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How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight Jessica Randhawa
April 28, 2021
4.87 from 517 votes


Last Updated September 19, 2021 | 260 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

How to Remove Toilet Rings from Toilets (without scratching the porcelain)
pictures of toilets with rings before and after cleaning without hard water toilet ring
Image of toilet with brown ring and text overlay showing How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets
before picture of toilet with hard water ring around the water line, after picture of toilet with hard water stain removed. Gloved hard holding drywall screen used to clean toilet.

Learn how to remove hard water stains from your toilet using this quick and easy method! Guaranteed to remove even the worst built-up hard water rings in less than 5 minutes – without scratching the porcelain! Watch the video below to see it in action. 

You can also check out, how to remove hard water stains from glass shower doors.

Before Image of a Toilet with Hard Water Ring around the water line in the bowl, with a after cleaning picture next to it showing toilet bowl without hard water stain

Hard water can be found all over bathroom surfaces including showers, sinks, faucets, and, worst of all, the toilet. Unattractive and extremely frustrating, the last thing any one of us wants is to host a holiday party with a toilet that looks as if it hasn’t been cleaned for months.

You’ll find countless cleaning products available and even more blogs and websites out there claiming that such and such solution or product will rid your toilet of the dreaded ring; some even without the use of chemicals at all.

Most of these claims are false, I’m sorry. I know this from personal experience because I promise, before learning about this trick from my friend at The Home Depot, I had literally tried everything.

This trick works so well, in fact, that it will almost look like you went out and bought yourself a brand new toilet! But don’t take my word for it,

I run an apartment complex, where unfortunately people don’t know how to clean their toilets, I thought I was going to have to replace the toilet, but I was able to clean the toilet and it looks brand new. This will save me tons of money, and time, it literally only took me two minutes to clean the hard water stains. -Kali

Hard water stained toilet

Difference Between Hard and Soft Water?

Hard water: that which contains an appreciable amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Soft water: that which contains less dissolved minerals. Or, when treated, the only ion it may contain is sodium. Naturally falling rainwater is soft water, for example.

How does water become hard? Water becomes harder as it makes its way through the ground and into our waterways. Along the way, this water picks up minerals like chalk, lime, calcium, and magnesium.

Given that hard water contains essential (and super important) minerals one may wonder why we soften our water when it’s hard. 

Hard water is tough on appliances (dishwashers and washing machines, for example) and is hard to clean. Making it less effective and uses more energy due to the mineral buildup that is left behind.

Hard water stained toilet

Supplies Needed to Clean Hard Water From Toilets

  • Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens
  • Barkeepers Friend
  • Reusable Latex Gloves

Before I say anything else, I thought it important to mention that the toilet that you see pictured in these images is “clean”. This includes the before and the after images.

In other words, I cleaned the toilet with actual toilet bowl cleaner before removing the hard water ring.

Anyway, I Googled, “how to remove toilet bowl ring”  or “how to remove hard water stains from the toilet”. Everything I found led me to some cleaning product or a pumice stone.

Since Home Depot is Octavian’s favorite store in the world, we headed there. So that we could spend as much time as possible in the gardening equipment aisle, I asked a nice man who worked there where I could find the pumice stones. Then I asked him pumice stones actually remove hard water rings from toilet bowls.

He stopped me right there.

No no no no no pumice stone, he said. Too much risk of scratching the porcelain. 

Thank goodness, this toilet angel from Home Depot had a better idea – Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens. YOU GUYS, this man saved my toilets!

Here’s how you can save yours.

drywall screen for cleaning toilet

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets (Step-By-Step)

  1. Gather all of the necessary supplies.
  2. Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves and cut 1-2 small square pieces from a sheet of Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens. Set them aside.
  3. Carefully open the Barkeepers Friend and sprinkle it inside of your toilet.
  4. Wearing the gloves, gently yet firmly, begin to scrub away at the hard water buildup in a circular motion with the Drywall screen. Don’t press TOO HARD. Our goal is to remove hard water stains, not destroy the porcelain.
  5. Continue until all of the built-up hard water stains have been removed.
  6. Flush.

half cleaned hard water toilet

Removing Hard Water Stains from Toilets – What Doesn’t Work?

  • Bleach
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Vinegar solution overnight
  • Those tabs that turn your toilet water blue
  • Baking soda
  • Borax and vinegar

None of the above worked. In fact, I later learned that bleach may make toilet rings caused by hard water worse – or even permanent! 

Toilet with hard water removed

Yay! Sparkling CLEAN toilets! 

Seriously, though, that’s all it took. So easy.

If you loved learning how to remove hard water stains from toilets, you may also enjoy these other useful posts:

  • DIY Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots and Painted Stone Garden Markers
  • DIY Instagram Photo Display: Wall Grate
  • How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Glass Shower Doors

toilet with hard water removed

Have you tried using this method to clean hard water from your toilets?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And don’t forget to tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram.

