Tripod member ForHome asks:
I tried to use several cleaning products to remove the tough stains around the toilet bowl without success. How can I remove them totally?

Handy Girl Al suggests:
Those tough stains are mineral deposits from the water (worse in hard-water areas) that have hardened into scale. Because most toilet bowls are made from vitreous china which is slightly porous, the mineral deposits are able to soak in and resist removal. The deposits can be dissolved using a cleanser with the following acids: hydrochloric, phosphoric, oxalic or with sodium bisulfate.

Find a cleanser with the highest acidity, and naturally be careful using these very strong products. Stains may never be entirely removed, depending on how long they've built up. Try repeating the cleaning. Some stains may be bleached by leaving a soaked paper towel (vinegar or bleach, not both) on the stain for long periods. Just like teeth, it's a good idea to scrub and clean the toilet bowl regularly to discourage mineral build-up.

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