There you have it, an easy-to-follow guide to how to clean and descale a toilet cistern. Once you’ve done it the first time, the next time will be really straightforward. With regular cleaning you can keep your toilet in great shape and make sure it works well long term. Originally published 18 August 2020 Make your voice matter In the long run, knowing how to descale a toilet cistern can extend the life and efficiency of your toilet, so it’s well worth doing. And once you’ve learned how to remove limescale from a toilet cistern it’ll be easier the next time you do it. Follow this step-by-step guide for great results. Once you’ve got rid of the limescale you can move onto cleaning the cistern itself. This will help get rid of bacteria and remove nasty odours. Cleaning your cistern follows a similar plan to descaling, but shouldn’t take as long. When it comes to cleaning your toilet, the cistern often gets overlooked. That’s largely because not a lot of attention goes towards limescale in a toilet cistern, as opposed keeping the pan and exterior clean. But it’s always good practice to regularly descale a toilet cistern so that it works efficiently. Here’s how to clean a toilet tank. The best way to remove limescale in a toilet cistern is to let the solution sit for up to 12 hours. That will give it plenty of time to break down deposits and make it easier to clean. You will need: You can use a specialist cleaner like citric acid, or try vinegar if you want a more natural approach. Make sure the solution covers the limescale, and leave for at least half an hour (or longer if you can).