Cleaning the toilet can be one of the most dreaded chores, especially if the toilet seat is looking discoloured or stained, but it is easy to do in minutes with the right items. 

There is no shame in having a yellow toilet seat, as it usually means limescale has built up in that area. Limescale is a harmless but unpleasant-looking stain made up of minerals from water evaporating. 

Another reason toilet seats become stained is that bleach or other severe cleaning products should not be used on them, as they will react with the seat material to cause discolouration. 

However, cleaning your toilet seat and getting it white again is incredibly simple as the experts at Purdy and Figg have shared that all you need is a simple and natural product. 

They said: “Ditch the harsh chemicals from a bottle, forget the toilet gels, bombs and sprays that leave your eyes watering and head for our favourite cleaning ingredient. Citric acid.”

How does it work? 

Citric acid is found in citrus fruits such as lemons and has become an incredibly popular natural cleaning product due to its ability to break down tough stains and limescale. 

The minerals in limescale dissolve when they come into contact with citric acid. Citric acid is also mildly antibacterial, so it can remove the yellow stains on your toilet seat. 

You can use lemon juice if you wish, but a concentrated and crystalised version of citric acid can be found in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets and hardware stores. 

At Asda, citric acid costs £1.75 and is also the same price at Tesco, while at B&Q it costs £2.25.

The experts added: “Often hailed as one of the most diverse natural cleaning agents, citric acid is the perfect addition for cleaning your toilet. 

“Its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, de-greasing and whitening power has been used by thousands of people across the globe.”

How to use citric acid to clean toilet seats

To begin, boil the kettle and pour the water into a heatproof container.

Then, once the hot water has cooled slightly, put on some marigold gloves and add your citric acid, then wait for it to dissolve completely. 

Clean your toilet seat with the cleaning solution and a sponge. You can also use an old toothbrush to clean any hard-to-reach areas. 

For stubborn stains, leave the citric acid to sit for roughly 10 minutes before wiping the toilet seat. 

Make sure to use something gentle to wipe the toilet seat with, and do not scrub too hard as it could scratch the seat. 

Your toilet seat should now be clean, white, and completely stain-free, so you will not have to worry about unsightly yellow marks in the future.