How Long Should I Leave The Harpic In

[emmie]

the loo. I did buy some and will see how well it cleans. I couldn't find Spirits of salt in two shops, so have to make do with the harpic.

[CapeDoctor]

Overnight should do it!

[emmie]

ok will try, but i usually get up in the night for a pee, don't suppose that will make a difference.

[theprof]

You can buy Spirits of Salt online but you need to be very careful using it. It's hydrochloric acid of variable strength and can be pretty nasty. Don the rubber gloves, don't breath the fumes and keep your eyes away. Make sure that there's no other cleaner in the loo when you use it.

[emmie]

well i tried the harpic and can't say it was a roaring success.
had to get the loo brush out and give it a good clean afterwards.
think i might pass on the spirit of salts for the moment, no shop does it round our way it seems.

[melv16]

Bleach?

[emmie]

melv
doesn't do a lot but smell.

[melv16]

Bleach won't touch lime scale. Is that your problem?

[emmie]

yes, that is why i bought the harpic, directly for the limescale.
it hasn't cleaned it as well as i had hoped.

[gingejbee]

There are toilet cleaners....and toilet cleaners. If water hardness deposits are the problem (probably stained?), you need a cleaner specifically labelled for "removing limescale". Look at the back label and go for one with hydrochloric or phosphoric acid...others can contain formic or citric acids, but aren't as strong. (And don't even consider cola drinks, which some people mention!)

[emmie]

thanks, however i thought the harpic limescale remover would go some way to elevating the problem, it hasn't.

[gingejbee]

....another tip is to flush the loo, displace the water in the bowl (toilet brush) put hottish water in there - then use the above cleaners and mix it well with toilet brush and leave as long as possible.
Bet you never knew loo cleaning could be so complicated!