1 cupboard essential banishes brown toilet marks without any bleach

If your loo is looking rather shabby, it might be time to show it some tender loving care by cleaning it.

There's nothing more mortifying than having guests round and cringing when they need the bathroom, knowing when they lift the seat, they'll be confronted with ghastly brown marks.

You might believe there's no hope of shifting them since bleaching has proved futile, but don't despair - cleaning guru Lynsey Crombie, known as Lynsey Queen of Clean, has revealed how to eliminate these brown stains permanently.

Lynsey confessed this enquiry crops up constantly, meaning countless others are battling the same grimy toilet predicament. She explained the "brown marks in the toilet aren't what we think they are," but rather a "build-up of limescale and hard water".

Therefore, Lynsey wanted to demonstrate "two really quick ways" to eradicate these marks definitively - and should they reappear, you'll know precisely what to do.

1. Citric acid

The first method is using citric acid, because it's a "go-to to break down that heavy limescale".

Lynsey explained if it's "really, really bad," you'll want to pour the whole of a 250g box down the toilet for best results.

She also said she'd "leave it overnight to work". In the morning, she claimed you should come back to find the limescale has "broken down," so you'll "rinse the toilet and it'll disappear".

Lynsey shared "the problem with bleach," saying that initially, the stain will look like it's disappeared, but it "comes back".

"Citric acid will break it down and stop it from coming back," she assured people.

Dri-Pak Citric Acid can be purchased on Ocado for just £2.30.

2. Toilet pumice stone removers

She said toilet pumice stone removers are similar to "removing hard skin off our feet," but these ones have been "designed specifically for loos".

Lynsey said: "Once you've used them, give them a really good wash with some antibacterial washing up liquid, let them dry, and then just keep them in a sealed bag like I've done here so you can reuse them."

She shared if the limescale is "pretty bad," you can get one of the pumice stones, "wear a rubber glove, poke it down, and just scrape it away".

It's worth noting they are "non-scratch and non-abrasive," so while they will get the job done, these removers won't damage your toilet.

"It works so so well," she gushed, saying you can "have your hand down there for a minute" and when you've finished, the limescale will be banished for good.

Lynsey said it's worth keeping them somewhere hygienic because they've been down your loo, but it's worth a go!

Two pumice stone toilet cleaners can be purchased from B&Q for £6.99, but they can be reused again and again.