[**guest**]

I have hard water. Stains (mineral. Almost looks like pale rust) build up in the toilet after just a week. Regular non disposable toilet brushes don't work on it. I've been buying plain scrubbing sponges and using those. They do work...but I'm getting tired and grossed out sticking my (gloved) hand in the toilet to clean it. (yes, I do drain the bowl as much as possible but it doesn't empty completely).

So, I'm looking for something that will work just as well or better. Do those toilet wands with the disposable scrubbers work? I don't want to waste my money if they don't even work.

Oh, and I use baking soda and vinegar to clean. I'm open to using Bon Ami if anyone thinks it works better than the baking soda route.

Thanks!

 

[AlexisT]

Cheap method, always worth trying: Half a lemon. You need acid to break down the limescale.

If that doesn't work (and it doesn't for me because our water is hard as nails) you need to find toilet bowl cleaner with limescale remover. Don't use this if your dog drinks out of the toilet though--it's got strong acid in it!

 

[Naturalyst]

Citric acid (a.k.a. sour salt) will remove limescale. While it is sold as a food item, you don't need food grade for your purpose and can buy the cheaper, industrial grade. If you don't have a local source for chemicals, you can find it online sold by soap making suppliers (used for making bath fizz bombs), by chemical suppliers, and by amazon.com. Citric Acid is the main ingredient in CLR, a popular limescale remover product.

If you can, turn off the water to your toilet and flush to empty the bowl. Then, scrub with the citric acid. Use a toilet brush - no need to stick your hands in the bowl.

 

[**guest**]

What kind of places sell Citric Acid? Home Depot? Lowes?

 

[**guest**]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexisT Don't use this if your dog drinks out of the toilet though--it's got strong acid in it!

I don't have pets. Although I wonder about the safety of using something really strong around my child. (which is why I tend to stick with baking soda and vinegar).

 

[EricaLeigh]

I use a pumice stone on the rust stains. Just go easy with it.

 

[**guest**]

I think I'd be too afraid to use a pumice. I rent an apt...so I can't afford to ruin it by mistake.

 

[momto l&a]

Pumice stones wont damage, or at least I have never seen them damage a toilet.

I have found however that brushing the toilet every day or 2 keeps the deposits from forming in the toilet.

 

[kellid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLeigh I use a pumice stone on the rust stains. Just go easy with it.

I second this. It doesn't scratch like you think it would, AT ALL. It works very well. You should try it. Cheap, easy, SAFE!

 

[**guest**]

Cool. I have a pumice stone that I don't use so I'll try it. But...um...the thought of keeping the stone to use next time grosses me out.
I'm a germaphobe.

 

[Aeress]

I've tried everything and i had to resort to buying an actual cleaner. The work...found in dollar general and different stores...usually .99

I also buy the thing that goes in the tank.

We have bad rust but are working on dealing with that at the source.

 

[**guest**]

Thanks everyone! I'll let ya all know how it works out. heh heh.

 

[RAF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendon I also buy the thing that goes in the tank.

Would you mind sharing what the thing is that goes into the tank and what it is for? Thanks

 

[**guest**]

I'm guessing it's one of those chemical things that are supposed to keep the bowl clean/deodorized.

 

[RAF]

Have you heard of the chem free mineral magnets? They are supposed to go in the tank and draw the minerals to them and will keep the deposits from forming on the toilet bowl and tank. I just found out about them doing a search. You need to get the existing deposits off before you start using the magnets though. One link I found said they now sell these magnets at home depot and supposedly they work really well and are safe for septic systems.

 

[RAF]

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/ch...t-cleaner.html
Here is a link to the product.

 

[prettymom]

I use to scratch off the rust stains with a knife. It took forever. Then I bought "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner. It isn't exactly a natural approach, but it took the rust right off, no work on my part.

 

[KMK_Mama]

If you go to a janitorial supply store you can get a scrubber to take off stains in the toilet. My Mom just got me one and it took the ring around the toilet off in just minutes without scratching.

 

[zeldabee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OdeToJoy What kind of places sell Citric Acid? Home Depot? Lowes?

You can use lemonade flavor Kool-Aid. Not the kind with the sugar (obviously).

 

[celestialdreamer]

If you can find a way to get the stain off (pumice, scrubber, cleaner, whatever works), then if you clean daily it won't come back. In the morning after I take a shower I dump a little baking soda in the toilet and scrub it around and we never have a ring in it anymore. Takes less than a minute!