How to remove limescale in the toilet: causes of plaque in the toilet

Every house has plumbing fixtures, including a toilet. In order for the product not to lose its attractive appearance, to serve for many years, it requires regular, careful maintenance. Every good housewife knows about this and tries to keep the plumbing clean.

But what if limestone deposits start to accumulate on the surface of the toilet? This problem is unpleasant, but you can cope with it. Let's look at what methods exist to combat limestone deposits, which began to accumulate on the new plumbing or you inherited from the previous owners of the apartment.

Reasons for the appearance of plaque in the toilet

Before proceeding with the solution of the problem, it is necessary to find out the cause of its occurrence. This will prevent limescale from reappearing.

What is limestone? Scale is deposits of limestone and other minerals found in tap water.

These substances are contained in the water of open reservoirs, and in the multistage purified water. It turns out that the more often you drain the water, the faster the unpleasant plaque will accumulate on the walls of the plumbing.

Failure to remove limescale deposits in a timely manner can result in damage to the toilet. Indeed, over time, plaque accumulates, begins to penetrate into the functional holes of the plumbing. This leads to a malfunction of the product and its failure.

In addition, pathogenic bacteria, mold, and fungus appear on the toilet. This poses a threat to the health of all household members. Therefore, it is required to promptly clean the plumbing, remove the already formed plaque.

In addition to lime deposits, urinary tartar may appear on the walls of the plumbing fixtures. This speaks of inaccuracy - households are too lazy to drain the water after each visit to the bathroom. Therefore, drops of urine accumulate on the surface of the plumbing. At first, they form ugly stains, and if they are not removed in time, a urinary stone will appear.

Attention! If your toilet has a rough surface, you should think about purchasing new plumbing, because on such a surface, urinary tartar and limescale accumulate faster.

How to remove limescale

You can cope with the resulting pollution with both store and folk remedies. In order to choose the right cleaning agent, it is important to know what they are. There are three varieties in total:

1. Abrasive powders. With the help of powder, you can take care not only of the toilet bowl, but also of the water drain tank. The main thing is to remember: abrasive particles can leave small scratches on the surface of the product. Because of this, plaque can build up faster. Therefore, after cleaning, you should thoroughly rinse the plumbing with running water.
2. Alkaline substances. They are completely safe for plumbing, gently remove dirt and do not have a pungent odor. In addition to the caring effect, they disinfect the toilet bowl.
3. Acidic. These are the most effective substances that can cope even with strong limescale. When using this option, gloves, a respiratory mask, and glasses should be prepared.

Professional remedies

On sale there is a wide range of products designed specifically for the care of plumbing fixtures. Their advantage is that in addition to cleaning the product, they disinfect and leave a pleasant smell.

The following products are especially popular among housewives:

1. Silit. It has a thick, viscous consistency, so it is consumed very sparingly. The composition of the product contains hydrochloric acid, so "Silit" well removes even old dirt. But you only need to work with him with gloves.
2. "Dressing Duck". The tool also contains hydrochloric acid. Perfectly removes plaque and urinary stones. Plus, it's easy to apply thanks to the specially curved spout.
3. Domestos. It has a thick consistency, which means it is consumed sparingly. It contains acid, so it copes well with plaque.
4. Comet. Contains sulfuric acid, therefore it must be used correctly. It is advisable to wear gloves and a respirator. "Komet" is able to cope even with old deposits.
5. Sanita. One of the most inexpensive drugs. But this does not affect the quality of surface cleaning. The substance well removes dirt from any surfaces: acrylic, tiles, porcelain.

Reference! In order not only to get rid of plaque, but also to prevent its formation, purchase special tablets for the flush tank. They not only take care of the plumbing and prevent the formation of deposits, but also disinfect and give a pleasant scent.

Traditional methods

Each housewife can boast of her own way of dealing with dirt and plaque. After all, this does not require the purchase of special tools - everything can be found at home:

1. Coca-Cola. An unusual use of the famous carbonated drink. But any housewife will tell you that Coca-Cola does a great job of cleaning the toilet. To remove limescale deposits from plumbing, pour soda water under the rim of the plumbing and leave for an hour. Then you just need to wipe the surface with a soft cloth and rinse with running water.
2. Table vinegar. It is necessary to preheat the solution and add one tablespoon of baking soda to it. The composition must be carefully applied to the places of limestone accumulation and left for 6-9 hours, then rinse the product.
3. Lemon acid. One of the most common methods because it is easy to use. The powder should be poured onto the dirt spots and left for 2-3 hours.

Cardinal cleaning methods

To remove old dirt you will need "heavy artillery":

1. Orthophosphoric acid. The substance removes old stubborn deposits, removes rust from the inner surface of the tank and the drain mechanism. Moreover, it is safe for the human body.
2. Hydrochloric acid. It is a strong substance, so you need to use it carefully - wear gloves, glasses, a respirator. It is enough to wipe the surface of the sanitary ware with a sponge soaked in solution to dissolve and remove dirt. The product must not be used if plastic pipes are connected to the plumbing.
3. Electrolyte. Can be purchased at any car dealership. It is an extremely caustic substance, therefore, it requires compliance with safety measures. Will remove the toughest dirt, but cannot be used regularly.

How to prevent limescale build-up

Of course, removing impurities is easy enough. But it's even easier to prevent them from appearing. Therefore, you need to follow the following guidelines:

1. The toilet should be cleaned regularly. It is advisable to do this once a week.
2. After use, drain the water and use a brush.
3. Put special tablets in the waste container.
4. Wipe the toilet seat and surface with damp wipes.

Even the oldest dirt can be removed with special products. But it is much easier not to think about it, not to waste time, but to keep the plumbing clean by doing regular cleaning.