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. Alone or together, they can be used to clean laundry, remove pet odors, and even remove hard water stains. And the best part? They are free of toxic chemicals and harsh fragrances.

If you are sensitive to the smell of vinegar, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the bottle before pouring it in your toilet. Your whole bathroom will smell just the way you like it.

1. Pour the Vinegar

   Pour about 2 cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl. Give the vinegar and water a good swish with the toilet brush, making sure to cover any hard water stains that you can see. Let it sit for about 1 minute.

2. Add the Baking Soda

   Add about 1 cup of baking soda to the toilet bowl, then add another 1 to 2 cups of vinegar. You should see and hear some fizzing action—this means that it's working! Let the solution sit and fizz for about ten minutes.

3. Swish 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 good elbow grease here, but don't go overboard, as you don't want to scratch the ceramic inside the toilet. Be sure to pay extra close attention to any stains sitting above the water line. Don't flush yet.

4. Let the Solution Sit

   Let the vinegar and soda solution sit for up to 30 minutes. If there are any stains above the water line, it would be helpful to go over them with your toilet brush one or two more times. One final scrub before you flush should remove any still stuck stains. Flush to rinse.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains With Bon Ami and Vinegar

Invented back in 1886, Bon Ami is versatile household-staple that was originally created to replace harsh quartz-based powder cleanser. Today, it can be used for a variety of purposes around your home, and is especially effective at eliminating hard water stains. If you don't have baking soda to combine with vinegar, you can substitute it with Bon Ami.

1. Pour the Bon Ami

   Pour 1/4 cup of Bon Ami into the toilet bowl and swish it around with a toilet brush.

2. Add the Vinegar

   Add 1 cup of vinegar and allow the mixture to sit in the bowl for about 20 minutes.

3. Scrub the Bowl

   Finish by scrubbing the bowl with a toilet brush to remove the stains. Flush the toilet to rinse.

How to Remove Hard Water Stains With Borax Paste

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

1. Shut Off and Flush

   Begin by shutting off the toilet's water valve, and then flush the toilet to drain the bowl. To apply the borax paste correctly, the toilet must be void of water.

2. Make the Paste

   Once your toilet is empty, make the paste by mixing 1/2 cup of Borax and 1/4 cup vinegar until thick.

3. Spread the Paste

   Once you've made the paste, spread it directly onto the hard water stains in the toilet until they are covered completely.

4. Let It Sit

   Allow the paste to sit on the stains for 15 to 20 minutes.

5. Remove the Paste

   After 15-20 minutes, remove the paste (and the stains underneath) by scrubbing with a stiff-bristled nylon brush or scrubbing sponge. Flush the toilet to rinse.

Tips for Preventing and Removing Hard Water Stains in a Toilet

• Regular maintenance will prevent extra stubborn stains. Consider deep cleaning your toilet with baking soda, vinegar, and/or Bon Ami biweekly while stains are still relatively new.
• While it's unusual to need them, stronger chemical cleaners are available to remove hard water stains. Remember that these products are often harmful to the environment and your health, so consider all other options before rushing to buy them.