How To Remove Hard Water Stains In The Toilet

I don't like to clean the toilet and I'm sure that you don't like it either. It's even worse if you have hard water stains.

Hard water build up shows as a discolored raised ring inside the toilet bowl that does not come clean with normal (or even heavy duty) scrubbing.

The build up comes from minerals that are in the water. Over time and with evaporation the minerals are deposited on the inside of the toilet tank.

But don't worry, the stains will come off. There are different ways to tackle the stain and I'll give you several options to remove them.

Drain The Tank:

Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Cleaning products work better if used directly on the stain, and the water in the tank would dilute the cleaning solution and make the job harder. Removing excess water will help to avoid splashing when scrubbing.

Find the valve behind the toilet where the water supply goes into the wall. Turn the valve to the off position and then flush once or twice to remove all the water in the toilet tank.

Make a point to listen for running water after flushing, if you hear water you have not shut the valve off completely.

Once the water has all drained from the bowl, put on some gloves and get ready to do some serious cleaning.

Vinegar:

Hard water build up (minerals) are alkaline so you will need a cleaner that is acid based to remove it.

If you don’t like messing with commercial cleaners that are toxic and environmentally unsound, don't worry, you don’t have to. Just use plain white vinegar.

I really like to use vinegar for cleaning jobs. It's safe, nontoxic, doesn't leave a residue and it's a natural deodorizer and disinfectant.

You'll need about 1 gallon for the job. Pour the vinegar straight to the bowl and brush it around where the stains are. Let the vinegar sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then scrub again.

Vinegar has a strong odor, so you might want to open a window or turn on a fan. If you have pets or small children in the house, close the bathroom door to keep them out.

Vinegar and Baking Soda Paste:

Should straight vinegar not do the job, mix vinegar with a bit of baking soda until you make a paste. Apply this to the stains in the bowl and scrub with a green scrubby. Leave the paste in place for 15 to 20 minutes and scrub again.

To finish the job, turn the water back on and flush the toilet. You might need to scrub the bowl and flush a time or two to get any remaining residue off the sides of the bowl.

Pumice Stones:

Pumice stones are the gold-standard for removing hard water deposits. They'll work when the vinegar doesn't. To use one, wet the stone with water that is in the toilet bowl and rub at the stain with gentle and consistent pressure until the stain is gone.

Keep the pumice stone and the bowl wet when cleaning so you don't scratch the porcelain.

Cleaning Colored Toilets:

You know the old saying "Better safe than sorry"? If you have a colored toilet, try using a soft, green scrubby on any remaining stains to avoid scratches.

Stronger Cleaners:

If your hard water stains are really heavy or old, you may have to use a commercial descaling cleaner. Should this be the case, make sure you get one that’s specifically for hard water stains.

Follow the package instructions carefully. They do a good job but they are more dangerous too. Avoid getting splashes on your skin or in your eyes.

Preventing Future Stains:

To avoid future staining, a good brushing of the toilet once a week will easily dislodge sediment before it has a chance to build up.

If you are on a well water system you can avoid future staining by adding a water softener.