How to clean the toilet from limescale: effective chemical and folk remedies

How to remove a thick layer of plaque and urinary stones?

If the layer of plaque and urinary stones is not too thick, then you can get by with the help of folk remedies and sparing alkaline remedies.

This is a powerful tool that effectively dissolves even stones of medium thickness.

Step one: First you need to pour vinegar into a container, and then set it to heat up to a temperature of 38-39 degrees.

Vinegar must be hot

Step two: now you need to add soda to hot vinegar (about 5-8 grams).

Baking soda and vinegar will react

Step three: now this mixture must be poured into the toilet so that the stones and limescale are saturated. The composition must be left for 6-7 hours.

In hard-to-reach places it is necessary to put paper napkins moistened with a solution

To clean the toilet in hard-to-reach places use a small brush

Step Five: Upon completion of the reading, it is necessary to flush the toilet with water from the barrel.

There should be no deposits left on the surface.

If folk methods and gentle alkaline remedies did not help to cope with deposits, then potent acids will come to the rescue. Of course, experts strongly discourage the use of such products on an ongoing basis, as they destroy the plumbing coating.

Table 3. List of potent acids

Title, illustration Title, illustration
Oxalic acid This is an organic acid with moderate toxicity. This tool was used to clean plumbing a few decades ago. It quickly breaks down deposits on the walls of the toilet bowl. You can buy it at any store where building materials are available. Before use, carefully read the instructions and wear silicone gloves. Application:1. Dissolve a small amount of acid in water.2. Pour into the toilet and leave for 60-70 minutes.3. Rinse several times with clean water. If there are old dirt, then you can apply dry acid to a wet rag and apply to this place.
Orthophosphoric acid This acid is of chemical origin, it quickly copes with organic mineral formations and rust. However, its main property is that the acid does not destroy plastic pipes. Application:1.Pour 90 ml of acid into the tank and the toilet itself.2. Wait about 20 minutes.3. Rinse off the product under the pressure of water, and wipe the surface with a brush.
Hydrochloric acid This is a toxic-based product that dissolves any contaminants in minutes.

However, it should be used carefully, otherwise it can be harmful to health - acid fumes burn the respiratory tract. Application:1. Apply acid evenly on dirt.2

Wait 15 minutes.3. Rinse the toilet with plenty of water. This cleaning method is absolutely not suitable for owners of plastic pipes.
Electrolyte Battery electrolyte contains a corrosive component - sulfuric acid, which quickly breaks down mineral deposits. You can find this tool at an auto parts store. The electrolyte should be used by analogy with hydrochloric acid. Keep it recommended for about 10-12 minutes, and then rinse with water

Apply acid evenly on dirt.2. Wait 15 minutes.3. Rinse the toilet with plenty of water. This cleaning method is absolutely not suitable for owners of plastic pipes.
Electrolyte Battery electrolyte contains a corrosive component - sulfuric acid, which quickly breaks down mineral deposits. You can find this tool at an auto parts store. The electrolyte should be used by analogy with hydrochloric acid. It is recommended to keep for about 10-12 minutes, and then rinse with water.

Causes of deposits

Limescale on the toilet bowl and the problem of how to clean the stone from the toilet bowl is a question that every housewife faces. It is formed on the walls, as well as in the tank. Deposits form even if you have expensive plumbing.Therefore, this must be dealt with in any case. How to clean the toilet in this case? In order to engage in this process as rarely as possible, you need to find out the reasons for the occurrence of plaque as well as ways to prevent this phenomenon.

The main factors for the occurrence of plaque:

• water quality
• cistern leak
• frequency of using the toilet
• sanitary ware surface quality

The water flowing in our pipes comes from rivers, lakes and wells. When moving towards a well or water intake, water dissolves soil and other rocks in its path. Least of all, granites and volcanic formations dissolve in water, but former organic compounds - the skeletons of dead animals, sea shells, and so on - dissolve much faster. Consequently, elements of garbage, earth and other microparticles enter the treatment plant along with water. The best filters and ultraviolet are not able to deal with calcium and magnesium salts in the water being treated. Even the most unique treatment facilities are not able to deal with the many salts in running water.

