I suspect you are remembering Sani-Flush crystals. From my wiki-reading, with the withdrawal of sodium bisulfate toilet bowl crystals from the marketplace circa-2009, the Sani-Flush
name and US trademark were abandoned; the Vanish brand remains in use,
but only to identify other toilet cleaners (with differing formats and
chemistry) from the same manufacturer.

Thanks! That must be it. I must have had a stockpile, as I know it has not been 7 years since I used some. ;) It seemed to be the only one that really worked. Vanish also sounds familiar, but less so. But no longer the same, you say?

I bought 3 different ones today, and tried them on 3 different toilets. All worked the same: meaning, not really. It was only the elbow grease applied that did anything, and not for the hole in the bottom.

Get a pumice stone and a pair of gloves you should be able to clean it perfectly with that. Remember the pumice has to be kept wet so it won't scratch the porcelain.

That hole is small! It's about 3/4 of an inch. I have a pumice stone but it would never fit. I'd have to grind it down.

If you want a pumice stone that will fit a small hole, try looking in the nail care section of stores for something like this.

Good idea! I was thinking of trying one of the foam backed nail filing or buffing sticks, but wondered if they would either be too harsh or not enough. I did not know pumice stones came in this form.

I didn't know that the old Sani-Flush and Vanish (my parents used the latter) when mixed with water formed sulfuric acid. No wonder the bowl was always so clean, despite hard water... ;-)

I suppose one could just get sodium bisulfate, it's available from pool chemical stores and used for lowering the pH. Probably wouldn't smell as nice without the fragrance they added. Might try something like CLR; plunge/scoop as much of the water out of the bowl as possible as not to dilute the chemical.

I recently thought of this thread.

I was at the local laundramat washing a down duvet and the toilet was the worst thing I ever seen, the inside was loaded in rust and calcium deposits. A few days ago I went back to wash another duvet but took a bottle of Lime-A- Way (green bottle) with me. I squirted about 5 ounces under the rim and all inside..I posted a temporary closed sign on the door..about an hour later I flushed and I was stunned. No scrubbing, the toilet was sparkling white. This was unbelieveable.

Yep. I use Lime Away gel in the green bottle and works great.

I have been trying to remember the nname of that toil bowl cleaner too!! I can see the blue tin w/the plastic pop off top just as you have described & it CLEANED! Nothing like it, & I’ve been on a quest to find it as well🤷‍♀️ What a bummer.

Saniflush.

Sani Flush Vanish - Discontinued because of chemicals. My mother used to use it.

Try powdered dishwasher detergent instead.

Sani-Flush was the granulated toilet bowl cleaner.