Home Recipes for Lime Stains in Toilet Bowls

Killing Limescale

• Limescale and other minerals can prove troublesome because they accumulate and harden along the toilet surface. To remove lime, you must break down and dissolve the minerals. Acids are especially useful for this purpose, and while many commercial limescale cleaners contain acids like phosphoric acid, some also contain harmful chemicals. Natural acids, like white vinegar, can dissolve minerals without polluting your indoor air or placing strain on the environment.

Home Recipe

• While vinegar alone can take care of many mineral deposits, the combination of vinegar and baking soda can create a natural chemical reaction that dissolves even the most stubborn limescale. Just mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of baking soda, and pour the solution into the toilet bowl. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes, and scrub the lime deposits thoroughly with your toilet brush. Flush the toilet to rinse away the solution.

Alternative Solutions

• For mild lime deposits, pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the toilet before going to bed. Let the vinegar soak overnight, and then flush the toilet in the morning. As an alternative to the vinegar and baking soda solution, mix 2 parts boric acid with 1 part lemon juice. The combination of these two natural acids will further help to dissolve the limescale deposits.

Other Considerations

• Clean your toilet often to prevent limescale accumulation. The more often you clean your toilet, the easier it will be for you to remove trace minerals. Chlorine bleach may remove some lime stains, but it has highly corrosive properties and requires the use of rubber gloves. Avoid using bleach particularly if you have already added vinegar or other acids, as the mixture may create harmful vapors.