REALLY Stubborn limescale!

nymph_2

I'm sure I used Cilit Bang power cleaner when we moved in here.
Oh it was gross, I emptied the pan trying to scrub with various etc. in the end I bought this, poured half a bottle of this new stuff in the bottom and just left it a couple of hours. LOVELY, perfect, looked like new!
Harpics 100% limescale remover does what it says too, but it marked the chrome taps permanantly.
both can be badly irritant, make sure you wear protective clothing and be careful not to get it where you don't want it, (like on taps!). If you are pregnant, I would advise getting someone else to handle these, the fumes may make you feel sick.

If you want the natural option, I have read that most chemical cleaners are citric accid based, and vinegar and citrus/lemon are the best ways of getting rid, leave over night to soak. My foster mum and dad did that on a regular basis wih the shower head.

Nana has always sworn by Soda crystals and her house sparkles, I used them in my kitchen and they work a treat, yet to try the bathroom though. versatile and good value so far, <£1 !!

billieboy_2

skintchick wrote: »

What I did with mine was scoop all the water out (chuck it down the sink or bath, whichever is nearer) and then use a pumice stone to scrub it all off. Worked brilliantly and wasn;t that difficult to do. Bleach the pan first though, then flush it so you are working in non-bleachy water, and wear gloves just to be sure.

It also works on enamel baths

I've just tried a pumice stone on our heavily limescaled toilet. I'd tried everything before, coke, bleach, "limescale removers", WD40, you name it I tried it, none of which did anything, until this:j . Quite a bit of the pumice has come away (shows how hard the limescale is) but it's done the job! I read about it on a link further up this page and when I saw a pumice stone in the supermarket it reminded me. I've tried using it round taps but it won't fit in the gap. Best £1.39 I've spent in a while (no doubt you can get them cheaper but I'm just so glad I've found something that works).:j :j :j

Ben84

You shouldn't pour very hot liquids down the toilet, it will probably crack the pan.

I'd try leaving a strong soda crystal solution in the bowl overnight and scrubbing in the morning.

Mumto2

I've used kettle descalers recently with great success. Emptied the bowl, used 2 sachets and hot water. Left for a few hours and then scrubbed with toilet brush - looked like new!:j :j

champys

maryb wrote: »

I agree, it's not the sort of stuff to be careless with but it really does make the loo like new. I used a plunger first so that there was less water than usual and I think that helped. After I flushed it way I thought it hadn't worked to start with, then I gave it a light scrub and the brown limescale just flaked away - brilliant!!

Agree as well. We have a septic tank so I have to be extremely careful not to put any chemicals down the loo - no bleach for example, as that would kill the natural action of the septic tank. However, as I understand it 'spirits of salt' are really hydrochloric acid, which is a very strong chemical indeed. My Dad was a chemist, and I remember he used to say that hydrochloric acid actually exists in your stomach. Here in France you can simply buy it by the bottle, for cleaning purposes, in the DIY store: same area where they sell the white spirit and turpentine etc. I use a little bit of it (maybe twice a year) in the loo to get rid of the brown stuff and it works a treat. The septic tank continues working no problem, so it can't be that bad....... I hope.

Quasar

Vinegar vinegar vinegar

A friend of mine moved into a rented accommodation and the loo was totally disgusting with brown limescale covering all over below the water line. I suggested she pour a whole bottle of brown vinegar and leave it overnight, then flush and brush in the morning. Almost all of it came off. She repeated the same the following night and the loo was sparkling.

As vinegar is so acid, it acts as a good disinfectant too.

Ephemera

Get down to your local Chinese / Oriental / Indian supermarket.

You can buy bags of cheap citric acid crystals there. Empty as much water out of the pan as you can, then make up a strong solution of the crystals in hand-hot water, be careful as it is VERY acidic. Pour into the loo, make sure you make enough to fill to the waterline. Then leave overnight.

A teaspoon of citric acid crystals in a kettle will descale it, use it for coffee makers, etc. It is the SAME STUFF you get in the hugely expensive sachets. And it's food safe, like vinegar.

All the best!

D&DD

Living in a house of men I tend to have quite a problem with this especially as DS3 has the worst aim...ever!! :eek: So I tend to get a build up just about everywhere even though I wipe it over regularly during the day.
We also have really hard water but the pumice stone works a treat
I 'chisel' with it once a week in the pan and round the seat too as the urine crystals tend to build up on there.
One of the best tips I've ever got from OS I HATE having grotty loos :T

savemoney

J-Weaver :spam:

Butterfly_Brain

Try soda crystals with hot water and leave over night, I agree that vinegar and bicarb is another good way but I am afraid if all else fails Asda's own limescale remover is excellent