March 21, 2025, 2:52 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
The toilet is one of the dirtiest places in a home. This makes thorough cleaning all the more important. Occasionally, this also includes removing urine scale. myHOMEBOOK explains the best way to do this.
Urine scale can form even if the toilet is cleaned regularly and thoroughly. The brown-yellow deposits are caused by limescale and urine components. Not only do they look unhygienic, they actually are. Urine scale is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and germs. Instead of resorting to chemical cleaning agents, which are expensive and harmful to the environment, you can also use household remedies to remove it.
Overview
How Does Urine Scale Form in the Toilet?
Urine scale is the result of a chemical reaction in the toilet. The limescale from the water combines with the urine, as Ökotest reports. As tap water always contains limescale, this combination cannot be avoided. The result: yellowish-brown deposits at the bottom of the toilet. If this is not removed promptly, new layers continue to build up, meaning the urine scale “grows” over time. It also forms more quickly if the urine remains in the toilet for longer. If you wait to remove it, it becomes increasingly difficult to get rid of it.
Which Household Remedies Are Suitable?
Home remedies are inexpensive, available in most households, and less harmful to the environment than chemical cleaners. The following household remedies can be used to remove urine scale:
Vinegar Essence
Vinegar or vinegar essence is a real miracle cure for cleaning, as it dissolves limescale and has antibacterial properties. Here’s how to do it:
- Pour three tablespoons of vinegar essence into the toilet.
- Leave it to work overnight.
- The next day, scrub the bowl with a toilet brush.
- Don’t forget the rim — an old toothbrush can help here.
- Rinse once at the end.
Citric Acid Against
Citric acid is also a popular household cleaning agent — and is also perfect for removing urine scale. The procedure is similar here:
- Add around three spoons of citric acid from the drugstore to the toilet bowl.
- Leave to work overnight.
- Scrub thoroughly with a toilet brush the next day
- Finally, press the flush button and you’re done.
Cola and Baking Soda
What many people don’t know: You can also clean with cola! This is due to the low pH value of 2.5, which makes cola an acid. However, the cleaning effect is not as strong as with other products. That’s why you can combine cola with baking soda to remove urine scale.
- First, pour some cola into the toilet — 250 milliliters should be enough at first, at least for light deposits.
- Add a sachet of baking soda. For heavier deposits, you can add three sachets. It should now foam.
- Leave the mixture to work for around an hour — but again, preferably overnight.
- Then, scrub the bowl thoroughly with the brush as usual.
Denture Cleaner
Denture cleaner tablets can also dissolve urine scale, as they often contain citric acid. They are very easy to use:
- Drop one or two tablets into the bowl.
- Leave to work overnight.
- Scrub thoroughly the next day.
Dishwasher Tabs
Dishwasher tabs can be used in many cleaning situations — including against limescale or urine scale deposits in the toilet. Here’s how it works:
- Place a dishwasher tab in the toilet and wait.
- It’s best to let it work overnight.
- The next day, scrub the toilet with the brush.
Why Should You Avoid Chemical Cleaning Agents?
When removing urine scale, chemical cleaners are often used to dissolve the deposits. These are often real chemical bombs that contain chlorine or hydrochloric acid. Contact with the skin can cause severe burns. In some cases, the acid also attacks the coating in the toilet and roughens it. The result: deposits can adhere even more easily to the rough surface, especially on old toilet bowls.
Moreover, chemical cleaning agents also harm the environment. Even the German government advises against the use of products containing hydrochloric acid. This acid seeps into the groundwater, negatively impacting nature, the environment, and human health. This is why household remedies are the better alternative if you want to remove urine scale in the toilet.
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How Can Urine Scale Be Avoided?
Since urine scale accumulates naturally, it cannot be completely prevented — but its buildup can be delayed. The best and simplest method to delay this buildup is to clean the toilet regularly. This should be done at least once a week; some experts even recommend daily cleaning.
As a general rule, it’s better to use a cloth or toilet brush more often because once the urine scale has hardened, it won’t be easy to get rid of. As the manufacturer Villeroy & Boch recommends, you should use a toilet brush with bristles pointing upwards in order to clean the toilet thoroughly under the flush rim.