Guide To Temporarily Removing The Hard Water Stains On Your Toilet Bowl

If you live in an area where the water has a large amount of minerals, you probably have a constant ring of buildup in your toilet bowl. Because these stains make it appear as though your toilet is constantly filthy, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to remove them. If so, use the following two steps for temporarily removing the hard water stains caked inside the bowl. 

Soak the Bowl with a Borax and Vinegar Mixture

The first step in removing your toilet bowl's hard water stains is to soak them with a mixture of borax laundry additive and white distilled vinegar. The borax serves as a hard abrasive cleaner, while the vinegar penetrates the mineral deposits to soften them before scrubbing.

To make the mixture, flush your toilet, and let fresh water fully fill the bowl. Then, add a half of a cup of borax to the toilet water. Wear gloves when handling the borax, as it can dry out and irritate your skin. After adding the borax, use a toilet brush to scrub it into the deposits.

After using the brush, add a cup of vinegar to your toilet bowl, pouring it along the sides so it runs into the stains. Let the mixture sit for about an hour without flushing, then go on to the next step.

Scrub the Stains with a Pumice Stone

Once the borax and vinegar mixture has soaked into the hard water stains, don a pair of gloves, and use a pumice stone to scrub away the mineral deposits. The pumice stone is abrasive enough to remove the layers of deposits and gentle enough not to scratch the bowl's porcelain.

As you scrub the stains, use small circular motions to ensure you reach the entire surface. If you find any especially stubborn stains, apply a small amount of borax directly to the stone, then continue scrubbing. Once you are finished, let the water sit for another half an hour before flushing.

While the above method can remove most of the hard water stains on your toilet bowl, the mineral buildup will keep returning, making it necessary to repeat the steps every few weeks. If you wish to avoid these hard water stains in your toilet bowl, as well as on your other fixtures, speak with a contractor, such as from Green Living Water Solutions ,  to see about having a water softener system installed in your home.