Help with vile toilet

[UnconsideredTrifles]

When we bought the house, the toilet bowl was stained brown. I've tried bleach, scrubbing and a range of toilet cleaners, but nothing's shifting it. DH thinks the colour is a reaction to something in the pipes, rather than excrement (and I hope he's right!) - but does anyone have any idea how to make it white again?!

[StephenBelafonte]

Sounds like the brown stuff could be limescale. Have you tried using a bleach block in the cistern. Also, "Blue Aroma" is really good, a capful every night.

Just found this www.thesun.co.uk/sun-selects/9977740/best-toilet-cleaner/ and i pretty much agree with all of it, having lived in a lot of different rental houses in my youth.

[Caeruleanblue]

I got caustic soda - emptied the bowl using a towel, poured in soda and left a couple of days. Not sure if you can buy it now but something strong should be available somewhere.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

My DD bought a house years ago with a toilet like this in the end she got some very strong stuff that needed to be left in over night. It took several goes but worked. I think it was a case of the brown stuff adhering to the lime scale. I think there are some fuzzing bath bomb type things which will also do it.

People at the time suggested using Coca-Cola but this didn't touch it in case anyone was thinking if suggesting that. Scrubbing us no use either.

[UnconsideredTrifles]

Thank you! I will try everything and report back!

[AlCalavicci]

Is the staining above the water line?
If so block the toilet ( carefully! ) with something like a mop old large towel then fill the bowl with hot but not boiling water and add either washing powder, or caustic soda. ( you may need to desolve them in very hot water before adding to the bowl) leave for as long as possible, pee in a bucket / bath / shower if needed.

[DangerMouse17]

You need viakal. Take out as much water as poss, chuck the viakal down it and leave for several hours. Then scrub.

[TiddyMc]

The power bleach in the black bottle worked for us! Miracle!

[sqirrelfriends]

I had this in a rental once, it was a hard water area and the limescale had covered the whole of the bowl.

Vikal worked above the water line so I got some of those tablets you can use to descale kettles etc and put them in the water. It took a few goes but we got there in the end.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

I expect it’s limescale. You can chip it off in chunks.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Sounds like scale. You need Kilrock. Absolutely amazing

[Longdistance]

Domestos bleach with limescale remover 👌🏼
Worked on removing limescale from shower tray, bath, taps and loo. You can’t leave it on the silver plug holes or fixings for too long otherwise it’ll tarnish slightly.

[girlcrushonvillanelle]

Definitely caustic soda!! It's evil stuff mind

[Fredella]

White vinegar could do the trick. Needs to be left a few hours though:overnight if you can.

[SlopesOff]

Spirits of Salts. Do not inhale it. Pour it in, about a third of a small bottle and less of a big one, shut toilet, leave the room while holding breath. Leave it for about half an hour, flush.

If it isn't gone, repeat.

[Whenlifegivesyoulimoncello]

It’s limescale but a big build up will probably need caustic soda rather than just the black Hapric (though I’d buy that as well to keep it gone).

[BloomedAgain]

Is caustic soda the same as soda crystals?

[Redcrayons]

White vinegar worked for me.
Pump the water with a toilet brush to get as much out as possible
Pour the whole bottle down
Leave overnight
Scrub with the toilet brush

You might need a couple of goes if it’s really bad.

A word of warning. DO NOT use more than one of the above at the same time. It can be really dangerous.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

@BloomedAgain

Is caustic soda the same as soda crystals?

No. Caustic soda is lethal. It will burn your skin to the bone. Good for drains.

[Hodgewell1]

I second whoever said domestos zero lime scale toilet cleaner. It’s in a black bottle and smells unpleasant but works really well

[PlayerOneNotReady]

Try these Astonish
Cheesy name, but they really work well, and cost a couple of quid for a box of ten. My local hardware shop sells them (I live in a hard-water area) so have you tried asking locally?

[hiredandsqueak]

Spirit of salts will clear it' Leave it for as long as possible before flushing if the loo is particularly bad.

[cadentiasidera]

Our toilet gets stained because of limescale. I've recently discovered the effectiveness of citric acid, available in a box from Wilko. Pour a kettle of boiling water down the loo, then if it's bad the whole box of citric acid. Leave for a couple of hours or overnight. Scrub if needed - the first time I did it most of the scale had come off/dissolved but there was some that I had to chip off too!

[BloomedAgain]

Thanks @DobbyTheHouseElk. Need to find some caustic soda!

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

@BloomedAgain

Thanks *@DobbyTheHouseElk*. Need to find some caustic soda!

Be careful with it! It gets very hot when it comes into contact with water. Works well, but v dangerous.

Hardware store will stock it. Not expensive.

[Gwenhwyfar]

I have some stains as well.
I have tried
white vinegar overnight, bleach and scrubbing with a pumice stone and none of them have worked at all. You definitely can't chip it off as someone mentioned above. I've also read that coke doesn't work for this kind of thing. I doubt viakal or kettle descaler would work as they do the same thing as vinegar for limescale.

I have some caustic soda and haven't tried that. I'm also a bit wary of swtiching off the water in case I can't get it back on.