If you've noticed black, brown or reddish stains in your bowl, it could be .

The unsightly residue develops when hard water containing minerals such as calcium and magnesium evaporates in the toilet bowl, leaving behind the deposits.

The can also be found around taps, , in kettles and inside pipes.

If the chalky residue is engrained, it can be difficult to remove. Luckily, there is a simple method for removing unsightly stains without resorting to harsh chemicals.

Sarah McGregor, a expert at , told Express.co.uk that two household items can remove the stains in just 35 minutes.

Ms McGregor recommended using white vinegar and baking soda to tackle the stains which can be found in most local supermarkets.

She explained: "A popular method to remove limescale from your toilet is to use vinegar and baking soda.

"Pour about one cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl, followed by about one cup of baking soda, then let it rest for around 10 minutes.

"It's a good idea to wear gloves when using this as a toilet cleaner and to have eye protection.

"Guide the brush around to ensure the toilet limescale is covered, and let the solution sit for another 25 minutes before finally flushing.

"This should do a great job at cleaning the bowl and remove all the limescale from your toilet."

However, the bathroom expert warned that accessing the u-bend in your toilet to remove limescale can be difficult but using this simple method should be enough to resolve the problem.

Distilled vinegar can be found in most local supermarkets. Tesco distilled vinegar costs 35p while a litre of distilled white vinegar from Asda costs £1.09.

Duzzit Baking Soda costs £1 from Poundland while Asda bicarbonate of soda costs 65p.