Cleaning the toilet is often the most dreaded household chore that many people put off for as long as possible. However, it is important to give your toilet a quick clean at least once a week; otherwise, limescale can begin festering at the bottom of the bowl.
Limescale is a natural stain that forms when sitting water evaporates and leaves behind a mineral residue called calcium carbonate. Over time, these minerals harden into a thick, crusty layer that is too tough for even bleach to break through. However, the cleaning service Keen Clean has revealed that cleaning a toilet properly to get rid of limescale is not as difficult as you might think, as all you need is some lemon juice.
They said: “The mixture works powerfully and deals with the built-up limescale. The lemon juice needs to be left for an hour or so, as when soaked it helps break down the calcium carbonate. After that, you can easily scrub away the limescale and have your toilet clean and looking great again!”
It might sound strange if you have never tried it, but lemon juice contains citric acid, which can quickly dissolve calcium carbonate, the main component of limescale.
Limescale is tricky to remove as it bonds to a surface, but the acid in lemon juice breaks down and softens the stain, making it incredibly easy to remove.
Bleach will not work to clear limescale. It is a disinfectant that kills germs, but it has not been designed to break down mineral buildup and will only whiten the stain.
Lemon juice is a simple yet very effective way to remove limescale, and it is also naturally antibacterial, so it will clean your toilet without having to use any harsh chemical products.
How to use lemon juice to clean a toilet
To begin, cut a lemon in half and squeeze out as much juice as possible. It is better to use fresh fruit if you can, as the citric acid will be more potent, but you can try this cleaning method out with bottled lemon juice.
Then, pour the lemon juice directly into a toilet bowl and try to focus on any area with limescale stains.
Let the lemon juice sit in the toilet for at least one hour, but the longer you leave it, the more effective it will be as the citric acid needs time to break down the limescale. Once the time is up, simply use a toilet brush to gently scrub any stained areas, and the limescale should crumble away.
If you wish, you can also add some baking soda to the bowl at this stage, and it will create a fizzy reaction that will help lift the stain. However, never mix bleach with lemon juice when cleaning a toilet, as the acid in lemon juice lowers the pH of the bleach and can release toxic chlorine gas.
Only use natural products to remove limescale, and your toilet should be sparkling clean without having to scrub the bowl or buy chemical cleaning products.
