Question from sheila
I have very hard water that stains everything. Presently we use different toxic chemicals to clean the rust stains from our bathroom toilets and showers. Do you have any recommendations for cleaning the orange hard water stains from rust and maganese in our water.
Debra’s Answer
There used to be a page compiled by somebody named Loretta that has lots of ways to use baking soda, borax, soap, lemon juice, vinegar, and other natural substances to clean around the home. The website hosting that page no longer exists.
She suggests “Apply full-strength vinegar or lemon juice and let stand until spot disappears, rinse. Repeat if necessary.”
Readers, your suggestions?
Is a pumice stone non-toxic? Is it possible to breathe in the dust, or does it remain as a solid? Thanks! (will use it for cleaning stained toilet bowls in bathrooms not used too often).
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
Pumice stone does break down during use, but not much. If you are concerned about this, wear a simple dust mask, sold at any hardware or paint store. The dust itself is not toxic, but it can be a particle hazard, depending on how much you are exposed to.
I live in Arizona, where tap water is extremely hard. When a plumber came to fix something, I told him a pumice stone was ineffective and asked what is the most non-toxic way to remove the brown mineral deposits in the porcelain bowl? He told me to get a type of wet/dry sandpaper called “aluminum oxide.” I’ve been using it ever since. Once I got rid of the stain with a ‘lot of rubbing, I found it very easy to maintain the clean look every couple of weeks.