A yellow-stained toilet is often caused by limescale, which should be cleaned swiftly once noticed as it can interfere with the flow of water and can cause clogging.
While many people may turn to bleach or other harsh chemical cleaners they are ineffective in breaking down the minerals inside limescale.
Bleach is a disinfectant, which means it can easily clean away stains but can damage and discolour the surface of a toilet if used improperly to wash away limescale.
However, Jo, a sustainable cleaning expert and founder of A Rosetinted World has said she tried many popular remedies online to tackle toilet limescale such as bleach, fizzy cola, and white vinegar only to find a natural solution that works best.
She said: “Nothing seemed to be working, and I was getting more self-conscious about my loo. I hated using some of the products, as they certainly were not environmentally friendly, full of surfactants and chemical agents. And then I realised I had the solution in my cupboard.”
Jo discovered that citric acid, an organic acid which is produced naturally in citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges, is the key to cleaning a yellow toilet as it can dissolve the mineral deposits in limescale.
She said: “I’d bought a box of citric acid powder to make bath bombs before Christmas, but still had half a packet left locked under the kitchen sink. It mentions on the side that it is good for removing limescale but did not mention toilets. I thought that I could try it and see.”
To remove limescale. Jo placed a couple of teaspoons of citric acid powder directly onto the toilet bowl and then poured hot water into the bowl as well.
She said: “ I added my half a packet of citric acid crystals [and] I added some very hot water (as hot as your hands can stand – but not boiling water just in case your toilet cracks) from the tap to just above the staining line.”
Then, she left the solution to sit for a couple of hours. For particularly stubborn limescale, it is best to leave the solution in the toilet overnight.
After leaving the solution to sit, Jo when flushed the toilet, gave the toilet a quick scrub and discovered the limescale was completely gone.
She said: “I was amazed with the results! My bowl was spotless!
“Now I know that citric acid is a great natural cleaner for everyday use when diluted, but this just shows how effective it can be even in the most extreme circumstances. I am delighted to get my toilet back to looking pristine.”
Citric acid crystals can be bought at Wilkinsons, B&Q or Amazon for around £5, making it an incredibly cheap but highly effective way to remove limescale without having to spend ages scrubbing at it.
