How to clean a toilet from limescale and urinary stone: folk remedies + household chemicals

A clean toilet is the key to health and order in the apartment. Housewives are looking for a product to not only clean it of limescale, but also to destroy bacteria that live under the rim and on the surface. Today, at a hardware store you can buy chemicals and preparations that keep the toilet bowl clean, or use folk remedies. In this article we will tell you how to remove limescale deposits in the toilet; what is better to use: strong acids or folk remedies.

Causes of toilet contamination

Limescale is also sometimes called waterstone; it is formed as a result of the deposition of salts contained in tap water.
As a rule, the yellowish coating is located precisely in the areas where the water is flushed, but sometimes it can be seen under the rim of the toilet bowl and on the lid. Without proper care of your plumbing, the limescale layer gradually builds up, making it difficult to remove. In addition to the toilet, you should periodically clean the bathtub and shower stall to remove this deposit.

Cleaning the toilet takes a couple of minutes a day

Urinary stones are made up of mineral components that are found in human urine. Deposits begin to form when residents regularly forget to flush the toilet. Another problem is rust - rusty stains also form in places where water is flushed.

In addition, other reasons for the appearance of deposits in the toilet can be noted:

• high concentration of salts in water;
• the presence of cracks and other damage on the walls of plumbing fixtures;
• faulty barrel.

Attention! Despite the fact that water and organic stones spoil the appearance of plumbing fixtures, deposits are an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms.

You can cope with this problem at home using available means. In difficult cases, when there is too much contamination, you will have to use chemicals.

To wash plumbing fixtures, you need to purchase thick gloves.

How to pump water out of a drain

The stone is removed using reactive substances, while water in the hole will reduce the efficiency of the process. To get a good result, you need to remove it from the drain elbow at the bottom of the toilet.

Pumping methods:

• in the toilet the water supply is shut off with a valve;
• the liquid is completely drained from the tank;
• use a plunger to vigorously push water into the hole;
• use rags to collect residual liquid.

After cleaning the water, you should not try to scrape off the deposits with metal brushes, knives, or scrapers - you can scratch this area. As a result, stone deposition will accelerate the next time.

General rules for cleaning plumbing fixtures

Before you start washing your plumbing, you must do the following:

1. Put gloves on your hands and cover your nose with a special mask. Any plumbing cleaning products dry out the skin and can release dangerous fumes that burn the respiratory tract.
2. All water should be pumped out of the toilet. This can be done with any device - for example, a ladle, and wipe off any remaining moisture with a rag. This is done in order to increase the effectiveness of cleaning products.

It's comfortable! Instead of a ladle, it is recommended to use a special syringe for pumping out automobile oil. This device is often used by plumbers before repairing a toilet.

A syringe can be used to quickly and hygienically pump water out of the toilet.

How to clean with special compounds?

On the shelves of hardware stores there is a wide range of household chemicals intended for cleaning plumbing fixtures.

For those who want to quickly restore the whiteness of the toilet walls as quickly as possible, you should pay attention to those products that contain formic or hydrochloric acid, sodium sulfate or carbonate. They are the ones who best cope with the yellow plaque of urinary stones.

TOP 3 most effective chemical compositions:

DOMESTOS gel PINK

A cleaning product whose special formula helps to quickly remove dense limescale , urinary stone, and all types of germs and bacteria. The average cost is 125 rubles. (volume 0.75 l). Read reviews here and here.

PROFIT SANI-GEL

Gel-like acid concentrate . In just ten minutes, it dissolves lime deposits, urinary and soapstone without leaving a trace, removes rust, and disinfects the walls of the toilet bowl.

The gel lays on the contaminated surface in a dense layer and does not drain from the walls, which allows you to use the cleaning agent sparingly. PROFIT SANI-GEL does not contain chlorine. The average cost is 120 rubles. (volume 0.75 l).

BATH EXTRA

An extra-strength cleanser with a thick, gel-like formula. Without any residue, it dissolves old, ingrained contaminants such as limestone, urinary stone, and rust. Eliminates unpleasant odors and disinfects toilet walls. Does not leave streaks after rinsing. The average cost is 180 rubles. (volume 1 l). You will find reviews here.

Toilet bowl cleaners are used strictly following all manufacturer’s recommendations, without exceeding the contact time of plumbing surfaces with aggressive chemical compounds.

This video will show you how to remove urinary stones from the toilet:

What tools should I use to clean the toilet?

The following household appliances are usually used for cleaning plumbing:

• brush;
• a special sponge with a long handle;
• a cloth made of natural textiles.

