Cleaning your toilet is one of the most dreaded chores in the home, but it can be quick and easy to clean without any fuss if you use the right products. 

Toilets tend to be tricky to keep clean if there is any limescale at the bottom of the bowl, which is a tough brown stain that comes from minerals in evaporated water.

Not only does limescale look awful but if allowed to build up it can get into the pipes, which can make flushing less effective and cause clogs. 

However, there is no need to worry as Sara McFall, a cleaning expert and founder of My Merry Messy Life has shared that the best natural way to clean a toilet to remove limescale is to use Castile soap. 

Sara said: “Castile Soap is traditionally made from Olive Oil and comes from the Castile region of Spain, which is where it derives its name. 

“Today it is also made from coconut, castor and hemp oils. It is free of animal fats, making it vegan, and free from synthetic ingredients, making it environmentally friendly and biodegradable. 

“It is also a gently surfactant, unlike harsh ones such as sodium laureth sulfate that strip your hair and skin of its natural protective oils (like sebum).”

Castile soap is made from oils and contains surfactants which are designed to lift dirt and any other grime stuck on your toilet. 

It is gentle on surfaces but is still very effective at cutting through limescale as it can break down the minerals in the stain to make it easier to remove them. 

How to clean your toilet and get rid of limescale

You will need: 

• 60g of liquid castile soap
• Two tablespoons of baking soda 
• Eight to 10 drops of essential oil

Castile soap will work best when mixed with baking soda as it is a naturally scrubbing agent which will help loosen the limescale and any other stains. 

Essential oils help deodorise the toilet and make it smell lovely so it is recommended to use lemon, tea tree, lavender or eucalyptus.

However, be aware that some essential oils can be toxic to pets so do your research before cleaning with them if you own a cat or dog. 

Method

All you need to do is mix the liquid castile soap, baking soda and essential oil with 420ml of water.

Once you have a paste, pour the solution into an empty squeeze bottle. 

Then simply squirt the solution around your toilet bowl. Give it a few minutes to have time to break down your limescale and then wipe the stains away with a toilet brush. 

The limescale stains should be completely gone so you have a sparkling clean toilet.