How to Remove Hard Water Stains in Your Toilet Bowl

How to Remove Hard Water Stains With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are two of the most common and versatile household products, and they serve as powerful, non-toxic cleaners for getting rid of brown hard water stains in toilets.

1. Pour Vinegar in the Toilet Bowl

   Pour about two cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl. Give the vinegar and water a good swish with the toilet brush, making sure to cover any visible hard water stains. Let it sit for about one minute.

   Tip

   If you are sensitive to the smell of vinegar, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the toilet bowl.

2. Add the Baking Soda

   Add about one cup of baking soda to the toilet bowl, then add another one to two cups of vinegar. You should hear some fizzing. Let the solution sit for about ten minutes.

3. Scrub With a Toilet Brush

   Using a clean toilet brush, scrub the sides of the toilet with the baking soda and vinegar solution.

   • You'll need to use some elbow grease here, but be careful not to scratch the ceramic.
   • Pay close attention to any stains sitting above the water line.
   • Don't flush quite yet.

4. Let the Solution Sit

   Let the vinegar and baking soda sit for up to 30 minutes.

   • If there are stains above the water line, consider scrubbing them with your toilet brush one or two more times.
   • One final scrub before you flush should remove any leftover stains.
   • As a final step, simply flush to rinse.

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How to Remove Hard Water Stains With Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend

Bon Ami is a household-staple that was originally created in 1886 to replace harsh quartz-based powder cleansers. Bar Keepers Friend originated as a powdered cleanser that removes everything from rust to soap scum, but today it is a well-known brand that encompasses a range of commercial cleaning products.

Both Bon Ami and Bar Keepers Friend are powerful cleaners that can be used for a variety of purposes, including eliminating hard water stains.

1. For particularly stubborn stains, turn off the water valve to your toilet. Be sure to flush to empty the toilet bowl before you proceed to the steps below.
2. Pour one quarter cup of Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend into the toilet bowl. Use a toilet brush to swish around the cleaner. If you turned off the water valve and flushed, use the remaining water and powder cleanser to form a paste you can spread across the toilet bowl surface. Allow the cleanser to sit undisturbed in the toilet bowl for 20 minutes.
3. After the solution has sat for some time, scrub the bowl thoroughly with a toilet brush. While it's important to clean the whole toilet bowl to prevent buildup, spend a little extra time scrubbing the hard water stains that are currently present.
4. Finally, flush the toilet to rinse. If you emptied the toilet bowl of water, don't forget to turn the water valve back on first.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains With Borax Paste

In the case of a very persistent stain, a homemade borax paste may be effective. Apply the paste directly onto the stain, rather than filling the toilet bowl with a liquid mixture, as a more concentrated option for removing hard water stains.

1. To apply the borax paste correctly, the toilet must be void of water. Begin by shutting off the water valve and flushing the toilet to drain the bowl.
2. Next, create your cleaning solution. Mix half a cup of borax and one quarter cup of vinegar to create a thick paste.
3. Spread the paste directly onto the hard water stains. Make sure the stains are completely covered, then leave the paste to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Scrub the paste into the toilet bowl with a stiff-bristled nylon brush or scrubbing sponge. Make sure you focus on the areas where there is significant buildup.
5. To finish, turn back on the water valve. Flush the toilet to rinse out the bowl.

Tips for Preventing and Removing Hard Water Stains in a Toilet

• Practice regular weekly maintenance to prevent extra stubborn stains.
• Deep clean your toilet biweekly while stains are still relatively new.
• Install a water softener to prevent hard water buildup.
• If necessary, you can consider stronger chemical cleaners to remove hard water stains but remember that these products are often harmful to the environment and your health.