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Home » How To: » How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
April 28, 2021
4.88 from 439 votes


Last Updated September 19, 2021 | 230 Comments

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

83.6K shares
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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

4.88 from 439 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 😉
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Author: Jessica Randhawa
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Materials

  • Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens
  • Bar Keepers Friend
  • Reusable Latex Gloves
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

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

83.6K shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. xilex says

    March 5, 2023 at 4:13 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks, works wonderfully. A few stubborn spots remain, will go at it in the future, but hoping it won’t scratch it.

    Do you have any tips for getting rid of chronic water deposits on a countertop and in a sink? I don’t think the sink is porcelain.

    Reply
  2. Day says

    February 10, 2023 at 9:41 pm

    5 stars
    Wow, I tried several different ways before and had no luck. Can’t believe I hadn’t tried this method sooner! Our toilet looks brand new and I’m so relieved the stains are gone. Thank you for sharing with us!

    Reply
  3. Mori says

    December 27, 2022 at 1:35 pm

    5 stars
    Worked perfectly!

    Reply
  4. Linda says

    December 26, 2022 at 11:53 am

    Thank you for showing how to clean hard water stains off porcelain. My tub has been leaking water and made a ugly yellow ring by the timethat I got it fixed. I am on my way to get the supplies. God bles you!

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      December 26, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      This technique is specifically for hard water stains on Porcelain Toilets – bathtubs can be made of various materials that are usually not Porcelain.

      Unless your bathtub is porcelain, I would proceed with extreme caution testing a tiny spot in a hidden spot first or abort using this technique altogether 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kelly says

    December 1, 2022 at 10:44 am

    Can I use this application in the sink which is porcelain and bathtub and sides of bathtub where the water stands after showering. The bathtub is NOT porcelain? It’s a poured tub and wall.

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      December 1, 2022 at 11:26 am

      I think it should be fine on the porcelain sink but test a small, less noticeable section first before going all in. 🙂

      I would not try it on your tub.

      Reply
  6. mjt says

    November 20, 2022 at 7:17 pm

    5 stars
    Seriously … this IS, without a doubt, THE BEST solution to this situation

    Our house is about to be listed. We have five bathrooms – all toilets are stained at the water rim (we are on a water well system out here in the country, so not on “city water”)

    I sprinkled Bar Keepers around the rim of water line and let sit for 30 minutes… then cut a one inch square of fine drywall sanding screen for each toilet

    It literally took less than five minutes for each toilet. I tried everything else, but this is the OBSOLUTE solution !! Unbelievable!

    Thank you sooo much !

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      November 20, 2022 at 7:41 pm

      Thanks for the great review 🙂

      Reply
  7. Colleen says

    November 19, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    I just have to say that I have been researching how I can get rid of these stains and trying ALL the things for years. I literally thought a new toilet was next in my basement and this method removed all stains. I am in shock !! Thank you !!

    Reply
  8. FrankL says

    November 3, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    5 stars
    Worked like a Charm! Boom! My wife granted me permanent toilet cleaning duties though…so yeah, thanks for that! 😞 lol. Happy wife Happy Life!

    Reply
  9. Mary says

    October 25, 2022 at 9:07 am

    5 stars
    Using the fine 3M drywall screen removed the stains in my toilet. I recently moved into a home with 2 toilets that have brown stains in the well. It looks like someone tried to clean those stains without success. It looks like they scratched the finish of the toilet also. I haven’t been able to find my drywall screen yet, but I noticed I had some fiberglass window screen that is very similar to the fine drywall screen. Do you know if the drywall screen is the same material as a fiberglass window screen?

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      October 25, 2022 at 10:44 am

      The scratches were probably from the previous owner/occupier using a pumice stone or something besides 3m drywall screens.

      I do not know about fiberglass window screens, so I do not want to advise wrong at the risk of you scratching your toilets.

      You can buy 3m Drywall Screens at Amazon here 🙂

      Reply
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Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

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