Hard water contains high amounts of dissolved minerals, including calcium and magnesium. As water flows through your pipes, some of those minerals get left behind. Over time they build up, causing stains and scaling.
One of the most obvious places this shows is the toilet. You might see a white or rust-colored ring at the waterline, or staining at the base of the bowl. If it’s bad enough, limescale can plug the water jets under the rim, producing slow, weak flushes.
Cleaning With Vinegar or Other Acids
Vinegar or another acidic cleaner will break down the mineral deposits so you can brush them away. Wear gloves and eye protection, and open a window for ventilation.
Important: never mix acidic cleaners with bleach or ammonia-based products. The combination releases chlorine gas. If you have already used a bleach-based cleaner in the bowl, flush thoroughly and let it clear before applying anything acidic.
Cleaning the Bowl
Pay attention to three areas: the base of the bowl, the waterline, and the water jets below the rim. All three are prone to buildup.
Step 1: Remove water from the bowl
You want your cleaning solution working undiluted. Use a plunger to force water out of the u-bend. Alternatively, turn off the toilet’s water valve near the floor and flush a couple of times — this drains both bowl and tank, and with the valve closed the toilet won’t refill.
Step 2: Apply your cleaning solution
Pour the cleaner onto the affected area and give it time. With a vinegar solution you may need to wait a few hours for it to penetrate and dissolve hardened calcium.
Step 3: Scrub with a firm-bristled brush
Use a toilet brush or scouring pad. Do not use sandpaper or metal scraping tools — they scratch the porcelain, and those scratches lead to faster staining and buildup afterward.
Step 4: Clean the water jets
Use a foam paintbrush to work the solution around and into each jet under the rim, pressing it in as best you can. Let it sit, then scrub with a stiff-bristled brush. A small wooden skewer helps clear sediment out of the jets.
Preventing Buildup in the Future
Cleaning is a temporary fix. And while highly acidic cleaners do remove calcium effectively, repeatedly exposing fixtures to harsh chemicals causes its own damage over time.
To avoid the buildup altogether, consider a water softener. Softeners remove calcium and other hardness minerals before they reach your fixtures, so the scaling never forms — in your toilets, your pipes, or anywhere else.
That means appliances last longer and look better without a cupboard full of cleaning products and hours of scrubbing. Many people also find soft water easier on their hair and skin.
If you’re tired of calcium buildup, call (775) 324-2001. We’ll send a local water specialist to do on-site testing and design the right system for your household.