How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets

Let’s start from the beginning.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARD AND SOFT WATER?

• Hard Water is water which contains an appreciable amount of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
• Soft Water, on the other hand, 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?

Great question! I’m so glad you asked.

Water becomes hard 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.

PROS AND CONS OF HARD WATER

Wait. There’s a pro?

Oh yes! read on…

Given that hard water contains all these essential (and super important) minerals one may wonder why we even think of softening our water. I mean, if hard water is better for you and it tastes better, why mess it up?

Well, aside from these obvious benefits, hard water is hard on appliances (dishwashers and washing machines) and is hard to clean. In short, hard water is less effective and uses more energy due to the mineral buildup that is left behind.

And this, my friends, brings me to my next point…

WHAT IS CAUSING THAT UGLY RING IN MY TOILETS?

Hard Water. Period. The end.

Of course, it can be more complex than this as not all toilet rings are created equally. However, if your toilet rings look like mine, it’s safe to say that you have hard water.

Now, let’s fix this problem. Kay?

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO REMOVE HARD WATER STAINS FROM TOILETS

Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens
Barkeepers Friend
Reusable Latex Gloves

Before I say anything else, let me clarify something:

THESE TOILETS ARE CLEAN.

Yes you guys, my toilets were, in fact, clean.

Unless they weren’t…but that’s a separate story titled “my kid pees everywhere except IN the toilet”.

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 (thanks, but, no thanks) or a pumice stone.

Since Home Depot is Octavian’s favorite store in the world, we made the trip. So that we could spend as much time as possible in the gardening equipment aisle, I asked a nice man where to find the pumice stones. Then I asked him if a pumice stone would actually work to clean hard water rings from toilet bowls.

He stopped me right there.

No no no no no pumice stone. Too much risk of scratching the porcelain. So frustrated I almost asked the man to show me to the toilet section.

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

Oh yeah, and it only took me 5 minutes…

METHODS THAT DID NOT REMOVE THE RING FROM MY TOILETS

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

None of the above worked. In fact, I later learned that bleach may make toilet rings caused by hard water worse. or even permanent! So you can only imagine how pissed I was at the claims made by people and products that such-and-such or such-and-such would fix this problem.

Trust me, you guys. I don’t want to piss you off. That would be super lame.

Anyway, let’s clean some toilets!!!

STEPS ON HOW TO REMOVE HARD WATER STAINS FROM TOILETS

1. Gather supplies.
2. Put on gloves and cut 1-2 small square pieces of Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens. Set them aside.
3. Carefully open the Barkeepers Friend and sprinkle inside 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. Flush and be amazed!