Limescale Removal

[malana-3]

I live in a very hard water area and despite having a water softener am finding limescale deposit in my WC pan, particularly at the trap water line. I have tried the usual domestic limescale removers like Harpic but it does'nt seem to do the job. Can anybody please recommend anything stronger, possibly industrial strength, which will be more effective. Many thanks.

[Rosetta]

Parazone make a tablet that you can put in the toilet bowl. Leave it for as long as possible, overnight if possible. Use two of the tablets if one doesn't work.

[buildersmate]

Limescale is just calcium carbonate - the same stuff that makes stalactites in Cheddar Caves. Many acids dissolve limescale and most do no damage to the porcelain, which is pretty tough.
Some people use vinegar (acetic acid) which is cheap but not a very strong acid.
Others buy that expensive stuff sold in little bottles with fancy names - this is generally phosphoric acid.
I use brick cleaner, sold in larger plastic cans at builders' merchants. This is dilute hydrochloric acid - usually about 25% strength.

[coccinelle]

A pumice stone also gets rid of it.

[buildersmate]

.......... but can result in scatching of the glaze.

[johnk]

Battery acid will do it as well

[buildersmate]

The trouble is that the car won't start on the following morning.

[woofgang]

What kind of softener do you have? If its the magnetic kind, then it will make the hardness less inclines to stick but as you have found, it will stick. If its the osmotic kind that actually removes the hardness then its not working right!! We have two loos, one is fed straight off the main with unsoftened water and the other one is upstairs and fed off the tank which has softened water in it. I never need to descale the upstairs one despite living in a super hard water area.
Stuff like harpic does work but as it works by chemical action, once the bit you put on has dissolved all the limescale it can then it will stop working and you need to rinse and add more. If its built up then you might need to do this a few times before its all off. I am a bit of a wimp about using stronger acids, so prefer to persevere with a weaker one. Once the scale is off, daily treatment will keep it off.

[thelewisgang]

you might find that Coca Cola (or Pepsi!!!) will get rid of it. Sounds bizarre I know but it really works.

[boxtops]

I pour a can of Cola down from time to time (hint courtesy of Kim and Aggie)

[alavahalf]

If you have a build up of scale that suggests that it's not being cleaned as often as it might be...a build up does'nt just happen,
The parazone will clean it, but you will need to give it a bit of help if it has already built up.
Pour it in... a bit at a time over the scaled area...using the sharp edge of a piece of wood or plastic( then you wont scratch the porcelain) scratch away at the scale....
Then as others have said...pour a whole large bottle of cheap Pepsi-cola in every now and again...it's only about 20p at Tesco...that will keep it at bay.

[buildersmate]

All colas contain phosphoric acid (see above). Provided one buys an 'own brand' variety and not Pepsi/Coke, it is undoubtedly a cheaper source than a specialist branded limescale remover product.