A member of the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group asked for advice on removing brown stains around the rim of a toilet, saying the problem was "driving me mad" after moving into a new house. The post drew more than 100 responses, with one product mentioned most frequently: Harpic Power Plus Toilet Cleaning Gel.
Recommended product and how to use it
Group members praised the product for its effectiveness. One member commented: "Harpic black will do the trick, I won't use anything else on my toilets now. Leave it for an hour and your toilet will be sparkling." Dawn Evened wrote: "Use black Harpic bleach, it's amazing, no scrubbing required." Sammie Prescott added: "Black Hapric down your toilet overnight, you can also buy the tablets, which are great too."
The product description states: "Say goodbye to stubborn limescale, tough stains, and bacteria with Harpic Power Plus Toilet Cleaning Gel. Its fast-acting, powerful formula delivers 10 actions in every squeeze - removing rust, urine stains, and dirt build-up while killing 99.9% of bacteria. With easy under-the-rim and underwater action, achieving a deep, hygienic, and sparkling clean has never been simpler."
Price and availability
According to the manufacturer's instructions, the product needs to be left for only 10 minutes, though leaving it for up to an hour ensures thorough disinfection. It is available from a wide range of retailers, including supermarkets and Home Bargains. Pricing varies, but it is currently listed at £1.80 on the Tesco website at the time of writing.
Alternative cola method
Fellow Mrs Hinch enthusiasts also suggested using a bottle of cola as an alternative, since the acid in the fizzy drink reacts with limescale and helps break it down. Lisa Malonoey wrote: "Bottle of cola... leave it overnight, bought mine up a treat." Sammie Prescott said: "Cola is a good trick if you haven't tried that, you don't need an expensive brand. If not, you may need to empty the water." For the best outcome, a full-fat variety should be used and left in the bowl overnight to achieve maximum effect.
