How to Remove Hard Water Stains in a Porcelain Toilet

Hard water stains accumulate in porcelain toilet bowls.

Hard water stains are a common problem in porcelain toilets. After you flush the toilet, the bowl refills with fresh water. In households with hard water issues, the ring around the top of the fill line often leaves a dirty looking hard water stain around the toilet bowl. To remove these hard water stains, you need to simply combine a few ingredients that are most likely already in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Paper towels
• Toilet bowl brush
• Bowl

Instructions

1. Fill a bowl with 1 cup of white vinegar.

2. Place 4 paper towels in the vinegar, allowing them to saturate completely.

3. Turn off the water to your toilet. Flush the toilet to empty it of water.

4. Lift the toilet lid, open the paper towels, and lay them around the top of the toilet bowl. Let them sit for 20 minutes.

5. Scrub the toilet with a toilet bowl brush, and all residue will easily be removed.

6. Turn the water to the toilet back on.

7. Flush the toilet to rinse away the hard water residue and vinegar.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternatively, pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the toilet bowl, and let it sit overnight. The vinegar will raise the fluid level line slightly, allowing it to break up the hard water ring with ease. Scrub the bowl with the toilet brush and flush the toilet the following morning.

References

• Creative Homemaking: Removing Hard Water Stains from Toilet