Limescale, also known as hard water, occurs when rain, which falls as soft, filters down through the porous rock and picks up hitchhiking minerals like magnesium and calcium along the way. These impurities lead to a build-up of limescale in the bathroom and elsewhere in the home, from around taps and showers to inside washing machines and kettles. It can also build up in toilets where running and standing water is an ever-present element.
Aside from looking awful, unchecked limescale can affect the efficiency of your toilet too. If allowed to build up, it can plug the water portholes under the toilet rim and result in slow, weak flushes.
The good news is that it’s relatively easy to shift with the right home remedy that doesn’t include bleach or, surprisingly, white vinegar. Taking to her Instagram page @jottiesjournal, cleaning influencer Jo Taylor-Tunnicliffe has shared a “great naturally powerful” household item to remove toilet limescale – citric acid.
She said: “Citric acid is a great naturally powerful product to remove both limescale and mould, making it perfect for our toilets.”
To clean around the rim of the toilet, Jo diluted two tablespoons of citric acid in warm water before pouring it into a spray bottle.
To remove the limescale from the bottom of the toilet bowl, the cleaning prodded two tablespoons and left the product to sit for 15 minutes.
Citric acid can be picked up from B&Q for just £2.25, from Robert Dyas for £3.59 or from Amazon for £6.99 for a pack of two.
Taking to the comments section, fellow cleaning fanatics shared their thoughts on this limescale removal tip.
@cleanwith_jade wrote: “Citric acid is such an incredible product.”
@laofrenchie said: “Love this hack.”
@sabs.home commented: “Never would have thought to do this.”
@allthingsfi_ said: “Definitely need to try the citric acid in the spray bottle, fab tip.”
Citric acid also works on kettle limescale (Image: Getty)
One user claimed that citric acid works amazingly for kettle limescale.
@juneade2 wrote: “Brilliant at getting rid of limescale in the kettle too! Boil a full kettle, place near the sink and pour in two teaspoons of citric acid.
“Then watch it all bubble up and remove all traces of limescale. Since you haven’t used any harsh or dangerous chemicals, you only need to empty out the solution and give it a rinse.”
Even Queen of Clean Lynsey Crombie recommends using citric acid to remove toilet limescale – and she prefers it to bleach.
She explained: “Citric acid will break down limescale and remove the brown marks. Bleach just masks these marks for a few days and doesn’t actually remove it.”
Alternatively, cleaning enthusiasts can use a pumice stone to remove toilet limescale.
Jen Needham, also known as the Cleaning Fairy Godmother, said it’s the best way to remove limescale.
She said: “Remove the water from the bottom of the toilet by pushing it out with a toilet brush. Then, gently go over the marks with a pumice stone and it will get through them perfectly.”
Pumice stones for toilets can be bought from B&Q for 6.99 or Amazon for £5.49.
