Asked on Jan 15, 2017

Tip: Get rid of the dreaded ring in the toilet!

Easy Peasy to get rid of! Next time you visit your local Dollar store - pick up a pumice stone ( normally used on your feet to remove unsightly rough skin ) Be sure to have your cleaning gloves ready. Gently rub the pumice stone on the ring around the bowl - may take a few minutes of working at it but it does work and no harsh chemicals 😀

(re: Cleaning tips challenge-http://www.hometalk.com/diy/e-cleaning-tips-challenge-26729461)
  45 answers
  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Jan 15, 2017

    I hate those rings!!! I'm trying this for sure!!Thank you!

  • Teri LaRocque Teri LaRocque on Jan 15, 2017

    I am also trying this! Thank you so much!

  • Fer12175055 Fer12175055 on Jan 15, 2017

    I used a razor blade to scrape the ring. but it creates scratches that need bleach later, Does the pumice create the same scratches?

    • See 3 previous
    • Sandy Sandy on Feb 19, 2018

      Yes, it can scratch.. Its an old tip and I don't use it anymore. No matter how careful you are.. the black scratches are not worth the ring.. Use some Borax in toilet and let it sit..then use an old tooth brush or toilet brush.. Hard water .. need to clean the toilet at least 2-3x's a week..

  • Ellen Fandrich Ellen Fandrich on Jan 15, 2017

    I've used a pumice stone for the toilet ring for at least 25 years and never had an issue with scratching the china bowl.

  • NancyandCalvin Remp NancyandCalvin Remp on Jan 16, 2017

    The inside of my tank is stained from hard water would it work on it?

    • See 2 previous
    • Pamela Pamela on Jan 17, 2017

      I believe that it is not new, thus the buildup of minerals. Prior to moving to northeast Indiana, never had the volume of mineral buildup. When we moved in, the deposits were thick even on the plastic parts, cleaned as stated. Still using same internal parts in tank, no leaks indicating any breakdown of plastics or rubber yet, that was 8 years ago.

  • Carol White Hearne Carol White Hearne on Jan 16, 2017

    What a great idea!

  • Lorlq Lorlq on Jan 16, 2017

    wouldn't the pumice damage the porcelain or china wear it away???

  • Jerri Jerri on Jan 16, 2017

    i use vinegar it works for me

    • See 1 previous
    • Joanie Joanie on Feb 20, 2017

      Use what works for you!!

  • Marilyn Marilyn on Jan 16, 2017

    if you can take the smell bleach works great also. just raise the water level above the line of buildup and add a cup of bleach and let it soak. ive also used the pumice but found it scratched a bit. .

    • See 1 previous
    • Lad21822954 Lad21822954 on Jan 01, 2018

      How does one "raise the water level..." in these new water-saving toilets?

  • Donna Avery Donna Avery on Jan 17, 2017

    I use a product called Bar Keepers Friend. It works great on the toilet ring and many other areas as well.

    • See 4 previous
    • 27228081 27228081 on Jan 01, 2018

      Bon Ami is the same as Bar Keepers Friend. They both work wonders on Stainless Steel pots and pans as well as the ring in the toilet bowl.

  • Leslie Mavis Oniki Leslie Mavis Oniki on Jan 17, 2017

    Pumice stone should not scratch. I've used this as well as a piece of old brick. They're both abrasive but softer than the toilet bowl.

  • Pam Obrecht Pam Obrecht on Jan 17, 2017

    It won't scratch the porcelain bowl??

    Seems as though it would~

    • See 4 previous
    • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Feb 18, 2018

      So although on older toilets it works grest on a new toilet it might I just wonder if toilets now are not made of the same quality as the older models,like everything now a days that they expect you to replace within ten years. Before high quality was used but companies lost money because people didn't have to replace items as often,just a thought.

  • Anke Dul-van Dooren Anke Dul-van Dooren on Jan 18, 2017

    hot boiled water and vinager is the way for me.

