How to Remove Hard Water Stains in Your Toilet

Hard water stains are a build-up of calcium and residue of other minerals that leave dark marks on toilets, sinks and bathtubs. Although there are many bathroom cleaners to choose from, your kitchen might have just what you need to get rid of hard water stains. With a little bit of time and scrubbing, your toilet will look as good as new!

Remove Hard Water Stains With White Vinegar and Baking Soda

One solution is to soak the stain with vinegar before scrubbing with baking soda. Often, hard water stains are found underneath the toilet rim. Soak paper towels with vinegar and line the rim. Wait approximately 30 minutes, or longer, before removing the paper towels. Then use a scrub sponge and baking soda to remove the rest of the stain.

Use Borax and Vinegar To Remove Hard Water Stains

If you’d rather keep your hands clean, pour a quarter of a cup of Borax directly into the toilet bowl. Use a toilet brush to mix it into the water before adding a cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes, and then use the toilet brush to scrub away the stains.

Commercial Products For Stain Removal

Of course, there are many cleaners that can be easily purchased to remove hard water stains. They should be marketed as acidic toilet bowl cleaner, limescale remover or tough stain removers. However, how well these products work depends on the quality of the product and the makeup of your home’s water.

Keeping a clean toilet may seem impossible, especially if you have a large family. Luckily, there are many ways to remove stains and keep your toilet bowl looking fresh and clean. If you’re thinking of switching to soft water, or have questions concerning the water softener in your home, visit or call Kinetico San Antonio today!

Did you know San Antonio has some of the hardest water in the country? Check out our post on San Antonio’s water hardness here.