Also, the accumulation of deposits is due to the frequency of using the toilet - the more often we flush, the more water flows in the cistern, and salts accumulate on the surface more quickly. The deposit will form faster if the reservoir is faulty. Water will flow continuously and deposits will accumulate faster. How to clean a toilet cistern - we will also analyze in this article. Much depends on the surface of the product. Smoother coatings retain less salts than rough ones. Most deposits form on porcelain products. However, faience, enameled, is less susceptible to this.

How to remove limescale in the toilet and how to clean the toilet cistern, we will analyze in this article.

Cleaning the surface of the toilet with baking soda and vinegar

What if the "faience friend" is decorated with a yellow coating and exudes an unpleasant odor? "Grandmother's" means will help clean the toilet:

Pour half a glass of baking soda into the toilet, add vinegar to this powder. Apply the mixture evenly to all surfaces. Depending on the degree of soiling, wait 10 to 30 minutes, then remove the plaque with a brush. Mix the remaining part of NaHCO3 with warm water until a slurry is formed and treat the external surfaces with this mass, rinse with water.
Take a glass of acetic acid, using a brush, rub it on the tank and other external and internal parts of the toilet. After 20-30 minutes, moisten the brush, sprinkle it with a handful of soda, then use it to clean the treated areas. Repeat the procedure until your "faience friend" gets rid of dirt and plaque.

Pay special attention to the rim - under it most of the dirt accumulates.

Both methods are great for bleaching and removing mold, dirt deposits, and bad odors. The only drawback of the second method is that it is suitable for cleaning only for those housewives who agree to put up with the pungent smell of acetic acid.

Watch the video: a blogger deliberately clogs a toilet pipe, and then tests folk methods for clearing blockages.

How to clean a washing machine with baking soda and vinegar

How to wash the toilet from limescale

When cleaning the toilet from limescale, it is allowed to use both household chemicals and folk methods.Household chemicals effectively cope with any type of deposits. And folk methods are more gentle, but less effective.

To clean the toilet from strong limestone, use technical oxalic acid.

An important condition for the application is strict observance of safety rules. Sold in the form of a powder, inhalation of the vapors of which is unacceptable. Therefore, either use a damp sponge, with which you apply the powder to the problem area, or put on a mask, followed by careful distribution by rash. There is a third way, which requires the presence of water in the toilet drain - the powder itself will dissolve and react with deposits with the help of a liquid.

Prepare:

• technical oxalic acid - 1 or 2 sachets;
• soft cloth or sponge.

Sequencing:

1. To get rid of a large plaque, apply the powder to a damp cloth and wipe the areas affected by the stone or plaque.
2. Go from pinpoint to radical by dissolving the powder in the toilet drain.
3. At least an hour later, the toilet bowl should be washed with plenty of water.

Citric acid and vinegar - weapons of mass destruction from lime

To remove plaque from the toilet will help, the combination of lemon and vinegar.

The chemical reaction that occurs as a result of the claimed folk remedy helps to cope even with severe pollution.

Prepare:

• lemon - 2-3 sachets;
• vinegar 9% - 100 ml;
• spray.

Sequencing:

1. Drain the bowl or tank, rinse areas not exposed to liquid, removing foreign compounds.
2. Cover the places that are planned for cleansing with a dense layer of crystals, not bypassing the area under the toilet rim.
3. Close the toilet or cistern lid. Leave to act for 4 hours.
4. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar.
5. When the reaction has passed, remove the softened plaque with a spatula.
6. Remove the remaining composition with warm water.

