Pour some CLR into the tank, fill it with water, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, flush the toilet a couple of times to rinse everything away. You don't have to do this step, but it helps prevent mineral buildup in the tank and keeps your toilet working well.
Recommend putting CLR into your water heater and letting it sit for a while. 15-20 mins. Make sure it's concentrated, then drain it. It'll get a lot of nasty stuff out. Keep in mind over the next day of so you will be sometimes seeing some of it come out of your system. It's ok.
Here's the hint: Add several drops of blue food coloring to 1/2 gallon of vinegar. Remove the tank lid and pour the vinegar straight into the overflow tube. You will see the blue vinegar seep into the bowl. Let the acid of the vinegar do its magic for 30 minutes; the vinegar will dissolve the calcium.
We recommend not leaving CLR on a surface for longer than two minutes. Always ensure that the CLR is rinsed off thoroughly after use.
We recommend using a mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. This ensures your toilet tank is being disinfected without causing damage, which the use of bleach or chemical cleaners can do.
DO not use CLR on natural stone or marble, terrazzo, colored grout, painted or metallic glazed surfaces, plastic laminates, Formica, aluminum, steam irons, leaded crystal, refinished tubs or any damaged or cracked surface. CLR may etch older sinks, tubs and tiles. CLR is corrosive.
Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid, recommends starting with vinegar to soak the tank. “First, remove the lid and take a peek inside,” she told Martha Stewart Living. “If you see any mineral buildup or crud, pour four cups of vinegar into the tank. Allow this to soak for up to an hour.”
It really depends on what kind of cleaning you need to do. If you're dealing with really tough, built-up mineral deposits, especially in your bathroom or kitchen, CLR might be the way to go. It's strong enough to handle stains that vinegar might struggle with.
CLR Calcium, Limescale & Rust Remover is part of the EPA's Safer Choice Program recognising the product as a safer alternative to chemicals. The powerful CLR formula is septic-safe, biodegradable and contains no phosphates.
Pour lemon juice or vinegar on the deposits. Don't dilute the vinegar or lemon juice, or you'll reduce its effectiveness. Leave the acidic liquids in place for a few hours to do their work, preferably overnight. Scrub the scale with a stiff-bristled toilet brush before flushing the toilet.
Use a soft brush or cloth to gently scrub away the deposits. For stubborn deposits, a mixture of vinegar and water (1:1 ratio) can be applied to dissolve the minerals.
Pouring acidic cleaners down the toilet can help you prevent hard water stains and mineral deposits. Some people recommend lemon juice, but the most reliable and affordable product to use is white vinegar. Each month, pour a cup of white vinegar into the toilet tank. Leave it for 30 minutes before flushing it.
Using dish soap can damage your toilet, as it's tough on rubber and can potentially break down the seals on your toilet over time. Instead, stick with cleaners that are made for toilets, and save dish soap for other areas of your home, such as for your mop water, degreasing kitchen cabinets, and cleaning appliances.
Bleach And Vinegar
It can be extremely dangerous as it produces chlorine gas when mixed even at low levels. They might clean dust and dirt effectively but can cause breathing issues, coughing, burning, watery eyes, and other similar problems.
The chemical reactions happen pretty quickly when you first apply CLR, so leaving it longer doesn't help. Basically, you won't get better results by leaving it overnight, and you might end up causing damage instead.
Before you get started, always use gloves and check if CLR is suitable to be applied on the material you are trying to clean. Test the CLR on an inconspicuous spot first before applying to entire surface.
Vinegar is a great toilet cleaning solution. Not only is it free of chemicals and naturally antibacterial, it's also an acid, so it will remove minor lime and calcium deposits. All you need to do is pour a couple cups of vinegar in your tank and let it sit for an hour or so, then scrub and flush to rinse.
Vinegar and Borax
Borax is a great cleaning product that, when combined with vinegar, can successfully eliminate hard water and mineral deposits. You can use this combination in your toilet and most other plumbing fixtures, too.
Use on most bathroom surfaces including: porcelain, ceramic tile, shower doors, sinks, bathtubs, white grout and caulk, toilet bowls, and fiberglass. Will not remove rust. Do not use on vinyl, natural stones, mirrors, plastic laminates, wood, fabrics, painted, coated or sealed surfaces, colored grout or wall coverings.
It's recommended to clean your toilet tank at least twice a year.
Muriatic acid, which is also called hydrochloric acid, is some pretty heavy-duty stuff. It's a good CLR alternative, and it can clean up rust and limescale super fast - but you've got to be really careful with it because it's seriously corrosive.