The most common ways to remove limescale from a toilet bowl is by using bleach, white vinegar, or lemon juice.
Limescale is a common, but unsightly, problem. Limescale builds up around bathroom units when water containing calcium and magnesium deposits evaporates. This forms the hard white crust we call limescale. All toilets can develop limescale, but it’s most common in hard water regions, such as the midlands in the UK.
Thankfully, limescale can be easily and affordably removed, and there are several different ways to manage it.
How to clean limescale from your toilet
All the following techniques involve pouring cleaning solutions into the toilet, which can be done when the toilet bowl is full. However, if you need a stronger deep-clean, you can empty the toilet bowl beforehand when using white vinegar or lemon juice.
The best way to remove limescale from a toilet bowl is often with toilet bleach. It’s a strong chemical which works to erode the built-up limescale around the bowl. When using bleach, keep the windows open, try to avoid inhaling it, and wear rubber gloves as it can damage your skin and lungs. Pour the bleach around the toilet bowl, ensuring the limescale is fully covered. Leave it to work for about half an hour and then flush the toilet. Use some elbow grease and a toilet brush for any stubborn areas.
Another way to clean limescale is with white vinegar. Pour about 250ml over the limescale and leave it for a long time – ideally overnight. Then use a toilet brush to break up the remaining limescale before flushing.
While some suggest using a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar for descaling a toilet bowl, these ingredients neutralise each other so this isn’t going to be as effective as just using vinegar alone.
The final method we would suggest for managing limescale is using lemon juice. As with the other methods, first cover the limescale thoroughly with about 100ml of lemon juice. Then leave for about 20-30 minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush and flushing. If this doesn’t work, you can repeat these steps and leave the lemon juice on for longer.
Browse our range of toilets available on our website, or find more bathroom cleaning tips via our inspire page.