‘Black’ toilet limescale stains ‘melt away’ with ‘one application’ of 88p item

In many areas, tap water is known as hard water because it carries dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. 

When hard water evaporates, it leaves behind minerals that react and form a hard, chalky-like buildup known as limescale. 

Most homeowners find out that limescale is building up in their toilets when a nasty black, brown or yellow stain inside the bowl doesn’t come off easily. 

Usually, the mineral deposits are so hard that a toilet brush is not enough to remove them.

This is exactly what one Mrs Hinch fan found to be true as she took to a dedicated Facebook cleaning page to ask for some advice for her stained toilet bowl.

Posting a picture of the bottom of her toilet bowl looking completely black, Nicola Pickett wrote: “No judgement please. I’ve tried everything to get my toilet clean, any advice?”

The post was inundated with responses as nearly 300 group members commented on the post. While there were suggestions to use natural methods, the majority recommended using Harpic Power Plus toilet cleaner tablets. 

Sandra Wells wrote: “Use the Harpic toilet cleaner tablets. My toilet gets hideous and covered in black impossible to remove stains. This takes it right off.”

Tania Green said: “Black Harpic tablets. Overnight and repeat.” Posting a picture of the Harpic tablets, Abi Furr instructed: “Throw two of these down it and leave overnight. It only takes one application. In the morning flush the toilet and stains will have melted away.”

Parris Cleathero claimed: “Harpic tablets worked wonders for mine.” Cal Banbury said: “The Black Harpic tablets. When I moved my toilet was disgusting and I tried everything. The tablets they do are amazing.”

According to the Harpic website, their toilet cleaning tablets can remove “100 percent” of limescale and “deep clean without scrubbing”.

For regular cleaning, use one tablet and leave for at least six hours, but for the removal of heavy limescale buildup, use two tablets and leave overnight.

Harpic Power Plus toilet cleaner tablets can be picked up from Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda for £3.50 for a pack of eight. As two tablets only need to be used for stubbornly stained toilets. This works out as 88p per use.

For those who prefer to take the natural route, white vinegar and baking soda are great to use, however the toilet may require scrubbing and multiple applications.

Gina Whellens said: “Bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar. Get all the water out and put a full tub of baking soda and a full bottle of vinegar in. It will fizz up, leave it a couple of hours then scrub and it should come up like new.”

Beth Olivia wrote: “Hi lovely, mine got like this a little. Take the water out. Bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar, then leave for an hour. Flush and scrub.”

Jodie Evans commented: “I used some bicarbonate soda and white vinegar and then let it sit for a bit and then went in with a toilet brush.”