Before Image of a Toilet with Hard Water Ring around the water line in the bowl, with a after cleaning picture next to it showing toilet bowl without hard water stain

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets

4.87 from 517 votes
LEARNING HOW TO REMOVE HARD WATER STAINS FROM TOILETS is possible and super simple.  This quick and easy trick will clean up those hard water stains from your toilets in just minutes without scratching the porcelain! Just in case you don't believe me, I made you all a video ๐Ÿ˜‰
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Author: Jessica Randhawa
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Equipment

  • Reusable Latex Gloves

Materials

  • 1 packet Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens
  • 1 Bar Keepers Friend
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Gather supplies.
    Hard water stained toilet
  • Put on gloves and cut 1-2 small square pieces of Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens. Set them aside.
    drywall screen for cleaning toilet
  • Carefully open the Barkeepers Friend and sprinkle inside your toilet.
    Hard water stained toilet
  • Wearing the gloves, gently yet firmly, begin to scrub away at the hard water buildup in a circular motion with the Drywall screen. Don’t press TOO HARD. Our goal is to remove hard water stains, not destroy the porcelain.
    half cleaned hard water toilet
  • Flush and be amazed!
    toilet with hard water removed

Video

Keyword: hard water toilet ring, hard water toilet stain, remove toilet ring

 

Watch my youtube video to see me removing my toilet bowl ring and hard water stains:

About Jessica

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

84.4K shares
Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

About Jessica Randhawa

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Stephanie Quijano says

    May 15, 2025 at 9:57 am

    Are you able to use sandpaper instead of sanding screens? And if so, what kind do you recommend?

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      May 15, 2025 at 10:20 am

      I do not recommend sandpaper at any grit, as you will probably end up with scratches on the porcelain, instead of taking off the hard water.

      The dry wall sanding screens are worth a trip to the hardware store or waiting for delivery ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. geoff says

    April 4, 2025 at 9:46 am

    Really works. I’ve tried it several times and always a winner. Give it a shot. Think you will
    like great easy results.

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      April 4, 2025 at 10:07 am

      I’m so glad to hear it’s worked so well for youโ€”thanks for sharing your experience! I love that itโ€™s been a consistent go-to for you, and I appreciate the encouragement for others to give it a try too!

      Reply
  3. Carrie says

    January 31, 2025 at 3:33 pm

    5 stars
    This 100% worked. I have tried everything. Genius!

    Reply
  4. Jackie Gabbert says

    November 24, 2024 at 4:05 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Jessica,
    I have company coming for Thanksgiving & I was stressed because no matter what I did or used, I wasn’t able to remove the hard water ring from my toilets! Well, I tried your suggestions & it worked!!! Yayyyyy! I’m so grateful!
    Thanks so much!
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Jackie

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      November 25, 2024 at 7:38 am

      I love hearing that, thanks for the feedback and rating, Jackie ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Tim Mandelcorn says

    November 18, 2024 at 9:22 pm

    5 stars
    Chalk this up as a life hack. Solid gold. Thank you effort and insight.

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      November 19, 2024 at 10:26 am

      Thanks Tim. When I learned this, I had to share it because its just so great if you have this problem ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  6. Andrea Cabrales says

    July 15, 2024 at 8:17 am

    5 stars
    This was so amazing and hardly any effort. A dream cleaning hack! I’m grateful for knowing there is somewhere to look that I can trust has real solutions that actually work–Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      July 15, 2024 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks for the great feedback, Andrea ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  7. Sarah says

    March 20, 2024 at 4:42 pm

    5 stars
    After months of seriously contemplating just getting a new toilet, this worked so well and so easily! I let the Barkeeper’s Friend sit for a few minutes first and I hardly had to scrub. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      March 21, 2024 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks for the feedback, Sarah. I am happy to hear this cleaning hack saved you from buying a new toilet ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  8. Laurie says

    February 19, 2024 at 9:26 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, thank you! Finally, something that worked! I wish I’d taken before and after pictures. My hard water stains were horrendous; long dark vertical streaks all around the bowl. It took some effort but my toilet is sparkling clean. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      February 20, 2024 at 7:29 pm

      Thanks for leaving the review, Laurie ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  9. Judith says

    December 27, 2023 at 1:39 pm

    5 stars
    Finally! Those awful hard water stains in my toilets are gone! Thank you! I have two old porcelain coated cast iron bathtubs. Years of hard water has left impossible to remove yellow stains in the bathtubs. Would this method work on yellow hard water stains?

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      December 27, 2023 at 1:48 pm

      Possibly, but I would test it first in a hard-to-notice area to make sure before diving in… you want to make sure your porcelain-coated tubs are as strong as your toilets ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
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Recipe Rating




4.87 from 517 votes (366 ratings without comment)

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Welcome to The Forked Spoon! I’m Chef Jessica Randhawa, and for over 14 years, I’ve been crafting and sharing more than 1200 recipes, blending delicious flavors with practical kitchen tips and expert culinary advice to elevate your everyday cooking. Learn more about meโ†’

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