  • Connie Marse Connie Marse on Jan 18, 2017

    Any ideas for removing copper stains from the toilet bowl? Will the pumice stone work on those?

  • Teresa Seeger-Gesser Teresa Seeger-Gesser on Jan 18, 2017

    Connie - I would try Lime Away or CLR. Good luck!

  • Jerri Jerri on Jan 19, 2017

    CLR and lime away are great but when u have sepice tanks it's an issue u have to check and see if it's safe for sepice use

  • Wendy Elias Wendy Elias on Jan 19, 2017

    You can use CLR and Lime-A-Way on your toilets and showers, but you have to be diligent about replacing and creating the right bacteria in your septic system. One good way is to flush a can of cat or dog food  at LEAST once a month to help create the good bacteria that keeps our septic systems and drain fields in good working order

    • See 2 previous
    • Ron Wilson Ron Wilson on Nov 13, 2019

      It states on the label of CLR is safe for septic. It is in very small print near the bottom. I still don't trust it!

  • Jerri Jerri on Jan 19, 2017

    True but good bacteria for septic tank I use one pkg. Yeast every once a month just pour in your toilet and flush

  • Just add a 500 ml. bottle of coke to your bowl.

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Feb 19, 2017

    I've only used bleàch. One day my curiosity got the best of me and I tried the can of Coke. Guess what? It worked.

  • Yvonne Yvonne on Feb 19, 2017

    I tried a pumice stone and got black scratch marks which will not come off. Bleach, scouring powder, CLR.....nothing works.

    • See 2 previous
    • Barbara Ried Barbara Ried on Jun 06, 2017

      OH YES, YOU WILL SCRATCH!!!

  • Sherrie S Sherrie S on Feb 21, 2017

    I pour vinegar and then add Bon Ami (doesn't scratch). Let it set for about 15 minutes and brush the bowl. I found adding vinegar to the tank a couple times a year to clear out the gunk made a big difference.

  • Gloria Harrell Gloria Harrell on Feb 21, 2017

    I had a blue ring around my toilet and nothing worked.i tried baking soda whitite vinegar,clorox. Comet, bleach line away cor. Nothing worked.then I tried the WORKS.

    You. Cannot find it everywhere.i found it at piggy wiggly store. My blue ring is gone as well as calcium and soap scrum build up.it is fantastic

  • Wester Potter Wester Potter on Feb 22, 2017

    Get a bottle of Vani Sol and make sure you also use it up under the flush ring. Use a scrubber on a handle to get under the lip.

  • Sharlyn Waldrop Sharlyn Waldrop on Feb 25, 2017

    Try dawn dish soap. Let set a bit, brush off

    You will be amazed

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Feb 26, 2017

    One of the few chemical cleaners I keep on hand is ZEP. I used to have to swish my toilet bowl every day, after using Zep, I only have to swish it every 3 weeks.

    other tips can be found here:

    https://www.pinterest.com/irishpack/clean-me-bathroom/

  • Irish Pack Irish Pack on Feb 28, 2017

    WalMart, Lowes or Home Depot. It is an acidic chemical cleaner, but I have never had anything work as well as this does. I have limited my chemical use to Zep and Krud-Cutter--but I think I can phase out Krud Cutter.

  • Valencia Valencia on Mar 10, 2017

    You guys are nice-I use muratic acid


  • Judith Giangrandi Judith Giangrandi on Mar 24, 2017

    Works great & lasts quite a while

  • Lynne Lynne on Mar 25, 2017

    WalMart sells just the thing (rectangular pumice stone) in the cleaning department for less than $2.00. Works great!

    • Carol Elliott Carol Elliott on Mar 26, 2017

      At my former home we had well water that contained iron. So, there was not only rings in the toilet from the hard water, but also severe staining. After many years I discovered the product, The Works. That was over 20 years ago and, to this day, it is my best house cleaning solution. It can be purchased at the Dollar Tree stores (for $1) and at other retail stores. I have also used The Works to remove stains in glass containers such as jars, pitchers, vases and even old drinking glasses I use to root my plant cuttings. Of course, none of the items are poris. Any container items I clean with The Works I hand wash in hot soapy water immediately after cleaning. I then rinse with scalding water, and then put them in the dishwasher. If the stains or build up are especially heavy, just soak longer.

