Brown limescale in toilet bowl

[Peskytooth]

Just moved in and I’ve previously lived in areas without hard water so haven’t had this problem before. The toilet bowl under the water is completely brown and seems like thick limescale. How do I get rid of it!? Bleach just seems to lighten the colour of it temporarily and I’ve also tried some vinegar and baking soda which made no difference either. Please help me- it’s gross!

I did all those tricks above except the coke and it didn’t work for me, somehow I couldn’t get the white vinegar to stick where I needed it etc. I ended up taking out the water, putting on my marigolds and rubbing carefully with a copper 2p coin. That worked but took hours. Good luck

I use the HG toilet restorer kit which I found worked really well.

I used a brillo pad on the rim. That worked great. Better than a hard toilet scourer thing I spent 5.00 on.

You can get pumice stone cleaners for toilets on Amazon. This worked to remove a hard water ring from my toilet and didn't scratch it.

Another vote for the white vinegar method from me

Or you could just turn off the water supply and flush it. Then you won't be mopping the floor with loo soaked mop later.

Pink stuff paste works on ours and regular bleaching

I've said this before but it was a tip on here that suggested I use a 2p piece to rub the brown discolouration away. I'd tried a variety of potions before but nothing worked. The 2p did!

Ok so I got as far as (I think) turning the water off. But then I flushed and the toilet bowl didn’t magically empty… do I need to get a bucket out? Or is there a nicer way?

No need to empty the bowl of water or scrub by hand you just need the harpic tablets, throw one in the loo and leave for a couple of hours, quick scrub with a loo brush, job done. Might need a second treatment if it's really bad but they work a treat. Use the liquid around the bowl and your loo will be pristine.

groceries.asda.com/product/toilet-cleaners-rimblocks-gels/harpic-power-plus-toilet-cleaner-tablets/910001176678

You either use the brush to force the water out or use a cup e.g. cut the bottom from a plastic coke bottle.

Then use the 100% lime scale harpic leave overnight then use the brush to remove the limescale.

It's not cola you want, it's fizzy lemonade. Couple of bottles of supermarket cheapest and it works a treat. I use it for getting limescale marks out of glass vases.

Kilrock is the best I have used in a similar situation to OP, it's powerful stuff. Then maintain with Domestos Zero which also works well under the rim.

A bottle of vinegar. Tip it all in before you go to work & flush when you come home. That should do it, if not, repeat the next day.

P.s. the house will smell like a chip shop for a day or two.

You need Kilrock Spirit of Salts.

Nothing else will touch the sides, haha. One bottle and it will be good as new. Wear gloves, open a window to let the fumes out.

It is The Business.

You need these, leave overnight or when going out for the full day as needs to sit in toilet for a many hours.

The brown/smell is staining from urine. You need to completely remove the limescale or it will come back.

Acid will dissolve it which is what all the vinegar, coke, various products etc are. Dilute acid ie mixed with toilet bowl water is ok if it isn't that thick. But if it's a thick layer, then you'll need stronger acid.

The caustic soda works best but it's very dangerous if it gets on your skin etc.

I normally just push the water past the bottom with a toilet brush. A tiny bit will remain but that's ok.

You can always try products, vinegar, coke or whatever in the water first. If that's not enough try emptying water and/or stronger acid.

If you don't want to use acid then it's physically chiselling as others say but be careful as you can damage the porcelain.

Once the thick layer is gone keep on top of it building up and it won't come back.

What worked when we moved into our house that doesn't involve getting rid of the water- take a dishwasher tablet, get the rubber gloves on and rub the stain with the dishwasher tablet. Worked an absolute treat!

FYI I have 3 clean toilets! The first 2 I turned the water off, emptied out most of it and chucked half a bottle or harpic down there. A couple of hours later and it all scrubbed off fairly easily with a toilet brush. The third wasn’t shifting so I got a rubber glove on and a 2p and scraped at it til the limescale came off in great big chunks. Disgusting but it’s done now. Thank you everyone for the advice!

Glad you now have 3 sparkling loos - much cheaper than replacing them.

I used a Sainsbury's own brand timescale remover for this which was very effective.

Spirits of Salt. You'll have a sparkling clean toilet bowl.

Citric acid, like magic. I buy 2kg food grade packs on Amazon. Sprinkle a good few spoons in the bowl, leave overnight and then rub off with toilet brush. Guarantee you it will go. You can also use it to descale your kettle and anything else. Shower heads etc.

it’s what is in most of the products that are sold as limescale removers. But 1/10th of the price.

Denture tablets are great too, pop a couple in the loo at night, they'll dissolve in the water and then in the morning give it a little scrub with the toilet brush and your loo will be sparkling!