Banish stubborn toilet limescale in '20 minutes' using 1 natural item - not vinegar

Limescale, a persistent blight in many UK homes, can leave behind unsightly toilet stains from calcium and magnesium deposits that result from hard water evaporation.

In the damp domains of kitchens and bathrooms, hard water is notorious for leaving deposits on sinks, showers, and toilets. These marks are not just sore to the eyes but, if left unchecked, can inflict long-term damage on home appliances.

The humble loo endures the brunt of this problem, due to its constant use and the standing water it holds, creating perfect conditions for layers of limescale to solidify.

Combatting this doesn't always go as planned, particularly with conventional methods like bleach or vigorous scrubbing.

While bleach has the deceptive appearance of solving the issue by bleaching the limescale, it is a short-lived fix; the stains often come back worse than before, reports the Express.

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A recent plea posted on the Mrs Hinch Army Cleaning Tips Facebook group underscored how arduous dealing with this problem can be: "Since we moved in, our toilet has had these horrid brown stains in the bowl. I've tried bleach, Viakal, Harpic toilet tablets and some serious scrubbing and nothing has shifted it so far. Any advice on what else we can try?"

Over 223 group members responded with suggestions within just one day. A common recommendation was the use of citric acid a seemingly miracle solution.

One user, Lisa Clarke, recommended, "Pour in 125g citric acid and leave for a few minutes. The limescale will be gone."

Marie Robinson chimed in with enthusiasm, saying, "I will never use anything else than citric acid. It flushes away after using it."

Leah Clarkson advised: "Bung two cups of citric acid down it and in 20 minutes it'll be as clean as a whistle.

"You can buy it online or from a local zero-waste store. The stuff is brilliant. My toilet was invaded by limescale and this sorted it right out."

Rachel Murray revealed: "Honestly, I had such a disgusting toilet, tried absolutely everything, but citric acid was my saviour. I literally look at my toilet in amazement."

It is not recommended to use whole lemons for toilet cleaning due to their lower concentration of citric acid compared to pure citric acid.

With only 1.44 grams of citric acid per ounce of juice, using lemons would require a significant amount to match the effectiveness of a small quantity of concentrated citric acid.

As a natural acid, citric acid is free from harsh chemicals or fumes, making it a safe option for eco-friendly cleaning tasks.