Cleaning and descaling a concealed toilet cistern – how to do it effectively?

Anyone who opts for installing a concealed cistern instead of a traditional one needs to know it calls for special treatment. Not in everyday use, but in maintenance. Cleaning and descaling the cistern are key to keeping the unit in good condition for years. So how do you clean a cistern you can’t physically access? Is it difficult? How do you do it effectively? You’ll find the answers in this article!

Cleaning a concealed cistern – home methods

The interior of a small bathroom is often hard to plan. One way to make the most of limited space is to install a concealed cistern. Why is a concealed WC frame the best idea? It enhances the bathroom’s aesthetics, doesn’t take up much space and is relatively easy to clean.

To clean a concealed cistern properly, just make a solution of vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio (one part vinegar to two parts water). The cleaning will be more effective if you add the vinegar to hot water. Pour the prepared solution into the concealed cistern. After a few hours, the cistern will need a thorough scrub and you’re done!

Citric acid also works well instead of vinegar. Mix it with water in the same proportions and follow the steps described above. The difference with citric acid is that it has descaling properties. They may not be spectacular, nonetheless they exist and it’s worth remembering that. A subsequent descaling using slightly more aggressive agents will definitely be necessary. However, citric acid is not required when cleaning a concealed cistern.

Home methods are genuinely effective, and cleaning a concealed cistern is very straightforward. If you don’t have vinegar or citric acid, or you simply prefer to buy a suitable product in the shop, you won’t be spending a fortune. Those products and the substances they contain should handle cleaning a concealed cistern just as effectively. They do, however, cost a bit more than home methods.

How to remove limescale from a concealed cistern?

Removing limescale is no more complicated than cleaning itself. How do you descale a concealed cistern? Vinegar, citric acid and various products such as a cistern descaler will be extremely useful here. Do remember, though, that descaling differs slightly from cleaning.

If you’re using citric acid, you don’t need to dissolve it in water. Simply change the application method and apply the citric acid directly to the cistern, leaving it there for a few hours. Then just rinse the citric acid off with a little water and that’s it. If limescale remains, repeat the process several times. Vinegar works in a similar way. As does a cistern descaler. Its composition includes similarly acting substances (or even the same ones, i.e. citric acid and additives that enhance its effect).

Descaling is an extremely simple process and will be effective using even basic kitchen staples. Note that limescale builds up relatively quickly in places that are in constant contact with water. With hard, highly mineralised water, the cistern will scale up faster. Professionals recommend descaling the cistern at least once every thirty days. If limescale forms faster due to the nature of the water, then descaling should be done more often, adjusting the frequency to the hardness of the water used in the given flat or house.

Home methods or specialist products – that is the question. We advise choosing whichever is more convenient, because it’s hard to be definitive about effectiveness. Both approaches (vinegar/citric acid and water, or specialist products) are equally effective. Sometimes it’s worth trying both to see which works better for your particular cistern. Best of luck!