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 😉
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
- Gather supplies.
- Put on gloves and cut 1-2 small square pieces of Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens. Set them aside.
- Carefully open the Barkeepers Friend and sprinkle inside your 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.
- Flush and be amazed!
IF YOU LOVED LEARNING HOW TO REMOVE HARD WATER STAINS FROM TOILETS, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY-
DIY Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots and Painted Stone Garden Markers
Yay! Sparkling CLEAN toilets! And just in time for the Holidays!
Seriously, though, that’s all it took. So easy.
WATCH THIS VIDEO ON HOW TO REMOVE HARD WATER STAINS FROM TOILETS
Oh my goodness this totally worked perfect!!!!
Hi Rebecca, So amazing, right?! I am so happy it worked for you 🙂
This was amazing and the least amount of work to make my toilet spotless! I even cleaned all the water holes. I am so grateful for this method. And under $10 for everything from Home Depot.
YAYY! So happy that it worked for you!
Some of these items are not easily available in UK But I’m gonna give it a go. Beautiful feet.
This works beautifully on sinks, too!
I have also tried every product known to man and the pumice stone. I will give this a try. Thanks
Amazing!! This actually works! I have tried everything for years and have been so embarrassed of my stained toilet. Now they look brand new. Thank you so much!!!
I ruined my color toilet using a pumice stone. It was recommended by a professional. Once this method is used, hard water and minerals are drawn to the damaged area. I’m trying your method on the other toilet. Thank you
Oh man! I’m so sorry! I heard the same thing when I was doing research and my husband was paranoid since we don’t own our home. Needless to say, we were both super happy when this worked! Hope it helps your toilet problem 😉
I too felt the way you did about the toilets in the home I purchased. I thought I would need to replace it!!! But someone at Home Depot told me to use the finest sandpaper. Voila! It worked!
I used Bar Keepers friend on my bathtub years ago and I scratched the finish off. I have been afraid of this product Are you sure that it doesn’t damage the finish?
Hi Carrie,
I can’t speak for all bathtubs, but I did not experience any scratching. Just be sure to start out gently when scrubbing with the Drywall Sanding screens and gauge from there how firm you can press on the porcelain. You could even clean it without the bar keepers friend and follow up with regular toilet bowl cleaner after. Hope that helps!
My hubby said he was afraid of scratching the porcline . But to my surprise hubby bought me the sanding paper.
I believe the stain came from hard water and using one of those blue toilet fresheners.
Believe me I scrubbed on that stain every day.
I tried the sanding paper and a different cleaner as I did not have bar keepers friend. I kept it well lubricated and gently scrubbed with the sand paper. Less than 5 minutes it was gone.
Thanks so much less chemicals going down the drain.
With 6 toilets and VERY hard water this has proven to be such a great time saver! Thanks!
Amazing! Worked great! I didn’t think the stains would ever come off! If you ever see the guy at Home Depot again, tell him “Lisa says thanks!”
Wow, wow, wow…after trying many things over the years and being disappointed, this finally worked! I had a combination of the blue toilet tablet build up on top of hard water. I spent about a total of 1 hour working on two toilets running from one toilet, scrubbing with medium grit dry wall screens (as Fine was not available), then poured more powder, let it sit and then scrubbed until it was gone. I used the Bar Keeper’s Cookware powder version as it works miracles on my stainless steel cookware and I liked it more than the liquid version. I am so grateful for this post. Thank you so much!
I’ve never heard of Barkeepers Friend but I definitely want to try this. Thanks for the tip 🙂
My mom told me years ago to use vinegar in my toilets. I just pour a cup or two in at night after everyone has used the toilet before bed. The next morning, use the toilet brush a little and gone. Sometimes when I haven’t kept up on it, I do it a few nights in a row. Vinegar eats the calcium.
OMG!!! 4/1/18. JUST TRIED IT ON TWO TOILETS AND IT WORKED just liked you stated! Thank you so much for sharing this method as I’ve tried everything and hated looking at the ring! Happy Easter!
I am going to try your tip on my bathroom stool and I will get back with you.
Does it have to be the powder or does the liquid version work as well?
Hi Sharon, I have not used the liquid version myself, so, unfortunately, I cannot give a concrete answer. That said, assuming they are composed of the same chemicals, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. The most important part, however, is the drywall sheet 🙂 It’s magic! Good luck!
Do u have to use sandpaper or could you use a non abrasive scrub pad?
Hello!
I do not recommend using plain sandpaper – it will probably scratch the porcelain and ruin your toilet.
These specific sanding screens are what I recommend, and you can see of the rest of the comments work great – Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens. I have not tried a non-abrasive scrub pad, so I cannot comment on that.
I hope that helps.
Jessica
Hello Ladies, pumice works beautifully, they make a wand so there is no use of rubber gloves &
putting your hands in that nasty toilet. It works beautifully 🙂 I too was concerned about the porcelain
but it truly wasn’t a problem.
This is truly a lifesaver. I live in Las Vegas, Nv. and our water is really not friendly to keeping a gleaming toilet. I went to Home Depot and got the dry wall screen and I already had barkeepers friend and went to work. Within an hour I had all the toilets in my house looking like new. Thanks.
Jess. Great tip! It really works & I even shared the tip with my cleaning girls. Thx. Ps like ur new blog name. U go girl.
Oh good! I have yet to hear any negative feedback 🙂 Love you xo
I’m going out today and getting these supplies. This toliet issue has been bugging me. thanks for the tip!
Hi Elba! Fingers crossed this little tip has your toilets sparkly clean. All the best!
It absolutely works I am so grateful to you thank you so so much
Hi Rose,
I am so thrilled that this worked for you 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know! Have a wonderful weekend!
You are the best! Thank you so much for sharing this! My toilets have had hard water stains since we moved in about a year ago and nothing has worked to get them out. They were so embarrassing. I tried this and it worked amazingly! My toilets look fantastic and now I don’t have to worry about guests thinking I’ve never cleaned my toilets before haha!