toilet cleaner from Amazon, after trying every other method. I haven't used it yet, so can't comment. It has great reviews though. I bought some of their mould remover for the corners of my shower cabinet and the black marks vanished within 30 minutes. So I feel confident the toilet cleaner will work. Apparently you can get the water out of the toilet with a plunger. Another purchase out of desperation.

Sheilasue Mon 31-Aug-20 13:23:39

I use a lot of the ones you use but I always feel guilty as to what is going into the sea.

Lucyloo12 Mon 31-Aug-20 14:26:22

WD40 works a treat. Yes it is that stuff that stops squeaky doors, but definitely clears limescale too.

HootyMcOwlface Mon 31-Aug-20 14:31:21

I like Tesco’s limescale toilet cleaner in a blue bottle. I find it works very well and better than Domestos or Harpic.

I tried the Coke drink down the pan once and got left with a brown toilet, it looked 100% worse!

Bijou Mon 31-Aug-20 14:46:29

This thread brings me back to my childhood when one of our daily tasks was to drain the toilet using a cloth and bucket and then scrub it with Vim. The only household products were a canister of Vim, a bar of Sunlight soap and soda crystals, and a scrubbing brush. No rubber gloves.

Camelotclub Mon 31-Aug-20 14:55:30

Harpic Power Plus tablets are quite effective.

f77ms Mon 31-Aug-20 16:26:40

Use a product labelled. LIMESCALE REMOVER. There are loads in the shops. I use mr muscle.

JennyCee Mon 31-Aug-20 16:34:18

Wilco’s White Vinegar, only £1 and it’s brilliant. British too, and no chemicals. You might need elbow grease more than once and your bathroom will smell like a fish’n’chip shop, but only for a few moments.

Grandyma Mon 31-Aug-20 16:50:00

We have developed the same problem!! Lived here for 12 years and never had it before. Why would it suddenly start happening? Any ideas??

Jillybird Mon 31-Aug-20 18:09:23

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nana29 Mon 31-Aug-20 18:17:09

Pumice stone was the only thing that worked for me. I live in a very hard water area.

TillyWhiz Mon 31-Aug-20 22:55:17

Yes I find Harpic 100% Limescale Remover is the only Harpic product to do the trick then every now and then I use Domestos Bleach overnight.

Wake Tue 01-Sept-20 08:11:11

Thank you for all of your advice. Will be trying some of it as soon as possible.

kathyd Tue 01-Sept-20 10:00:56

The easiest way to empty the pan is to turn off the water then flush!

Flygirl Wed 02-Sept-20 00:43:39

We had this in a flat we rented out after the tenant had left. Nothing shifted it...we had cleaners come in with industrial strength products....no success. In the end? The cleaner himself had to take a chisel to it (yes it was that bad!) and dispose of the chips it created. Not a pleasant task by any means!

Jenoir37 Wed 02-Sept-20 16:22:52

Harpic black toilet cleaner is amazing at removing this with no effort. Leave overnight and flush in the morning, it will look like new!