Modern civilization wouldn't be all that modern without the toilet bowl. No longer must we crouch precariously in outhouses or dispose of icky chamber pot contents. I actually believe that indoor plumbing tops pretty much any invention out there, including electricity. But it can still be more than a little annoying when the toilets you appreciate so greatly fall victim to dreaded calcium deposits. Fortunately, calcium stains are typically fairly easy to eliminate with a little elbow grease and a handy solvent or two. Before we get started on the "how-to" portion, it's always important to know a few facts about the stains you're going to be attacking. First of all, "calcium deposit" isn't code for anything gross. In fact, they're exactly what they sound like -- a build-up of calcium and other minerals commonly found in your home's water supply. The toilet is a prime place for calcium stains because there's always some water hanging out in the bowl, just waiting to cause problems. Calcium stains build up over time, but it often feels like they appear out of thin air overnight, resulting in an unsightly brownish/orangish/pinkish ring around your once pristine toilet bowl.

more on bathroom cleaning How to Get Hard Water Stains Out of Your Toilet Should you clean your toilet for your plumber? How to Clean a Toilet Tank Calcium deposits tend to be bigger and badder in places with hard water or well water because there's more lime and minerals present in the water supply. In fact, 85 percent of water in the United States is hard, so it's likely that you'll battle more than one calcium stain in your lifetime. Calcium deposits aren't limited to the toilet, unfortunately. They can run rampant anywhere water flows, including your sink and shower doors, walls and shower head. There are ways to keep calcium deposits from happening or getting out of control. First, you could install a water-softening system in your home. Unfortunately, those are seriously pricey, so you might not have room in your household budget. The cheapest (and most logical) method is probably just to tackle any calcium stain the instant it starts to appear. Much like tartar on your teeth, the longer you let it build up, the harder you'll have to work to get rid of it.

If your bowl is already awash in calcium stains, fear not! Check out the next page for helpful tips on how to remove them quickly and easily.Use a nylon brush, not a wire brush, to clean toilets. Patio Furniture Sale Madison WiThe white or rust-colored deposits that build up in your toilet bowl are caused by minerals in the water supply, particularly calcium and magnesium. 24 Inch Bike Tire SizeWater containing minerals, called hard water, doesn't damage your plumbing, but the calcium it leaves behind in your toilet bowl accumulates and becomes uglier with time. Shower Curtain Weight ClipsThe deposits also become more stubborn as they age, so the sooner you remove calcification from your toilet, the easier the job will be. Tackle the stains and deposits as soon as you notice them.

Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Flush the toilet to lower the water level and expose the calcification. If some deposits are still underwater, force more water down the drain with a toilet plunger until all the deposits are exposed to the air. Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Spray the calcification liberally. Let the vinegar sit on the deposits for 30 minutes. Scrub the calcification with a stiff-bristled nylon toilet brush. If this removes the deposits, turn the water to the toilet back on and flush the toilet to rinse away the vinegar. Alternatively, if scrubbing doesn't remove all the calcification, scrub off as much as possible, then rinse the brush in the sink. Pour baking soda onto the toilet brush. Scrub the calcification with the baking soda. If this removes the deposits, turn the water back on and flush away the residue. If not, rinse the brush and set it aside. Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands. Use a pumice stone to manually rub the calcification off the surfaces.

When all the deposits are gone, turn the water back on and flush the toilet to rinse it. Things You Will Need Plunger Spray bottle Distilled white vinegar Toilet brush with stiff nylon bristles Baking soda Rubber gloves Pumice stone Tip Warning References Tap Into Quality: Hardness of WaterMrs. Clean: How to Remove Hard Water Spots and Mineral StainsThe Family Handyman: How to Remove Water StainsClean Air Pure Water: Natural Cleaning Methods for Your Home Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionHow to Clean Mineral Stains From Your Toilet Home & Garden | Is there any housekeeping chore worse than cleaning the bathroom? Most homeowners would say "no." From trying to move around in such a small room to inhaling noxious fumes from the cleaning fluids, cleaning a bathroom can be a frustrating experience. And if you have stubborn mineral stains, it's even more of a pain. Believe it or not, mineral and rust stains in your toilet or tub -- greenish stripes, a brown ring, lime scale -- aren't caused by anything you're doing wrong in your cleaning regimen.

It's simply something in the water. Calcium, lime, magnesium and iron, naturally found in hard water, attach to just about every surface they come across. Even if you have filters or water systems in place to soften the water, some of these minerals still slip through. The rust-colored stains you find under your faucets or in your toilet turn up when iron meets air. Green or brown stains in the toilet usually indicate lime buildup. Lime scale forms as hard water evaporates and leaves a mineral buildup behind. How to Clean Calcium Deposits From Your Toilet Bowl How to Keep Your Toilet Clean The good news is that many store-bought products and home concoctions can fight these stains. Removing mineral stains requires some elbow grease, so don't expect it to be an easy process. To get rid of these stains, you need some sort of acid. The most effective solution is muriatic acid, an extremely powerful and dangerous chemical. But we advise against using this unless you're a professional.