If you have been following this post about the toilet stain that won’t die, you will know that I’ve tried a bunch of things to get rid of the crusty stain around the waterline of one of our toilets.
This is the ring as of this morning – before any kind of cleaning.
The list of things that didn’t work are mentioned in the comments of that post – but in case you don’t want to click over to read them, this is the list of things that DIDN’T work.
- The Works – made the rest of the bowl clean, but not the ring.
- S.O.S. pads – didn’t budge the stain at all, and started to look like it was scratching the surface, so I stopped.
- Denture cleaner tabs
- Vinegar alone
- Magic Eraser (and I thought that thing could clean anything!)
- CLR
- Hot vinegar and Dawn soap
- And every brand of toilet cleaner available.
One of the things that a few people mentioned, including my friend Sara from Maj Hoff Takes A Wife, is a pumice stone. You might be asking, like what you use on your feet to make them soft like a baby’s butt? Yes, that’s it – but a little different.
Well, I figured that if I saw one in the store, I’d try that too. Well, today at Walmart, I found one!
Pumie Scouring Stick $1.88 @ Walmart
As soon as the groceries were put away, I literally hurried to the bathroom to try it out! I love a good experiment 🙂
The instructions say to wet the stone first, so I did. Then I started scrubbing away at the ring. Be forewarned that it sounds awful, like nails on a chalkboard. But I could see it was working, so I just kept going. After a few minutes, I could see it was removing the stain, and the little pieces of the stone were gathering on the bottom of the bowl.
During… the sediment collected at the drain.
When it was all scrubbed off, I just flushed the toilet and stood back to admire the job it did. Am I completely a dork to be excited that this worked? Probably, but I was!
Not a trace of the stain was left!
So, after many months of trying to get rid of the stain that wouldn’t die, it is gone!! And if it ever returns, I know exactly what to do to make it disappear again.
I know that lately, it seems I am covering some gross topics like dog vomit and potty talk, but this is what happens in my real life. I have always heard that you should write about what you know, and as sad as it seems, these things I know well. If you like these kinds of posts, you’ll be happy to know that as soon as I get around to it, I’ll be telling you how to get cat pee out of a mattress – nasty smell and all!
My life is so exciting.
Thanks for stopping by!
Eliesa
Pumie scouring stick before and after
P.S. The people who make the Pumie Scouring Stick have no idea who I am, I am not getting compensated for this post, and I bought the stick with my own money this morning – so you know these are my own opinions 🙂
Sheryl says
April 15, 2013 at 1:27 pmI’ve been on this same oddysey and came out with the same solution. After all the noxious fumes of cleaners, it was surprising to find such an inexpensive and basic tool truly was the best.
A Pinterest Addict says
April 15, 2013 at 1:32 pmI wish I had found it sooner, after all, it was one of the first comments,but I didn’t come across one until today. Oh well, at least I know now what will definitely work, and won’t have to second guess whether something else would have worked better. Although someone did just post another method that might work too, so… is it weird to want the stain to come back in order to try that one too? LOL!
emilyingeorgia says
April 15, 2013 at 1:39 pmDitto Sheryl! Me too! I was just as tickled as you and Eliesa when I made the same discovery. I bought several and FYI it also works on a scalloped china lavatory. Frani
cindy says
April 15, 2013 at 2:02 pmCurious what department did you find the pumice stone? I wouldn’t even know where to look.
A Pinterest Addict says
April 15, 2013 at 2:05 pmIt was on the bottom shelf, next to the toilet bowl cleaners. I had never seen it there before, (I had looked for it) so maybe it’s new to Walmart?
scottiev says
April 15, 2013 at 3:53 pmHooray for solutions that really work! I love it that you talk about all the stuff most of us deal with- One of the many reasons I like you so much!
Melanie says
April 15, 2013 at 4:05 pmSoooo don’t tell my husband, but I used a chisel on my toilet once! Heeheehee! It worked really well. Now if would only work on his head……..
Mrs. Major Hoff says
April 15, 2013 at 9:40 pmha! So glad you found one. Our Walmart carries them, but not our Super Walmart. Go figure. and they are cheap to boot!
Miss Kitty says
April 16, 2013 at 8:05 amWhen we lived where there was “hard water” I used one of these at the suggestion of cleaning expert Don Aslett (is he still around?). You are so right about the horrible sound! Thanks for reminding me about this cheap but good solution to toilet bowl stains.
A Pinterest Addict says
April 17, 2013 at 9:54 am🙂
myprettyjunk says
April 16, 2013 at 12:51 pmi recall seeing this stone on a stick some where I forget if it was for the feet or the toilet …
emilyingeorgia says
April 19, 2013 at 8:00 pmI got mine at Home Depot in the cleaning section. Frani
Joobee says
September 15, 2014 at 5:55 pmOMG, who knew there was a Pinterest Page on TOILET RINGS?!?!?! And a big THANKYOU for listing the many “cures” that won’t work, I can’t thank you enough for the TIME you have just saved me (was ready to buy a case of brand-X Polident!)
I must comment on your potty’s “exit” area, though. It is improbably S M A L L !!! I’m afraid my DH wouldn’t be able to, er-uhh…”do his thing” if that was our pot! No offense, just sayin’.
I love your site, will visit again and often Ü
Tina Truelove says
November 5, 2014 at 8:34 amI have been trying to find a solution for this problem for years. I can’t wait to try this. Thank you!
kknc22 says
November 8, 2014 at 5:05 pmThe hard water a where I live (Simi Valley, CA) is the worst I’ve ever come across, and Ive lived all over the U.S.! AND, we have a water softening unit. There’s this toilet that we have in a guest room that doesn’t get used very often. And after a few years the hard water buildup is terrible. After reading what you’ve shared, this is the first thing I’m going to try. I’m not really interested in the chemicals, or trial and errors with the DIY mixes. I will let you know how it works for me. Crossing my fingers!
Kristi says
April 12, 2015 at 12:31 amJust tried this today! My jaw dropped. It is amazing! Talked about all night. Cleaned all 3 of our toilets in a half hour…record time…and they look the cleanest they have ever been! I am converted!
Luceli says
May 26, 2015 at 3:52 pmIt works!
Harrie says
March 28, 2018 at 7:49 amI was in the same boat or toilet. I tried 7 different cleaners and combinations nothing worked. You were right, right from where it’s at in Walmart and the 1.88. I loved it and now the toilet bowl is ALL clean. Thank you
Kena says
December 30, 2015 at 3:02 pmThank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! I have tried everything in the world to remove that annoying ring around my toilet and absolutely nothing has worked….until now! But….when I got ready to clean my toilets, I had misplaced my stone and had no idea where it was so this led to so much frustration. Then I had an idea….if a stone would work, maybe a fingernail file would to. (The black one that’s rough on both sides) Needless to say it worked just as well and I had cleaned both toilets in about 15 minutes! SIMPLY AMAZING!! But had it not been for me seeing your post on the stone, I would have never tried the file, so once again…THANK YOU!!!
Sugar Fish says
March 3, 2016 at 3:03 pmSoooo… It doesn’t scratch the porcelain?
A Pinterest Addict says
March 3, 2016 at 4:58 pmNope.
Sugar Fish says
March 3, 2016 at 5:03 pmKermit the Frog yaaaay! I’ll try it!