Whenever any surface is exposed to hard water for a long time, it gets stained slowly by slowly, to the point at which it soaks in a new layer, forming a permanent stain that is very unsightly.
This is the reason why you see toilet bowls, showers, sinks and faucets discoloring from their original color to having a whitish-yellow or even a rusty surface that is very difficult to clean.
However, this problem is usually worse when it comes to toilets because they always exposed to a lot of fluids and they hold some water continuously inside the bowl.
If you happen to experience this, you can clean toilet hard water stains using the following procedures.
Scrub using a brush
At times, the stain might not be permanently attached to the toilet and a simple scrub will do. Simply use the regular toilet cleaning detergents or formulas as the first step. If the stains persist, proceed to the steps below.
Vinegar and baking soda
These two are the most commonly used household products to deal with a number of stains and thus, they might as well be used to get rid of hard water stains in the toilet.
Basically, all you need to do is to pour a cup of vinegar into the bowl and swish it around using the toilet brush, add about a cupful of baking soda into the bowl and allow the fizzing to take place for about 10 minutes, then swish the solution across the whole toilet bowl’s inner surface while scrubbing a little bit using the toilet brush.
Vinegar and borax
Borax is also a very effective multi-purpose cleaning product that can also be used to clear toilet stains. Simply pour about a quarter cupful of it to the toilet bowl then swish it around.
Next, pour a cupful of vinegar and let the mix stay in the bowl for about 20 minutes. Complete the procedure by scrubbing the bowl to remove any stains.
Chemicals (HCL Acid)
If all other solutions don’t work, HCL acid will surely get rid of the stains. This chemical is actually used to get rid of the stains in ceramics and thus, it is very effective. However, acid is harmful and thus, it must be handled with care. Because of this, you will need a pair of gloves so as not to damage your skin.
It is important to note that you should empty the bowl so that the acid is not diluted with water, then pour in the acid and swish it around using the toilet brush for about 4-5 minutes. After this, flush the toilet and you will be good to go.
Use sandpaper
This is the final solution that you can use to deal with the toughest of stains. The best option would be to get an extra-fine-grit wet sandpaper for the job and a pair of gloves before getting down to work.
However, it is important to note that you should never scrub the porcelain when dry because you will scratch it. Keep the surface wet at all times as you scrub off the stains.
Conclusion
Even with all these proven cleaning formulas, the best way to maintain your toilet is by cleaning it regularly.
This will prevent the buildup of these hard water stains and in the process, get rid of the need to go through this extra mile of cleaning your toilet and also get rid of the need to buy expensive cleaning chemicals, which can be harmful to the environment.
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