Hydrochloric acid in advanced cases

Hydrochloric acid, which is sold in plumbing stores, will get rid of old deposits of any kind of stone - be it water or urinary stone. The principle of influence in both cases is identical.

Take:

• hydrochloric acid - from 150 ml;
• soft tissue;
• respirator;
• rubber gloves;
• protective glasses.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. To clean the toilet bowl, spread the solution over the surfaces of the toilet bowl. This will require approximately 50 ml.
2. Pour 100 ml into the drain hole.
3. Close the lid and leave for 10 minutes.
4. Rinse surfaces thoroughly.

Hydrochloric acid is found in smaller, safer concentrations in popular household cleaning products. For example, Domestos, Cillit Bang, Comet in the form of gels. Each of them effectively copes with both limescale and urinary stone.

Peroxide and ammonia from complex deposits

A method that is suitable for those who are afraid that vinegar or other other acid will cause irreparable harm to the toilet.

Prepare:

• water - 2 l;
• hydrogen peroxide - 100 ml;
• ammonia - 50 ml.

Instruction:

1. Remove water from the drain tank.
2. Mix water, peroxide and ammonia.
3. Pour the solution down the drain.
4. Using a sponge, spread the solution, covering the walls of the bowl.
5. Close the lid and leave for 2-3 hours if the deposits are moderate. And at night, if strong.
6. Without draining the solution, clean the walls and drain of the toilet with a brush.
7. Drain the water.

The method allows you to clean the toilet almost to perfect condition

But it requires delicacy and extreme caution.

Products with abrasive particles

Powders are an effective method for plaque.

The composition of the powders includes additional elements, for example, soda, citric acid, fine solid particles, which speed up and facilitate the process of removing heavy plaque. If the composition of the abrasive substance contains chlorine, then the powder not only cleans, but also disinfects. The principle of operation is based on a phased effect: first softening with a powder, then scraping.

Prepare:

abrasive powder - for example, Pemolux.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Wet the surface to be treated.
2. Apply the composition to the surface with a dry powder or kneaded to a gruel state.
3. Leave for a couple of minutes to take effect.
4. Clean the surfaces by scrubbing the stone.
5. Wash off with plenty of water.

The use of strong acids to eliminate plaque

For heavily neglected plumbing with a thick layer of plaque and urinary stone, there are not enough safe folk remedies or professional household chemicals to get a good result. In this case, strong chemicals are used.

Important!

Acids for cleaning plumbing are used only as a last resort. When using them, strictly adhere to the recommended dose and exposure time. Otherwise, there is a high probability of spoiling the plumbing and damaging the sewer pipes.

Oxalic acid

It is a drug of organic origin, has an average toxicity. Oxalic acid works well with urinary stone and makes plumbing white.It can be found on sale in a hardware store in powder form.

How to use:

1. The acid is applied to a damp cloth.
2. Thoroughly wipe contaminated areas.
3. For heavy soiling, pour the powder on the stains and leave for 1 hour.
4. Clean off the remnants of plaque with a brush and rinse several times with water.

Orthophosphoric acid

The drug is a substance of inorganic origin, has a cleaning effect of medium strength. Orthophosphoric acid is used to remove urinary stone, and also pour it into the tank to get rid of rust. The main advantage of this tool is that it is safe for rubber and plastic parts.

Phosphoric acid in a volume of 100 ml is poured into water in a tank or poured directly into the toilet bowl. After a quarter of an hour, the water is drained and the remnants of contaminants are cleaned with a brush.

Hydrochloric acid

This drug is highly effective and very toxic.

Therefore, it must be used with the utmost care. It is dangerous even to inhale the vapors of hydrochloric acid

Therefore, before use, be sure to use all personal protective equipment, including thick rubber gloves, a respirator and goggles.

The liquid is poured along the walls of the bowl and in a volume of 100 ml is poured into the drain hole of the toilet bowl. After 10 minutes, rinse off with plenty of water and clean off the remaining dirt with a brush.

