Cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie, known as Lynsey Queen of Clean, has shared two ways to tackle stubborn brown toilet stains using household items, with no harsh chemicals needed. The stains are not what people often assume, but are caused by limescale and hard water deposits building up over time.
Citric acid method
The first approach involves using citric acid, described as a "go-to to break down that heavy limescale." For particularly bad stains, Lynsey recommends pouring an entire 250g box down the toilet and leaving it overnight to work. By morning, the limescale should have "broken down," so rinsing the toilet will make it disappear.
She highlighted "the problem with bleach," noting that the stain initially appears to vanish but "comes back." In contrast, "citric acid will break it down and stop it from coming back." Dri-Pak Citric Acid is available on Ocado for £2.30.
Pumice stone removers
Lynsey compared toilet pumice stone removers to "removing hard skin off our feet," but noted these versions are "designed specifically for loos." After use, she advises washing them with antibacterial washing up liquid, letting them dry, and keeping them in a sealed bag for reuse.
For "pretty bad" limescale, she suggests wearing a rubber glove, using the pumice stone to scrape the stain away. The removers are "non-scratch and non-abrasive," so they won't damage the toilet. "It works so so well," she said, explaining the limescale will be gone for good after about a minute of use. Two pumice stone toilet cleaners are available from B&Q for £6.99 and can be used repeatedly.
