How do I get horrendous limescale off my toilet!

[florencebabyjo]

Help please! I have inherited very scaled toilets which are thick with limescale. I have tried caustic soda as well as getting my hands down there with gloves and a scourer. but it won't budge. I have also tried Viakal but that hasn't even begun to shift it. I need some ideas as not sure what to do next.

[TessTackle]

You'll never believe this but Milton sterilising tablets, not the fluid, the tablets. Pop one in there before you go to bed. And then another once everyone's had their morning wees and it can be left for a couple hours. Also helps chucking a couple in the back bit (where the water sits) so it comes down when the loo flushes

[florencebabyjo]

Thanks, I will try it tomorrow. How long does it take? This scale is about 5mm thick!

[GaryBuseysTeeth]

We live in a really hardwater area & the best thing I've found is a pumice stone & elbow grease.

[BillyBanter]

When I've been confronted with encrusted limescale I've scraped off the worst of it with a knife or similar.

[Rattitude]

White vinegar (you can get 5L bottles very cheaply from Chinese shops).

Remove as much of the water from the toilet as you can and then pour some white vinegar down it. You may want to heat it up first so that it is even more effective.

[Chibbs]

harpic is absolutley fab. chuck a load down at night and give it a bloosy good scrub in morning.

[Clobbered]

Recently discovered Cillit Bang limescale remover - haven't tried it on the bog yet, but it's great for taps etc

[southeastastra]

get rid of all the water with a plastic cup then put in bog standard toilet limescale remover (with plastic gloves) then scrub like mad - flush - repeat every four weeks

[stringornothing]

What Southeast / rattitude said - the key is to remove almost all the water and then either refill with vinegar or thick Limelite gel / Viakal. With patience and a few goes it will come off pretty easily. Harpic overnight tablets are sleek good, but it sounds as if you're a bit beyond their power.

[LadyMedea]

Kettle full of hot water and then a Cup of citric acid (online or from brewing shops). Leave for 30mins then gently scrub with plastic scourer. Works just as well as vinegar but you don't have to empty the bowl or deal with vinegar fumes. Environmentally friendly too!

[ZingWantsCake]

if you heat vinegar be careful as it "bubbles up" really quickly near boiling point.

[Showtime]

Ecover Toilet Cleaner was amazingly effective, left overnight 3-4 times, no scrubbing required, and visitors used to ask what I used!

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Limescale is alkaline. To get rid, you need an acid.

Just leave the seat up!

[pickledparsnip]

Showtime I've just stopped using Ecover loo cleaner. Lots of people I know love it, but it just didn't get my loo clean.

[florencebabyjo]

Thanks everyone, just which to try first. I was a bit worried about adding very hot liquids to the loo in case it cracked it or pumice in case it left grey marks. The Viakal I have used already but nothing and have got in there with a scourer and scrubbed till my arms hurt! I do have vinegar and citric acid so will give these a go first, we live on the chalky south downs to think this is going to be ongoing, but need to get this clean first! Thanks again x

[onedogandababy]

Hg professional limescale remover is good as is harpic, but get the stuff in the black bottle which is thick and sits below the water line, otherwise it just dilutes.
Really thick scale can be chipped at with a blunt knife.

[ferrarigirl]

You need to try an electronic water conditioner such as //www.waterimp.co.uk. We bought one 6 years' ago and have not had a problem with limescale since. Takes 20 mins. to install (DIY). There are others on the market too but we have this one and it is brilliant.

[MrsWOLF1]

Coke .. the drink not the substance !!!

[BillyBanter]

Where does the limescale go with one of those? I've always wondered.

[NothingsLeft]

Bumping for betty