If you have ever noticed chalky discoloured staining in a toilet bowl then it is likely mineral build-up from water evaporation, which causes hard water stains to form on the surface. 

Francesca, a cleaning expert and founder of Thoroughly Modern Grandma, has shared that hard water stains, also known as limescale, can be really tough to clean unless you use the right product. 

She said: “The biggest problem with keeping your loo looking clean and sparkly is usually due to mineral deposits, because once they start to build up they will stain your loo making it look icky. The extent of the problem you face will depend on how hard your water is.” 

Many people will reach for a bottle of bleach to clean their toilet, but while bleach is great at killing germs it does nothing against limescale and if used too much can lead to an unsightly yellow hue forming at the bottom of your toilet bowl.

Instead, Francesca has shared that a “very easy” way to clean your toilet properly is to use citric acid, a simple yet powerful cleaning product that comes from the juice from citrus fruits like lemons. 

Francesca said: “Once a week (if you don’t have hard water this can be less often, just as and when required) give your loo a clean with citric acid to remove the mineral/limescale deposits.”

Limescale can only be removed with an acidic product as it will react to the minerals to dissolve them naturally without having to use a harsh chemical like bleach. 

Citric acid is gentle enough to not damage toilet surfaces and will help keep your toilet clean without having to scrub it for ages. 

You can find citric acid in most supermarkets in the cleaning aisle. At Asda and Tesco, a box only costs £1.75. 

How to use citric acid to remove toilet limescale stains

All you need to do is first pour warm water down the toilet. Do not use boiling hot water as this can risk cracking the toilet bowl. 

Next, pour in two cups of citric acid into the toilet bowl. If you have any stains on the toilet rim then mix 50g of citric acid in warm water and apply to the stained surfaces. 

Leave the citric acid and warm water for at least one hour to give it time to break up the limescale, but for best results leave it alone overnight.

When you are ready, use a toilet brush to gently wipe the bottom of the toilet bowl and the limescale should come away easily.

Wipe the toilet seat down, give it a flush, and you should have a fresh clean toilet with no unsightly stains.