What Is The Best Toilet Bowl Cleaner For Hard Water You Can Buy?

At some point in your adult life, you've probably gone toe-to-toe with those unsightly, discolored rings that form in toilet bowls. They're especially problematic in areas with hard water. These rings form as the dissolved minerals in hard water like calcium build up over time. Once you've developed one of these dreaded toilet rings, no amount of scrubbing seems to help it fade away completely.

Hunker reached out to Carly Castro, owner of FreshLee Cleaning Co., to get an expert recommendation on how to clean the stubborn toilet stains caused by hard water. While speaking to Hunker, Castro explained that most regular toilet bowl cleaners do a poor job of tackling hard water rings because the cleaner slides right over the buildup that has bonded to the porcelain. "Over time," she said, "the stains bond to the porcelain, which makes them even more difficult to remove."

Many toilet bowl cleaners attempt to solve this by adding bleach to their formulas, but Castro thinks this is a recipe for disaster. "The worst way to tackle hard water rings is by using bleach based toilet bowl cleaners," she explained, "or just straight up ignoring the ring and allowing the stain to build up over time, and literally become one with your toilet." Instead, she recommended some specific products that may not already be in your bag of tricks.

Cleaning expert Carly Castro spoke exclusively with Hunker and revealed that the best way to prevent mineral deposits in your toilet is by doing weekly deep cleanings. Barring that, she recommended three essential products: Zep Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner, a bristle toilet brush (not silicone), and scouring sticks made of pumice stone, like this 2-pack from Kadden. She likes the Zep brand cleaner because the acid formula breaks down the mineral deposits. "This toilet bowl cleaner genuinely does the hard work for you," she said. "It dissolves limescale, rust, and hard water stains without you having to scrub your arms off!" 

The first step is to pour a bucket of clean water down the toilet. This causes a "force flush", meaning the bowl will not refill. "The point of this step is to ensure there's a low level of water [so the] toilet bowl cleaner doesn't get diluted," Castro said. Next, apply the Zep Acidic Toilet Bowl cleaner around the rim of the bowl and let it sit for five minutes. Finally, grab that bristle toilet brush and give it a go.

If the cleaner and brush alone aren't getting the job done, Castro said it's time to get out the pumice stone to clean the toilet. "The trick to using a scouring stick without causing scratches is to make sure the stick and surface are wet," Castro advised. She said to let the scouring stick soak in water for 30 seconds before use and also dip it into the toilet water frequently during use. Not giving up is important here. Castro recalled once using six sticks in a toilet that had particularly bad buildup.

Another way to rid yourself of unsightly hard water toilet rings is to purchase a water softener for your home. Cleaning expert and internet influencer Carly Castro told Hunker that hard water isn't going to target just your toilet bowl; it's going to show up in other places as well. "If you're noticing a toilet bowl ring, your faucets are crusty, your glassware is cloudy... it's a sign it's time to invest in a water softener," she said, adding, "A water softener will save you time and frustration."

Water softeners can significantly reduce the amount of minerals from water that enter your home. Usually this is done through ion exchange where sodium or potassium are substituted for the hard minerals. Water softeners come in all different types, sizes, and price ranges depending on what you need and can afford: In general, it is a good idea to compare different types of water softeners before you buy. Regardless of which way you go, though, having softer water will not only banish the toilet ring, but can also lead to softer skin, silkier hair, and brighter clothes. You won't want to flush that opportunity down the drain!