4 easy solutions for cleaning toilet bowl stains

Ceramic toilets are highly resilient and even bad stains on neglected toilets can be removed with household chemicals. Here are 4 simple methods for tackling stubborn stains on your toilet bowl.

The cleaning methods outlined below need time to work, so make a sign saying "Do not flush" and leave it on the bathroom door or toilet seat as a reminder.

Before you start cleaning, you need to remove all of the water from the toilet bowl. To do so, put on rubber gloves and use a paper cup or yogurt carton to bail out the water in the toilet bowl. Soak up what remains with an old cloth. Now you're ready to try one of the following treatments.

• Pour cheap cola into the toilet bowl up to its waterline. Leave overnight, then flush it away.
• Pour in 750 millilitres (3 cups) of white vinegar, then add 110 grams (1/2 cup) of baking soda. Leave to fizz overnight, then flush and scrub with a toilet brush to loosen any remaining limescale.
• Pour in a mixture of 50 grams (1/4 cup) of salt and 240 grams (1 cup) of baking soda, followed by 375 millilitres (1.5 cups) of white vinegar. Leave to fizz for 10 minutes, then scrub with a brush or plastic scourer – the abrasive salt will help to remove stubborn lime.
• For really stubborn stains and tough lime, pour a bottle of hydrochloric acid into the bowl. Close the lid of the toilet and leave for four hours before flushing.

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid and highly corrosive, so be sure to handle it with great care.

• Always wear rubber gloves when handling hydrochloric acid and keep your skin covered.
• Open windows, keep ventilation fans running and avoid breathing in chemical fumes.

With the 4 cleaning methods above, you can bid farewell to toilet bowl stains and say hello to a pristine bathroom.