Cleaning an ancient toilet

[Handyweatherstation]

Me and him rent and most of the fittings are quite dated. Think 1980s kitchen sort of thing. We're okay with that and quite like the old fashioned look, it's the toilet which is the issue. I recently discovered that it's Art-Deco, meaning it was made 1920s-1930s, and despite regular loo cleaner, bleach and scrubbing sessions, it is so bloody difficult to keep clean!

Any recommendations for miracle toilet cleaning product out there, please?

When we bought our house one of the Loo's had inch thick limescale under the waterline.

I used an old cup to get most of the water out, then poured in a bottle of white vinegar and left overnight.

Next day I prodded with a stick and it all broke away and dissolved!

I find black harpic works best, I always leave it overnight. They also do some fizzy tablets, but these weren't as good as I was hoping.

Another vote for white vinegar

Don’t know if you can still buy vim. It’s a powder you use with water and scrub. It’s very effective.

I tackled a disgusting loo in one of my DD’s flats. I used 2 Harpic tablets , overnight for 3 nights plus a bottle of Harpic loo cleaner by day each day. It cleaned up beautifully!

I remember Vim. Thing is, this toilet may be 100 years old and the glaze is wearing thin, so I'm wary of scrubbing with something abrasive.

Vim is about 100 years old too. Doubt it’s easy to find now, my local hardware shop sells it. It’s not that abrasive.

Bit grim but could you post a photo? Might be easier to help if we can see what kind of staining

I feared someone would ask this 😂

Okay, here it is. Bear in mind it was thoroughly bleached a couple of days ago and has been scrubbed to within an inch of its life. Some of the grot is worn glaze but it's the other stuff that won't come off.

You need to get the water out first. Then use the harpic extra strength black bottle or tablets. This works very well but you need to scoop all the water out of the bottom first.

Thanks, cansu. I've just got some 'HG Toilet Cleaner Gel Super Powerful' which looks like strong stuff. Hadn't come across it before. I'll empty out the pan and see what it does. What do you reckon - overnight, longer?

I'd go for overnight, but bear in mind that a toilet pan of great age will have lost some of its glazing, which is one of the reasons the staining is happening. The rougher unglazed surface picks up the limescale and dirt particles better. Definitely upgrade to the HG toilet renovation kit if the gel gets you nowhere.