How to get rid of ring in toilet bowl

Question

I,ve  scrubbed with  sand paper and it helped but never went completely away   any more ideas

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Sand paper may have put you down the road to ruin. Toilets are 'glazed' and the surface is very smooth and shiny when new, the smoother the surface the easier it is to keep it clean. The sand paper may have put small scratches into this smooth top layer. Now the soling will have a better chance of 'grabbing hold'.

When I worked in the pharmaceutical industry we had differing levels of interior finish on our stainless steel vessels. The more utility grade tanks had simple 'sanded' type of finish similar to the brushed stainless look of some appliances. The higher end vessels had an electropolished interior which was almost mirror like. The smoother shiny vessels were so much easier to clean as soiling could not get established on the 'slick' surfaces.

Shari · Answer

Yes, it could be if your toilet was older to start with, years of scrubbing and chemical cleaners started to wear away the protective finish and then the sandpaper didn't help. Your water may be contributing to the problem too. Do you get your water from a well (like I do)? You might try a pumice stone, which is made for cleaning buildup off the inside of toilets. You might also want to try pouring white vinegar in the toilet before you go to bed and let it soak overnight. If those things don't work, it may just be time to replace the toilet, which is what I finally did after we purchased a house that had the original, 1978 toilets. I could never get them clean enough and now the new toilets take minimal effort to clean.

Robyn · Answer

I swear by a product called 'Don Aslett's Foaming Bowl Cleaner'. I order it online. It is nothing short of amazing.

Sherrie · Answer

The last resort is to empty the water from the toilet and use muriatic acid. Bathroom needs to be well ventilated, a old paint brush paint it on and rinse it. Until the hard water build up is gone. This is a last ditch solution. Also when you rinse it use a lot of water so when you flush it the acid is well diluted. The works, and Sno Bowl both have muriatic Acid in it in case you want to try a lighter version.

Sherrie · Answer

PS use a mask so you don't inhale it.

Sia@South 47th · Answer

@Sherrie Yep that acid will burn the skin off ya and blind you as well! But it does work as you have pointed out, in certain last ditch efforts! xo

Sia@South 47th · Answer

I'm thinking just take the old toilet out, use it in the garden, replace with a new water friendly version. Inexpensive DIY project and you get a Two-fer! xo

Comet · Answer

We had two toilets that we had put in 23 years ago when we moved in to this house--both had extreme lime build up-----every very hard well water!--and you couldn't keep or get them clean no matter what. Tried the pumice--made it look worse! The Lime Away--nope. Vinegar Lysol lime remover---nada. Even dumping the bowls and using oven cleaner did not work (it helped the tub build up on some sort of composite plastic tho!)

No scrub brush would touch this stuff because it is a rough deposit on the sides of the tank--basically you are 'Building a new rock formation!' And when you try and clean it you are just making more rough surface for stains to cling to. Eventually BOTH of these toilets failed (within a few weeks of each other!) due to the build up.

We went to Lowes and got two new $85 EACH toilet 'sets'--come with EVERYTHING you need inc the wax ring and a seat---and are 'dual flush'. And I am very happy to say MUCH easier to keep clean! IT actually seems like the walls of the bowls are smoother and don't 'grab' as much 'stuff' to get off. And under the rim stays much cleaner too. Win win. And a half an hour to remove and replace. Hmmm--hadn't thought of using the old ones in the garden tho!!!!!!

Wendy Baker · Answer

The cheapest way to get rid of the ring cost me $ .50. Kool-Aid Lemonade packets. I actually did this this weekend and I had to use 3 packs but now the ring is gone. Who would have thunk it but it actually works. Give it a try. :)

Wendy Baker · Answer

If u decide to try it flush the toilet let it finish running then add the packet along the ring. Wait about an hour and scrub the ring and flush. The ring may not be gone but it should have faded some. If not then repeat til it's gone. Mine took 3 tries but looks great.

Colleen S · Answer

one bottle of cola, let it soak for 15min &flush away!

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Hard water rings are normally calcium carbonate. Which is dissolved in acid. The kool-aid works because it is citric acid, the coke works because it is Phosphoric acid.

Toilet bowl cleaners are 'BASIC' not acidic. It is merely a simple understanding of basic chemistry.

Sia@South 47th · Answer

@KMS Woodworks Phosphoric acid is a Ternary Acid. I loved Chemistry, when I was in in Grad School. I actually could talk all day about it (sometimes, when I'm in the mood), which is not right now ) ;)

KMS Woodworks · Answer

@Sia@South 47th don't you just love science geeks!

Sia@South 47th · Answer

@KMS Woodworks Heck ya!!! xo

Kathy · Answer

be careful what you pour down your toilet if you have septic tank. I don't think acid would be a good thing for your septic system

Leslie M · Answer

A good old fashioned pumis stone. That's all I use on my very hardwater ringed toilets. Gets every bit of the ring out. I turn the toilet water off and then flush it. When it fills back up it doesn't rise all the way up exposing the ring so you can see it good to scrup it. Then fill tank and flush to see if it all came off. If not repeat.

Aut1362948 · Answer

Add 1 cup of white vinegar and swish around toilet bowel the let it soak while you do something else. Light scrub with toilet brush and ring is gone.

Ricki forman · Answer

I also have a toilet problem but mine in under  the rim where the water comes out so it is ex possible to soak that area.  Any ideas

Lisa Soles · Answer

I have tried everything in my toilets, since my husband started using that pumis stone that stone wore the finish off and now it is hard to clean. I am going to try that muriatic acid. Where did you purchased it at.

Barb · Answer

Buy Easy off fume free oven cleaner (blue can). I bought mine at Walmart. Spray it on and let sit a bit. It is not strong like regular oven cleaner and cleans beautifully. If it doesn't all come off the first time, try it again. I am not sure this works in the toilet but it works in a very dirty shower so I would give it a try.

Debbie Machmer · Answer

I used a pumis stone and now have a permanent scratch ring...threw that sucker out. I use bleach and let it sit in the blow. I clean under the rim with baking soda and an old toothbrush. to clean out mineral deposits from holes I use a dental pick purchased on ebay.

Kim Arrington Ashby · Answer

I used commercial strength vinegar I found at Lowes.

Aspadistra Pronk · Answer

Coca cola, believe it or not.

How to get rid of ring in toilet bowl

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How to get rid of ring in toilet bowl

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