Important!

Hydrochloric acid cannot be cleaned if the sewer is made of PVC. Pipes will inevitably be damaged.

Electrolyte

Automotive battery electrolyte is a highly corrosive sulfuric acid liquid. It is undesirable to use it to clean the toilet. In the most extreme case, you can use this cleaning method if the sewer is made of cast iron.

Use this drug in the same way as hydrochloric acid

When applying, it is important not to splash the liquid so that it does not get on the body. High chance of chemical burn

What deposits look like

Deposit types:

1. Limescale is a grayish-whitish film that forms on the surface of the toilet bowl due to constant contact with water, which contains calcium and magnesium salts dissolved in it.
2. Urinary stones are mineral deposits formed from the remains of urine. Appear with insufficient care for the toilet and non-compliance with the rules for its operation.
3. Limestone is a more complex deposit that forms at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Composed of salts, rust, dirt and urinary stone.

Photo 1. Abundant limescale inside the toilet, to remove which it is necessary to resort to the use of potent agents.

How to clean a toilet bowl

The most responsible thing in how to clean the drain tank is to choose the right cleaning agent. Some may not be effective enough, while the other not only removes pollution, but also negatively affects all the "insides" of the tank. Your choice, however, is:

Abrasive

Many, in order to clean the toilet bowl, choose the usual abrasive products - powders, pastes, sometimes creams. In fact, there is little help from them if the plaque is already completely old and covered with rust. Yes, and they sometimes leave behind small scratches - a hotbed for bacteria. But to remove simpler pollution, they fit well, you just need to apply a powder or cream to a rag and rub the tank walls with force. After waiting a few minutes, rinse with water, repeat if necessary.

As an abrasive, you can use not only household chemicals, but also ordinary baking soda.

Alkaline

Not the best means to combat old plaque, but effective for preventive purposes, are those that contain alkali. They will help remove the top layer of plaque, whiten the walls and perfectly disinfect the "insides" of the tank.

This includes products of this type, such as Domestos, Dosia, Tyron, and the well-known "Whiteness". It is better to apply them on the walls and bottom of the tank, keeping the product for at least half an hour. Depending on the degree of soiling, the alkaline tank cleaning procedure may need to be repeated several times to achieve the desired result. But, most likely, such a tool will only whiten the inner surface of the drain container, but will not be able to fully cope with hard deposits.

Acidic

Read also:

How to clean cast iron frying pan? 3 proven ways

And, finally, the most dangerous, but also the most effective in the fight against old lime deposits are acid-containing products, such as Cilit, Sanoks. There are also positive reviews on the method of cleaning plaque with the help of an electrolyte - acid for batteries (motorists know), as well as on the use of hydrochloric or technical oxalic acid. But it is very dangerous!

It is necessary to use all these means, strictly following the instructions, additionally protecting yourself with rubber gloves and a mask. Never inhale the vapors of such products! Do not go overboard with this type of cleaning, as acidic and potent substances corrode not only plaque, but also your plumbing.

Both alkaline and acid products should not be used on enameled surfaces.

Other Tips

• In order for the plaque to be cleaned off better, you need to use not only rags and sponges, but brushes and brushes. In the most advanced cases, you can use a soft skin.
• In order not to injure the surface of the plumbing, you can take note of homemade ways to clean the toilet bowl. For example, depending on the degree of contamination, you can treat the plaque-affected area with ordinary table vinegar, citric acid or vinegar essence, leave the product for 3 hours or better overnight, and then rinse with water and pre-rub with a brush.

• There are reviews that Coca-Cola also copes well with rust - try mixing it with citric acid or vinegar, pour it into a tank and leave it overnight.

• Read also:

  How to clean an acrylic bath so that the capricious surface remains as good as new

  When you manage to clean the tank from plaque, or after buying a new toilet, it will be necessary to carry out preventive cleaning of plumbing at least once every three months. To do this, an ordinary detergent, a soft sponge / rag will be enough.

