Garden Gnome

We have just about the hardest water anywhere, and keeping the waterline stains out of the toilet has been impossible. Well my DH brought home some Scouring Sticks a while back, and I just got around to trying one out. It works great! They are made of pumice, and claim to be safe for ceramic tile and porcelain. You gotta put some elbow grease into it, though. I suggest you go ahead and clean the toilet first, so you can see what's really stuck on.
I dumped about 1 and a half gallons of water down the toilet to make it empty out all the water and not refill, so I had a clear shot at it.
Then pre-wet the pumice stone and start scrubbing on the stains. The stains just rub out with the abrasive stone, and make a fine grey "mud" that can be flushed away.
No smelly chemicals, non-toxic. The brand is "Pumie". You can get them at a hardware store or probably on line.

Faintly Artistic

I use them too. I think OUR water is the hardest! I also use the Lysol things that hang in the bowl, that helps the deposits not build up as much. I would really like a water softener in whatever house we land in to stay...

KalamaQuilts

I used these sticks at my MIL's, who has the hardest water in the world

Did it because she wanted the house put up for sale, but haven't been brave enough to do it to my own, I can't beieve pumice won't make the problem worse over time. Please come back in three years and let us know how its going

marge954

A friend who cleans houses and apartments was told that pumice and abrasive type stick can take the surface off the toilet making it harder to clean afterwards. She swears by CLR, Santeern De-Limer & Toilet Bowl Cleaner and The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
I can't use anything with a smell so I found that a paper towel soaked in white vinegar and left overnight will clean just about anything off of anything, including mildew and mineral buildup in the toilet and around sink faucets.

Stitchnripper

I used the pumice sticks for a long time - we replaced the toilets with comfort height before we sold the house. Those toilets never got rings. Same toilets in new house. And these toilets don't get rings. Different state so different water supply. Do new toilets have some magic finish to deter rings?

Jingle

Toilets are made like fine china. I would never use any abrasive.

I use Lime Away or CLR. Rub under the rim and all over, let set 15 or 20 minutes.

misspriss

Have you tried the dryer sheets? Just lay on on top of the water over night. Don't flush it tho. CLR is good.

Barb_MO

Come on...I have the hardest water in the world. I'm glad to know about the Pumie scouring sticks.

Chester the bunny

I think I agree that over time the pumice stone may harm the finish.
What I have done is empty the bowl as much as possible, pour vinegar in the toilet, dip paper towels in the vinegar and lay around the inner top ring and leave overnight. Throw away paper towels and brush the lime away.
Works like a charm.

NJ Quilter

Well, apparently many of us are vying for the 'hard water capital' title, lol! At any rate, we've been using the pumice stones for years in our toilets with no ill effects. I have made the mistake of using CLR straight from the bottle (not diluted) on my bathroom counter and tub drain. Big mistake. No finish left there. We need to replace our kitchen faucet probably every 5 years or so due to the mineral buildup that just can not be cleaned from there.