When choosing a brush, it is necessary to take into account that it should not be too hard or iron, otherwise the surface of the walls of the toilet bowl will quickly be scratched and become unusable. Using a long-handled sponge, apply detergents to stones and plaque. Upon completion of the procedure, you must thoroughly wipe the walls with a cloth.

Sponge on an extended handle

Please note that when using any cleaning products, you must carefully study their composition and instructions. In addition, it is better not to use them at the same time - otherwise an unpredictable chemical reaction may occur.

In addition, you should not keep any product (even those based on natural ingredients) for longer than the prescribed time, because some substances contribute to the destruction of the toilet bowl coating.

Rust removers

There are many ready-made household chemicals designed to remove traces of rust.

You already know about them from advertising. Let's talk about folk remedies:

• No. 10. Solutions of various acids, work well against yellow marks . It is necessary to take 100 g of a solution with a concentration of no more than 5-7% and distribute it evenly over the surface of the toilet and leave half for pouring into the flush tank itself. After 10-15 minutes, no more, you need to rinse and go over the bowl with a ruff or a brush with stiff bristles;
• No. 11. Another effective remedy is sodium dioxide. You will need 1 tbsp. baking soda and 200 ml vinegar. The vinegar must be slightly heated; under no circumstances bring the liquid to a boil. Dissolve baking soda in vinegar and wipe off any traces of rust with the resulting solution. Don't wash it off right away. Leave the product on the surface for several hours. Then re-moisten the sponge in the solution, wipe off the dirt and rinse with water;
• No. 12. Oxalic acid. It is usually sold dry and appears as transparent crystals. You need to pour a little acid onto a cloth or sponge, lightly moisten it with water or alcohol and wipe the surface thoroughly. After this, wait 10-15 minutes, go over the problem areas with a sponge again and thoroughly rinse the toilet with clean water;
• No. 13. If traces of rust have just begun to appear, you can try to remove them using regular washing powder. The surface of the toilet bowl should be evenly sprinkled with any powder and left to act for 30 min-1 hour. After this, thoroughly scrub the surface with a brush and rinse with water. For an additional effect, you can flush the toilet with Domestos or any other similar product. If yellowish streaks are still visible, pour regular White over them and leave to sit for 30 minutes. Wipe thoroughly again with a brush and rinse with water. The marks should disappear.

To combat rust, methods using Coca-Cola, hydrochloric acid or electrolyte are also suitable.

Removing thin and medium plaque

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

Using soda and vinegar: step-by-step instructions

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

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

The vinegar must be hot

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

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.

Paper napkins soaked in the solution should be placed in hard-to-reach places.

Step four: after a while, remove any remaining deposits using a brush.

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

Step five: upon completion of the reading, you need to flush the toilet with water from the barrel.

There should be no deposits left on the surface

Video - How to clean a toilet without chemicals

Using citric acid: step-by-step instructions

This method can dissolve a thin layer of urinary stone or limescale. In addition, in this case there is no need to remove water from the toilet in advance.

Step one: first you need to pour 75 grams of citric acid into the toilet, then leave it for a couple of hours.

It is necessary to ensure that the powder covers all contaminants.

Step two: after the allotted time, you need to take a brush and forcefully wipe off all the dirt.

At the end of the procedure, the toilet must be rinsed with hot water.

Bleach against limescale: step-by-step instructions

In this case, it is necessary to use any product containing chlorine, including “Whiteness”. This method will not only cope with contamination, but will also eliminate pathogens.

Step one: first you need to pour all the bleach into the toilet. It is advisable to leave this remedy for 12 hours, so it is recommended to carry out the procedure at night.

It is necessary to close the toilet with a lid

Step two: in the morning you need to rinse the toilet with hot water.

If some dirt remains, you can clean it with a brush.

Using technical soda and baking soda: step-by-step instructions

This method will also help remove minor dirt from the surface of the plumbing fixtures.

Step one: first you need to mix baking soda and technical soda in one container.

Step two: then add water to get a porridge-like consistency.

This is what a stain treatment product should look like

Step three: now this product must be applied to toilet paper and applied pointwise to all stains. It is advisable to leave the toilet like this overnight.

In the morning you just need to wash off the product

Using a carbonated drink: step-by-step instructions

Carbonated drinks not only help dissolve yellow limescale, but also quickly remove rust.

How soda works on rust

Step one: you need to take a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola (or another) drink, and then pour the contents into the toilet.

The toilet should be left in this form for 8-9 hours.

