Stains in the toilet: 5 remedies to eliminate these and make the porcelain gleam again

This is one of the most unenviable cleaning chores there is, but it cannot be put off for too long. And sometimes, even when we deal with it on a regular basis, we can't prevent the formation of hard-to-remove stains. We are talking about cleaning the toilet - especially when annoying yellow streaks develop due to limescale, or maybe even rust.

Generally, those stains cannot be removed with the normal detergents that we use to clean the other bathroom fixtures, but they need a more incisive and specific treatment, using acidic substances that are able to dissolve the deposits that give create the stains. Here are some DIY methods you can try.

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• Lemon and distilled white vinegar: mix the two liquids in a small bowl, dip an old toothbrush into it and scrub the stains. Sometimes you need to let the mixture act on the stains for a few hours before rinsing off, and maybe you will have to repeat the operation several times over the course of a few days. The lemon juice can also be used in the tank, added to the water, in order to prevent the formation of these stains in the future.
• Salt and lemon juice: you can mix fine table salt with lemon juice in a quantity that you get a soft paste. This paste should be spread onto the stains and left to act for a few hours before scrubbing vigorously and rinsing off.
• Salt and white vinegar: bring half a liter of white vinegar to the boil, keeping the room well ventilated and avoiding inhaling the fumes. When it reaches the boil, turn off the heat, pour half a glass of salt into it and use this mixture (be careful not to burn yourself - always use the necessary protections and precautions!) by pouring it into a cup, and using it to scrub the stains with a brush. Leave to act for an hour before rinsing off.
• Using denture tablets: fill a cup with water, then put a handful of denture tablets into it and leave it to act on the stains for a few hours. After this, you will need to scrub the stains with an abrasive sponge and rinse off.
• Pumice stone or medium-fine sandpaper: these are used on ceramic surfaces, after having emptied the toilet bown. But be careful, as they will scratch the ceramic coating a little. They should only be used as a last resort.

What are your foolproof ways to return your toilet to gleeming condition?