It turns out you do not need to scrub for ages or use harsh chemical cleaners to clean your toilet, as there is one simple product that is much more effective. Toilets can often be tricky to keep clean due to limescale, a crusty stain made up of minerals from water evaporating that will stick stubbornly to a surface. 

Since water is always at the bottom of your toilet bowl, limescale can always be an issue but will be a greater problem if allowed to build up as it gradually hardens and discolours over time. Some people suggest pouring cola or bleach down your toilet to dissolve limescale, but the bathroom experts at Bernstein suggest citric acid may be the better solution.

They said: “Citric acid is a natural detergent that can dissolve limescale. It usually comes in powder form and can be purchased in organic food stores.

“It's very easy to use: just drop two tablespoons of citric acid into the toilet, let it work its magic for about 20 minutes, scrub with a brush and then flush. Not only does it remove limescale, it also gives the toilet a pleasantly fresh scent.”

Citric acid originally comes from citrus fruits such as lemons but has been made into a more concentrated powder that can usually be found in the cleaning aisle of supermarkets or at hardware stores. 

You need an acidic substance to remove limescale, which is why citric acid is so effective. It is strong enough to break down the minerals in limescale while still being gentle on your toilet. 

Bleach is a great disinfectant but cannot get rid of limescale as it cannot break down calcium carbonate, which is the main mineral in limescale. 

Using bleach on toilet stains can make the problem worse. It will only whiten the limescale instead of cleaning it, so it will continue building up in the bowl. 

How to remove toilet stains with citric acid 

All you need to do is pour two tablespoons of citric acid down the toilet with some warm water. The heat helps dissolve limescale. 

However, ensure the water is not boiling hot from the kettle as extreme temperatures can crack the material on your toilet. 

Let the citric acid sit on the toilet for at least 20 minutes, but for more stubborn stains, leave it alone overnight. This gives the cleaning solution time to break down the limescale. 

Once the time is up, simply give the toilet bowl a gentle wipe with a toilet brush, and any limescale should crumble away. 

Flush the toilet, and it should be sparkling clean without having to scrub.