Step two: when the soda dissolves all traces of plaque, you will need to thoroughly rinse the toilet with water and then clean it with a brush.

To enhance the effect, you can treat the plumbing with soda

Video - Cleaning the toilet with soda

The most effective toilet cleaners

Every day, housewives fight against various stains, formations and dirt. Therefore, new ways and methods of getting rid of problems are being invented.

Let's look at a list of non-standard techniques:

• Use of wood soot. Here the soot is mixed with citric acid in proportions of one to one. Further, the process of action is no different from the methods described above.
• Carbonated drinks. It's no secret that gas and citric acid have a good effect on various rust spots. Since even corrosion is inferior to drinks, urinary stones are also very easily removed.
• Toothpastes. When purchasing a paste, you can see that it has a whitening effect on teeth. The materials from which the plumbing fixtures are made are also susceptible to this effect and can be cleaned well.

Household chemicals

There are various household chemicals that effectively cope even with old stains. They contain an active substance - alkali, due to which they effectively break down organic and other mineral deposits. In addition, they allow you to disinfect the surface from pathogenic microorganisms.

Powders

These are effective means for cleaning the toilet from various contaminants, but their main disadvantage is the presence of abrasive particles that scratch the glossy surface of the plumbing fixtures. This problem leads to the fact that every year the condition of the toilet worsens and it becomes dirty faster, so you need to use powders as little as possible. For example, with their help, general cleaning of plumbing is carried out, and then cleanliness is maintained using more gentle means.

Table 1. List of popular powder products

Prices for popular cleaning products for tiles, plumbing and pipes

Cleaning products for tiles, plumbing and pipes

Liquids

Such products should be left on traces of limescale for a few minutes and then washed off. There are many liquids for cleaning toilets, as a rule, in stores they are on the same shelf - you can compare several products.

One of the most effective cleaning products is Sanox. It is used both for cleaning plumbing fixtures and for clearing blockages in pipes. It quickly removes traces of limescale, rust, stones and fights staphylococcus.

The total exposure time of this product does not exceed 7 minutes. After which it is recommended to rinse the surface several times with running water.

Liquid cleaner "Sanox"

Gels

These are the most convenient products that are suitable for cleaning any dirt. The gels have a thick consistency, making them easy to apply to the walls of the toilet bowl or under the rim. On average, the exposure time of such substances is 25 minutes, after which you will need to thoroughly scrub the toilet with a brush and rinse with water.

Table 2. List of popular gels

Cleaning creams

They have a similar effect to liquid products or gels, but have a denser consistency. They should only be applied to contaminated areas, which can then be covered with toilet paper. Since creams contain gentle ingredients, they can be left on the plumbing for several hours.

The most effective of them is the Sif cleaning cream. It is enough to apply it to the surface in a minimal amount and leave for 40-45 minutes. Contaminants will be removed even without additional exposure, so it will be enough to flush the toilet with water.

Cleaning cream "Sif"

Tablets for the tank

These tablets are used to prevent the formation of water and urinary stones, because they help soften the water, and therefore are installed in the tank. Each time you rinse, you will see brightly colored water (usually green, blue or cyan), and if it becomes clear, you should replace the tablet. Another advantage of such devices is their pleasant aroma.

Using tablets will keep your toilet smelling pleasantly clean.

Salt and vinegar for cleaning the toilet

These substances are suitable for those people who want not only to get rid of stones, but also to have an antibacterial effect. The antiseptic here is salt, which fights harmful bacteria well.

The process looks like this:

1. Preparation of vinegar and equipment. Here, too, it is necessary to heat the substance until it reaches a temperature of forty-five degrees.
2. Add one to two teaspoons of salt.
3. Apply the resulting liquid to problem areas.
4. At the end of spraying, wait until it softens completely, then simply rinse off the water.

This procedure looks quite simple, the materials can also be found in any home. That is why it is not inferior in popularity to the previous ones.

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

If traditional methods and gentle alkaline remedies do not help to cope with deposits, then strong acids will come to the rescue. Of course, experts strongly recommend against using such products on an ongoing basis, as they destroy the coating of the plumbing fixtures.

Table 3. List of potent acids

Preventive measures

You should wash the toilet regularly and flush it with plenty of water.
They eliminate any problem, even old, powerful, old layers, but it is better to remove thin plaque in time to solve the issue with little effort.

Simple effective measures to maintain cleanliness :

• drain the water in the tank after each use;
• to soften water, use special tablets that are placed in the tank;
• promptly replace old toilets with deteriorated surface layers, not only in visible places, but also in the drain;
• do not use hot water (boiling water) for cleaning - the top layer may develop small cracks;
• when planning a long absence, pour a small volume of cleaning liquid into the drain or dissolve the powder.

