Removing limescale/water stains from a toilet bowl

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#3030589 2-Feb-2023 06:53

MadEngineer:

yeah you've misinterpreted. i get that it's pee stains, my question is how it even became stained by pee - porcelain should have a good solid clear coat that shouldn't be stainable unless it's been damaged, perhaps by overcleaning (think like teeth)

Fair enough. We had a kid here who left pee stains, hard to remove but easy with bicarb. Not really stains as you say, its just gunk that sticks. Like any awkward cleaning issues, its finding what reacts with, and dissolves the substance.

quickymart

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#3031094 2-Feb-2023 22:44

I think I've determined what caused the staining to begin with.

As I said when I first moved in the toilet was spotless. Using the toilet brush tonight, I noticed that the marks on the bowl line up with where the brush goes when using it to clean the top of the bowl.

Is it possible a toilet brush could be the culprit here? The brush always looks clear when I go to use it but there must be something on there causing the staining.

Is it worth replacing the brush, or should I get to the source of the staining and then replace it (if the brush is picking up the staining material from somewhere)?

qwertee

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#3031111 3-Feb-2023 05:39

quickymart:

I think I've determined what caused the staining to begin with.

As I said when I first moved in the toilet was spotless. Using the toilet brush tonight, I noticed that the marks on the bowl line up with where the brush goes when using it to clean the top of the bowl.

Is it possible a toilet brush could be the culprit here? The brush always looks clear when I go to use it but there must be something on there causing the staining.

Is it worth replacing the brush, or should I get to the source of the staining and then replace it (if the brush is picking up the staining material from somewhere)?

Had this happen to me once, with a worn brush, where the flexible wire holding the nylon bristles has rubbed against the bowl causing long marks.
Had to get to get it off using gloves and a green abrasive kitchen sponge.

Worth trying with a spare brush or better new one.

Bung

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#3031114 3-Feb-2023 06:58

Maybe all the brush is doing is wetting the surface making the deposit more visible.

MadEngineer

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#3031465 3-Feb-2023 19:44

GZ needs a vault section. Then this post needs to be added to it for posterity.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

eracode

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#3031477 3-Feb-2023 20:20

MadEngineer:

GZ needs a vault section. Then this post needs to be added to it for posterity.

By ‘this post’ do you mean your post, as above? Or do you mean ‘this thread’?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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richms

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#3031727 4-Feb-2023 13:19

Well toilet brushes are a consumable so definitely get another one and see if that helps.

Richard rich.ms

MadEngineer

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#3031733 4-Feb-2023 13:31

eracode:

MadEngineer:

GZ needs a vault section. Then this post needs to be added to it for posterity.

By ‘this post’ do you mean your post, as above? Or do you mean ‘this thread’?

This thread and other classics like it

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

quickymart

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#3081055 29-May-2023 19:59

Quick update on this - tried a mix of caustic soda and using a Scrub-Daddy this morning and that seems to have removed quite a bit of it but not quite fully off. I need something a bit more powerful as there's some quite resistant limescale there, so will move onto using borax next...but it's a hell of an improvement on what it was looking like yesterday.

MadEngineer

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#3081140 29-May-2023 21:47

One of the loos in the place we moved into a few months back had some staining. I'm not sure if it has been due to a single application of CLR cleaner or ... simply cleaning it on occasion with normal loo cleaner but the majority of it has gone and the rest seems to be slowing disappearing. Maybe from the use of both.

The instructions on the back of the bottle for the CLR say to apply it using warm water on a dry surface so to apply it I emptied the water from the bowel using a sponge and some old rags, then gave the loo its dose.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

quickymart

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#3081144 29-May-2023 21:53

richms:

Well toilet brushes are a consumable so definitely get another one and see if that helps.

Also on the replacement list.

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FineWine

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#3081245 30-May-2023 08:31

FineWine:

Try pumice stone toilet cleaner and NO they do not scratch the ceramic surface.

My Bro-in-law had tried all of the above until we discovered this pumice brush at a local cleaning supplies place. It worked 100%.

https://www.geekstore.co.nz/Toilet-Brush-Natural-Pumice-Stone-276206

https://new.grabone.co.nz/grocery-food/cleaning-supplies/p/pumice-cleaning-stone-set

google search results

I still say this is the only thing that has ever worked to clean long term stains of toilet bowels. Everyone I have recommended it too has said that it works.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

MikeAqua

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#3082747 31-May-2023 12:52

In my professional capacity I manage seagoing fishing vessels, that have saltwater flush and sewage retention tanks on board. This results in very hard mineral build up.

To clear this in pipes and tanks, we use a hydrochloric acid product (also called muriatic acid). Note, this is corrosive of metal products, so you have to be careful where you use it and maybe and obviously use PPE. I don't think it corrodes ceramics but you might want to patch test an inconspicuous spot.

Mike

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#3083048 31-May-2023 22:54

MikeAqua:
In my professional capacity I manage seagoing fishing vessels, that have saltwater flush and sewage retention tanks on board. This results in very hard mineral build up.

To clear this in pipes and tanks, we use a hydrochloric acid product (also called muriatic acid). Note, this is corrosive of metal products, so you have to be careful where you use it and maybe and obviously use PPE. I don't think it corrodes ceramics but you might want to patch test an inconspicuous spot.

Available at your DIY shop as a concrete etcher/mortar removal solution

OllieF

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#3083481 1-Jun-2023 20:15

quickymart:

Quick update on this - tried a mix of caustic soda and using a Scrub-Daddy this morning and that seems to have removed quite a bit of it but not quite fully off. I need something a bit more powerful as there's some quite resistant limescale there, so will move onto using borax next...but it's a hell of an improvement on what it was looking like yesterday.

citric acid is very good and cheap

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