Really disgusting limescale situation in toilet - heeeeelllllp

[Lukesmammy]

We have recently been away from home for 3 months staying with relatives while my hubby was away on a work course. When we have come back, the upstairs loo is a horrible dark brown colour. It wasn't like this before we left. It's like all of the white bit under the water is now stained with a reddish brown iykwim?

I am assuming its limescale build up from not having been flushed for 3 months (we live in a hard water area).

I have bleached which made no difference, used those disposable brush thingymajigs - again no difference and also bought some of those fizzy harpic powerplus 100% limescale remover tablets that you shove in overnight and it removed 0%

Any ideas??? It looks positively disgusting and I have resorted to shutting the door on it and insisting everybody use the downstairs loo as I can't stand looking at it!!!

[ecoworrier]

Leave vinegar (the cheapest possible, those huge containers of spiced vinegar are great!) in overnight, or a few hours at least. Scrub vigorously with long-handled washing-up brush. Flush. Repeat until all limescale gone.

This has worked in houses we've bought that have been empty up to 9 months.

[SaintGeorge]

Try to get as much water out of the loo first, then the vinegar is even more effective.

A good few rams with the loo brush into the bend normally drains the majority away.

[welshmum]

Drain loo, pour in coca cola, leave overnight, scrub, done.

[AnnabelCaramel]

It could be rust, if a bolt or something is in the cistern or elsewhere. If so, find and remove the offending metal object or it might happen again!

[Lukesmammy]

Thanks Ladies will try all of the above! Not at the same time obv but will start with cola idea first as have that in the house.

Only a small, half full bottle of Sarsons in the kitchen cupboards so don't think that would be enough!

[Lukesmammy]

Atch, never thought about sommat being in the toliet too - will check for that - thanks Annabel, as strangely, our downstaits toilet isn't affected at all and was left for the same length of time.........

[PrincessPeaHead]

there is some killer stuff you can buy called viakal
fantastic

probably awful environmentally tho

[southeastastra]

i wouldn't faff about with vinegar or coke either. empty the water out and bung in some hard core limescale remover.

[ecoworrier]

I think it's more faff to drain the water away. I've never needed to do that.