Porcelain toilets are cleaned carefully so as not to damage the enamel; abrasive powders and hard brushes are not used. Earthenware and ceramics are cleaned with more aggressive preparations, but brushes are used only for the softened layer.

Toilets made of polymer concrete are cleaned with gel agents and liquid compounds. Stainless steel surfaces are among the most resistant, but they are less common. Any substance is suitable for them.

How to care for toilets made of different materials?

Each material has individual properties, so you need to familiarize yourself with them:

1. Porcelain. Structures made from such material quickly deteriorate when using powders with abrasive particles, because they scratch a smooth surface. Use gels!
2. Faience. It is not recommended to clean plumbing fixtures made of such material with hard brushes and wash with hot water, otherwise the possibility of cracks may occur.
3. Polymer concrete. It is recommended to clean such toilets only with liquid substances and gels.
4. Stainless steel. These are durable products that are not destroyed by aggressive alkali and boiling water, so there are no restrictions on their washing.

Earthenware sanitary ware

Prices for toilets, urinals, bidets

Toilets, urinals, bidets

Brands of special solutions

Nowadays it’s very easy to go to the store and buy a ready-made product that is not inferior in terms of effectiveness to traditional methods.

Pay attention to these brands:

• BREF - Hungary.
• SC JOHNSON – USA.
• FABERLIC – Russia.
• COMET - USA.
• BAGI - Israel.
• GRASS – Russia.

How to prevent the formation of plaque and urinary stones?

In order to keep your plumbing fixtures tidy, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. At least once every 7 days, thoroughly clean the plumbing using household chemicals. The frequency of cleaning can be increased or decreased, depending on the number of residents in the apartment.
2. It is necessary to monitor the serviceability of the tank. If it starts to leak, you need to make repairs or purchase a new one.
3. The drain tank should be constantly filled with gentle detergents to prevent deposits.
4. It is strictly forbidden to flush fat down the toilet after cooking.

As you can see, the rules for caring for plumbing are not complicated, but following them will prevent unpleasant problems.

Preventing the appearance of limescale

If you wash your plumbing fixtures regularly, dirt deposits will still appear. But the layer will be much thinner, and then you won’t have to use aggressive chemicals for cleaning.

Follow a few simple rules:

1. Install high-quality plumbing fixtures, not necessarily expensive ones. The surface of the toilet bowl should not contain micropores, cracks or chips.
2. Use softener tablets and toilet bombs. Dissolving in the tank, they soften the water and help fight mineral build-up.
3. If you live in a country house, install a system of coarse and fine filters, as well as a water softener coming from the well.
4. Give the toilet a good, wet cleaning regularly - at least once a week. The more people use the toilet, the more often it needs to be cleaned.
5. Use a brush after visiting the toilet and constantly remove any dark deposits that appear.

Let's sum it up

When choosing a toilet care composition, it is necessary to take into account not only the material of the plumbing fixtures, but also the pipes - for example, plastic pipes “will not forgive” the use of aggressive acids. In addition, you should not wash the structure too often with chemical components, if you can get by with traditional ones - this way you will preserve the glossy surface for a long time.

Finishing the toilet with PVC panels will greatly simplify the improvement of the interior of the toilet. In a special article, we’ll look at how to finish wall panels in a bathroom, and we’ll also figure out how to choose the right material.

What not to do and why?

Do not remove urinary stones with a sharp knife or wire brush. The result of such actions will be deep scratches, into which dirt, germs and lime deposits very quickly accumulate.

Do not mix chemicals from different manufacturers . The result of such “experiments” is unpredictable.

Do not use dry abrasive powders for daily cleaning of the toilet. Large particles scratch the enamel of the toilet bowl, causing the snow-white surface to become covered with urinary stones many times faster.

Adviсe

A few life hacks from experienced housekeepers will help you keep your toilet plumbing clean. By adjusting the flow in the tank, you can reduce the accumulation of urinary stones in the toilet.

Chemical cleaning products have a strong, unpleasant odor . It is better to close the toilet lid while treating urinary stones. Otherwise, strong odors can cause headaches.

Thick, ingrained yellow deposits will remove battery electrolyte. Having protected your hands with gloves, your eyes with safety glasses, and your respiratory tract with a respirator, the walls of the toilet bowl are filled with electrolyte. In just five minutes, your plumbing will shine like new.

All the most important and useful information on cleaning the toilet is presented in this section.