Salt to Remove Hard Water & Rust Stains in a Toilet

Vinegar and borax will remove hard water stains.

One eyesore that can instantly ruin the look of a bathroom is a toilet stained by hard water or rust. Over time, mineral deposits can accumulate and oxidation can occur, which leads to these types of marks on your commode. Luckily, you can remove both hard water stains and rust by using salt along with some other inexpensive household products. The salt acts as a gentle abrasive that helps to remove stains.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Borax
• Nylon scrub pad
• Powdered citrus drink

Instructions

1. Turn off the shut-off valve -- normally in a clockwise direction -- to stop the flow of water to the toilet. This valve is located near the wall, usually behind the toilet.

2. Flush the commode.

3. Spray white vinegar onto the inner surfaces of the toilet.

4. Sprinkle salt and then borax powder over the vinegar and let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes.

5. Scrub off the area with a stiff nylon scrub pad.

6. Sprinkle some more salt and then some powdered citrus drink mix on any rust stains and allow them to sit for one hour.

7. Scrub off the powder, salt and the rust with a nylon scrub pad.

References

• "How the Queen Cleans Everything"; Linda Cobb; 2002
• Mrs. Clean: Cleaning Mineral Deposits