If you have ever noticed dark brown stains at the bottom of your toilet, then do not worry, as it is limescale build-up, which can be cleaned away without having to use harsh chemicals.

Limescale is a natural substance made up of minerals that form when water evaporates or heats up, and leaves behind a hard chalky residue that can be difficult to remove as it clings to surfaces.

It may seem obvious to simply pour bleach down your toilet to get rid of stains, but this will not work as bleach does not have the acidic ingredients needed to break down the minerals in limescale.

Using bleach can actually make the problem worse as the harsh chemicals in the solution can react to the limescale and cause discolouration on the surface which will make it more difficult to clean.

In a video, Kate said: “Here is how I clean the toilet without using bleach! I use citric acid, a naturally occurring organic compound that works amazingly on limescale.

She added: “Did you know that the build-up at the bottom of your toilet is just limescale? Bleach only bleaches the limescale, citric acid dissolves it.”

Citric acid is found in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, but a more concentrated and crystalised version can be found in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets.

When citric acid comes into contact with limescale, the acidic substance begins to break down and dissolve the water minerals, removing the stains.

Citric acid is a natural way to clean limescale without having to scrub for ages or use chemicals which are harsh on surfaces and can damage your toilet.

How to use citric acid to remove limescale 

To begin, mix up a solution of two tablespoons of citric acid and one litre of warm water. Do not use boiling water as this can damage your toilet.

Then, take your toilet brush and simply push it into the toilet bowl a few times. This gets rid of some of the water so more of the limescale is exposed.

Kate said: “A great tip is to plunge your toilet a few times using a brush which reduces the amount of water in your toilet.”

Leave the citric solution for at least 10 minutes but ideally overnight so it has lots of time to break down the limescale.

When the time is up, simply give the limescale a swipe with your toilet brush and the stains should wipe away easily. Flush your toilet, and it will be completely clean.

Kate said: “Leave overnight and your toilet will be sparkling!”