  • San7514277 San7514277 on Apr 06, 2017

    Hello I like this idea but I just want what is e Pumice stone and how is look like

    thanks

  • Marilyn Marilyn on Apr 08, 2017

    same thing happened to me DeAnna. but the bleach will get rid of the line .

  • Gay24239618 Gay24239618 on Jun 06, 2017

    Try pouring vinegar in the toilet.


  • Judy Judy on Jul 11, 2017

    I use Clorox cleaner with bleach and a bowl brush.

  • Linda Linda on Sep 19, 2017

    We ordered a Pumie brush online (can probably purchase at a store) and it worked wonders, I forgot to take a before photo, but I was amazed, my relatively new toilet that had stains looked like a new toilet. I have had to use it one more time as some of the stains were coming back, but very pleased with the product and definitely recommend.


    I tried vinegar, Kool Aid, most everything people recommended, but the Pumie stick did the job.

  • Donna Donna on Sep 19, 2017

    Yes, a pumice stone they work great.

  • Olive Greenz Olive Greenz on Oct 11, 2017

    THIS IS YOUR ANSWER ABOUT TOILET RING. Call Lowe's home store. Order the ACTICLEAN TOILET. It is by American Standard. Tell them you want it installed by them. Buy extra cleaning solutions from them, cheaper. I have told so many people about this toilet. We have had it for seven months. I cleaned the inside once with a swish of the toilet brush. That's it. It does have a kind of loud flush if you have to worry about a light sleeper just on the other side of a thin wall . I could kiss whoever came up with this toilet. I never have to be worried about being embarrassed. It is always spotless. And here's another tip. Go online and buy a 2 0z or whatever bottle of Poo-pourri for each of you bathrooms, so no bad smells bother anyone ever again. To save money go to Amazon and buy a large bottle for refills.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jan 01, 2018

    Agree completely, They are found at my local Walmart for less than two dollars -good for multiple uses. Be sure to follow the use instructions, soaking the pumice stone in water for a few minutes. While the stone is soaking, grab your toilet brush and splash water up around the ring. Note: It’s very important to keep both the stone and the surface wet while cleaning to avoid scratching your porcelain.

  • Dor22153986 Dor22153986 on Jan 01, 2018

    I buy my toilet bowl brushes in the $ store and discard them about once a month.

  • Thomas Ophardt Thomas Ophardt on Feb 18, 2018

    Once a week I drop one dishwater pod in the toilet tank.

  • Char Aaron Char Aaron on Feb 18, 2018

    Ihave found the pumice stones scratch another way for stains to hide..I use a solution of dawn dishliquid and peroxide.just a few drops in a bottle of peroxide does so many jobs!also dollar general has a tablet denture cleaner that works well home depot and other home stores sell a different type of stone often used for kitchen grills good luck every one take care of you too!

  • Daw20832806 Daw20832806 on Feb 18, 2018

    Try denture tabs innexpensive ones ...drop two in bowl works great ...


  • Dee Dee on Apr 04, 2024

    I use magic eraser with Ajax. Works great. I have also used the denture tabs, you need to leave those in overnight.

  • Betsy Betsy on Apr 04, 2024

    Hi Teresa: Great idea. I scrub mine every night before bed, so I don't have the rings. Another thing to do is to get a mirror and look at those little holes around the rim. They can get clogged up and icky. I clean them once a week. And, after using the toilet, keep a bottle of room spray or cheap perfume in there and when the bowl is filling up, spray a couple or 5 squirts into the water. Makes the room smell nice ;)

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 06, 2024

    I love pumice stone for this as well, I haven't found anything that works as well on the toilet bowl!