Have you ever scrubbed your toilet tirelessly, only to find stubborn hard water stains still clinging to its surface? It can be frustrating, but fear not! We have the solution to make your toilet sparkle again.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to effectively tackle hard water stains using a dynamic duo: vinegar and baking soda. Say goodbye to those unsightly marks and hello to a pristine toilet bowl.
Discover the expert techniques recommended by reliable house cleaners, as we share their secrets to effortlessly removing hard water stains. Get ready to restore your toilet’s shine and enjoy a fresh, clean bathroom once again.
First, what are hard water stains?
Hard water stains form due to the high mineral content in the water. When the water runs through your toilet, some of the minerals get stuck on the bowl surface, leaving it stained.
While the most common hard water stains look chalky white or brownish, they come in other colors, such as pink, red, orange, black, blue, or green. So if you see stains from one of these less common colors, don’t fret! All it changes are the type of minerals being left behind.
Since these stains are mostly minerals, acidic cleaners are the best thing you can use to remove them. For example, the most popular ones are muriatic acid and CLR.
Do you prefer greener solutions?
Commercial cleaners do work and are generally more potent. However, hard water stains are usually easy to clean, and such chemically heavy products can be a bit overkill.
The good thing is chemical cleaners are not the only option! If you prefer greener products, you can skip the trip to the store and use vinegar and baking soda instead.
With these products, there are fewer health risks, and they’re better for the environment—a nice bonus is that it’s generally cheaper since you likely already have them at home.
Five steps to clean hard water stains with vinegar and baking soda
The reason vinegar works to dissolve minerals is due to its acidic nature. Plus, mixed with the baking soda that loosens up greasy or oily stains, your toilet will surely be shiny and clean in no time.
If you’ve chosen to go for the vinegar and baking soda method, follow these instructions:
Step 1. Pour vinegar into the bowl
Start by pouring two cups of white vinegar and let it rest for one minute. Don’t flush! There’s more to be done yet.
Step 2. Add baking soda to the mix
Pour one cup of baking soda into the bowl and add two more cups of vinegar; the mix will start to fizz. Leave it like that for ten minutes without flushing.
Step 3. Use a toilet brush to swish and brush the solution
After the allotted time has passed, get the solution everywhere with the help of a toilet brush. Swish the liquid over the bowl surfaces and ensure it gets to even the highest stains.
Step 4. Wait and rinse
Now comes the easiest part. Give the solution thirty minutes to work, then flush the toilet to rinse.
Step 5. Scrub with a pumice stone (optional)
Do stains remain after you’ve cleaned the toilet? They might not even be from hard water! But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean there’s no way for them to come off. For example, you can use a pumice stone.
To use this method in your toilet, thoroughly wet the stone and toilet bowl. Then, put in a bit of elbow grease and scrub the toilet.
Note: When using this stone, always wear gloves to avoid hurting your hands.
Why not leave this task to the pros?
Cleaning the toilet is nobody’s favorite task, so why waste the opportunity of skipping it? With the help of 4 Senses House Cleaning, getting the toilet clean won’t be on your to-do list anymore.
