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.
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
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.
Supplies Needed to Clean Hard Water From Toilets
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.
How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets (Step-By-Step)
- Gather all of the necessary supplies.
- 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.
- Carefully open the Barkeepers Friend and sprinkle it inside of 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.
- Continue until all of the built-up hard water stains have been removed.
- Flush.
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!
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
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.
How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Toilets
Equipment
Materials
Instructions
- 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!
Video
Watch my youtube video to see me removing my toilet bowl ring and hard water stains:
OMG! I have dealt with a ring around the toilet for years and all I did was slightly lighten it. I used the barkeepers and drywall screens and it absolutely worked! Now I just want to look inside my toilet without a ring. Thank you for the tip!
I know that feeling 😀
I’ve had a ring around my toilet for years, my husband and I made several attempts to remove, nothing worked. I bought the sanding screens (already had barkeepers friend) and in 10 minutes my toilet is completely ring free! Thank you so much for this tip. I can’t believe how easy and quick this was to do.
I love hearing that this worked so well for you, Haley 😀
I had a hardwater ring / stain around the toilet bowl that had been there for more than a year, I just did not know how to remove it. It was pretty horrible. I already had the Barkeepers Friend, which I had used on one of the other toilets, along with a green scrubbing brush. While I was able to get that toilet fairly clean, it took forever to do it. I got the fine drywall screen and took another shot at it, using this method. In less than three minutes, I had completed cleaning the remaining hard water ring on that toilet. The more difficult stain that had been there untouched for a year took about 15 minutes of work, and now it is completely clean. I cannot believe how easy this was to accomplish, using your recommended method. Thank you so much! Both toilets look brand new again.
Jessica…would this work on my rust stained ceramic tiled shower? I can’t seem to find anything that will work.
I do not think it will work on tile – you will probably scratch your ceramic tile if you try it 🙁
THANK YOU! Have tried every other remedy on the internet over the last few years. 5 minutes of work and years of build up gone!
Thanks for the great review and rating, Jen 😀
Man this works so well, than you!
Worked perfectly and within two minutes I was done. Toilet sparkling!
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.
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!
Worked perfectly!
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!
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 🙂
Hello,
I applaud you for trying to make a ‘no’ chemical method. However, as soon as you said ‘Barkeeper’s Friend, my opinion changed.
BLF is a very potent acid. Please understand that that is the reason your method works. I use BKF to make my coffee mugs shine like new because it’s acidic nature is so powerful.
Hi Shirley,
I think you misread the only statement in the write up above with the word “chemical”, as I never claim this to be a no chemical method:
”
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.
”
🙂
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.
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.
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 !
Thanks for the great review 🙂
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 !!
Worked like a Charm! Boom! My wife granted me permanent toilet cleaning duties though…so yeah, thanks for that! 😞 lol. Happy wife Happy Life!
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?
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 🙂