gross toilet ! How to get rid of limescale

bexlill

This cleared the thick scale in my toilet could not believe after i had tried thick bleach and toilet duck which did not work with wd40 it just fell away in chunks gave the tougher bits a push with an old tooth brush .. I got the tip off this site:D

Stompa

bexlill wrote: »

This cleared the thick scale in my toilet could not believe after i had tried thick bleach and toilet duck which did not work with wd40 it just fell away in chunks gave the tougher bits a push with an old tooth brush .. I got the tip off this site:D

It has many uses!

http://wd40.com/files/pdf/wd-40_2042538679.pdf

jebus1967

Hi knowing a little bit of chemistry helps a little with this. Basically limescale is highly alkaline, so the trick is to attack it with something acidic. Olaxic acid, or basically any acid (you can buy Hydrochloric acid and even very pure sulphuric acid on eBay too) is ideal for the job, as its less prone to fuming and much easier to handle than the alternatives. Although it may say its a rust remover, it has been widely used in industrial applications for derusting and descaling large areas, such as ships, swimming pools etc for a very long time. However basically the stronger the acid and the more pure it is, the faster you will get the job done. Care however should be taken when using any acid, no matter how weak or strong, particularly when working in a confined area. This means thick rubber gloves, a face mask and protective goggles. If using a stronger acid, a gas mask may be required. Keep the area well ventilated if you can.

You can get 1 KG Olaxic for around a tenner on eBay, which should last the best part of a year if you are just using it for a toilet. So much cheaper than commercial products.

Note:

It is not advisable to keep very strong acids around the home, as these can be extremely dangerous.

Frugalsod

I have to admit to be a vinegar/coke fan for this. Bicarb and vinegar is also a good combo. Only yesterday I put some fresh vinegar in to the kettle left it for 24 hours and it looks as good as new. You can also collect the vinegar and keep under the sink for reusing. I get around 3 or 4 uses from each dollop of vinegar before it needs to be replaced. So a normal bottle of vinegar can last a nearly a year and so much cheaper than commercial cleaner.

jebus1967

If you are a vinegar/coke fan you could try acetic acid or citric acid. This is the active ingredient in each of these. (Vinegar is just a highly dilute form of acetic acid.) A very small amount of these will go a long way, and almost certainly save you money even over the cost of vinegar, or cheap cola. They have the added advantage that you can vary their effectiveness by altering the potency of the solution (by adding more or less) for those potentially more difficult jobs. There is no mystery to be had. Its all just simply acid/base chemistry.

Again its important to remember to use safety equipment when using highly concentrated acids. One can never say this enough.

Phoenix1263

For removal of stubborn limescale and other horrid stains that you cannot remove with bleach, here's the guarenteed solution...SPIRIT OF SALTS.
You can get it from any hardware store and its inexpensive. Mine was £2.99.
It says leave for 10mins then rinse but it does start working immediately.

A few tips though:
1) You MUST wear gloves when you use it
2) Open ALL windows in the bathroom
3) It fumes when you open the bottle and will do so in the toilet too! Freaked me out a bit lol.

This stuff shifts everything in there and now my toilet looks brand new.
It can also be used down drains, on concrete patios etc.

If you have pets keep them well away. It doesn't give guidelines about pets if you're using it outside, but I would assume rinsing it down well with cold water would do well enough. Perhaps using the solution in the evening after your pets are in for the night would be best

Hope this helps!

jebus1967

Spirit of Salts = Hydrochloric acid. Basically you should be seeing a pattern by now. To remove an alkali like lime scale, you should use an acid.

madsaintuden

I am wondering about the inside of the cistern ?

Ours is very grubby - like lime scale. and the flushing has become erratic. As we are a council house they are booked to look at in the week before christmas! Any way - any suggestions? I was thinking about dishwasher powder? Lemon juice? or just the limescale remover look cleaner? any suggestions welcome.

thank you

Primrose

We had to have a cistern repair recently and ours was the same. A good dose of bleach helps. Then try and remove some of the water. Get out the Marigold Gloves and use a good scourer. If there are years of limescale, it's pretty difficult to remove it all. Expect most peoples cisterns are the same. No prizes for guessing why a transparent one has never been invented !!

madsaintuden

thanks for that - I had to lol at a transparent cistern or even a whole loo!