• In order to continue to form rust more slowly and in smaller quantities, add toilet gel in the form of a special round tablet to the tank. They not only purify the water, but also give it a pleasant smell. Suitable for regular use, but will not give an immediate effect. The main thing is to put such a tablet in the tank away from the area where the water jet is supplied. So, the product will slowly and gradually dissolve, disinfecting the water in the drain tank.
• Instead of special tablets for preventive cleaning, disinfection and aromatization of water in the tank, you can use a tube of ordinary toothpaste.Just make a puncture in the tube and place it in a container for draining.

The reason for the rapid formation of plaque can also be a water leak in the tank. One way to open the tank lid and fix this problem, you will learn from this video:

Chemistry on guard of purity

Today, a wide variety of chemicals are on sale, with which you can effectively remove mineral deposits from the surface of plumbing fixtures. Among themselves, such products differ both in chemical composition and in the features of the application, which must be taken into account when choosing them.

Orthophosphoric acid

Phosphoric acid, which is mainly sold in automotive stores, does a good job of removing limescale and urinary stone, but it does not adversely affect the rubber and plastic elements of plumbing fixtures and sewer systems.

To enhance the effect of the use of this product, especially contaminated areas can be further treated with a brush.

Hydrochloric acid

It makes sense to use hydrochloric acid, which is a powerful cleanser, in cases where mineral deposits on the walls of the toilet bowl and in its drain hole are of an old nature. You can not use this tool in cases where the toilet is connected to the sewer system through plastic pipes and fittings, which can simply become unusable from interaction with such a strong acid.

To clean the toilet bowl with hydrochloric acid, it must be mixed with water in equal proportions, pour the resulting solution into the bowl of the device to be cleaned and its drain hole, wait 10 minutes, and then rinse the plumbing with plenty of clean water.

Bleach

Bleach powder is one of the most traditional means with which you can not only clean the plumbing fixture from old plaque on its surfaces, but also effectively disinfect it, destroying most of the harmful organisms. Cleaning plumbing with this tool is performed in the following sequence:

• a package of bleach is poured into the bowl of the device and left in it overnight;
• the surface to be cleaned is treated with a brush and washed with plenty of clean water.

Cleaning powders and pastes

The most popular powder products specifically designed for cleaning toilet bowls and other plumbing fixtures are Pemolux and Comet. Such products are most effective when dry, so before using them, the plumbing fixture must be wiped dry and all water removed from its inside.

After the completion of the preparatory procedures, the powder agent is poured onto the contaminated surface, kept on it for some time, after which, using a brush, hard brush or sponge, they begin to carry out the cleaning process itself. After cleaning, the surface of the sanitary ware must be rinsed with plenty of clean water.

To clean toilet bowls from limescale, you can use special pastes, which, in addition to the active substance that corrodes mineral deposits, include abrasive particles.The principle of using such pastes is quite simple: they are applied to a contaminated surface with a sponge, wait a while, and then start cleaning, actually mechanically wiping the plaque from the surface of the device.

Liquids and gels

The effectiveness of using special liquids and gels for cleaning toilet bowls is explained by the fact that the majority of such products are based on chlorine (“Domestos”, “Whiteness”, etc.) or acids (“Toilet Duck”, “Bref”, etc.). Gels are more effective and convenient to use, since due to their thick consistency they flow more slowly down the walls of the toilet being cleaned, respectively, they act on the surface longer, dissolving the contaminants present on it.

Both liquid and gel cleansers use the same principle, which is as follows:

• the agent is applied to the contaminated surface;
• give it time to dissolve the limescale;
• wipe off the remnants of contaminants with a brush or a hard sponge;
• perform a thorough flushing of the device.

Most of the chemical cleaners listed above are highly toxic, so when using them, care should be taken to protect the skin, eyes and respiratory organs.