'Chemical free' ingredient melts away toilet bowl limescale for a shiny finish

07 February 2024 , 11:09

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This hack will get rid of limescale easily (Stock Photo) (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Before you reach for the bleach, give this hack a try.

If you live in a hard water area, then you have almost certainly had to deal with limescale building up in your toilet bowl and leaving an unsightly stain. While limescale impacts those with hard water more, it can appear anywhere if it isn't regularly dealt with, and the chalky deposit can leave your toilet, in particular, looking like it hasn't been cleaned properly - an impression which most of us would be keen to avoid when we have guests in our homes.

The stains can be tinged with black, green, or brown, and bleach just isn't likely to be effective in actually removing the limescale, it will only minimise any colour in the stain seemingly blending it in with the colour of your toilet, but over time a visible stain will likely build back up.

The shops are filled with products that aim to tackle limescale, but many of these are costly, or made with damaging chemicals, so if you're looking to avoid spending too much money and also want to be a bit more environmentally friendly then this expert-approved hack is one to try.

As reported in The Express, expert Laura Marsden from Marigold, explained that there is an incredibly easy way to get rid of limescale in your toilet bowl that will barely cost you anything, but make sure you grab your rubber gloves before giving this a go.

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All you need for this cleaning hack is lemons and salt - both common household items you likely already have in your kitchen. Marsden explains that you should cut your lemon in half and then dip it into some salt, making sure it is thoroughly coated, then simply "Take your lemon and give your toilet a really good scrub. The salt acts as an abrasive, while the acid from the lemon helps break down the dirt. Not only will your basin shine, it'll smell pretty good too."

The acidic nature of lemons means it's a great tool to dissolve limescale, as it will react with calcium carbonate - which is the bulk of what limescale is made up of.

At Tesco and Sainsbury's, a lemon will set you back just 30p and salt will normally cost you between £1 and £2 depending on the size you opt for, making this an incredibly cheap way to rid yourself of limescale stains, as the expert put it: "The reality is everyone’s toilet needs some extra TLC once in a while. If you're looking for a low-cost, chemical-free approach, then definitely give this hack a try."

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Emma Mackenzie