Cleaning the toilet, and especially learning how to remove toilet stains, can be one of the less glamorous parts of adult life, but it's a necessary task for a clean and hygienic bathroom.
Removing stains from your toilet can be especially daunting if you have neglected this bathroom cleaning task as stubborn stains accumulate and are difficult to remove. Stains can often appear in hard-to-reach bathroom areas or from hard water issues, meaning they'll reappear regularly, even if you clean them regularly. This is why knowing how to deep clean the toilet is so important.
Ensuring that your toilet bowl is clean and fresh is an essential part of good housekeeping. Finally, staying on top of toilet stains is imperative to your health, as regular flushing reduces the appearance of harmful germs and bacteria in the bathroom.
(Photo credit: Getty Images | Martin Deja)
How to clean toilet stains quickly and effectively in 5 steps
There are five basic steps to cleaning a heavily soiled toilet and getting sparkling results every time. Follow this process in this order and your toilet will be sparkling clean in no time.
Before you begin, you'll need to gather supplies to get the job done.
Is required:
- cleaning gloves
- bath brush
- pumice stone or toilet stone
- Toilet cleaner: Experts recommend cleaning with vinegar and baking soda
- Natural multipurpose spray cleaner
- cleaning cloth or paper towel
1. Quickly brush out the bowl
The first step is to use the toilet brush and toilet cleaner to quickly scrub the entire inside of the toilet. It doesn't have to be your best cleaning job, just a quick spin or two around the bowl should do the trick.
The main purpose of this step is to give the toilet a clean surface and remove stubborn dirt stains before a deep cleaning. Once that's done, flush the toilet. You will likely see a ring around the tank where the waterline is.
2. Lower the water level in the tank
Perform this step if the stain is submerged from the toilet bowl. If you are above the waterline you can proceed directly to step three. Use the toilet brush to push the water down the drain; To do this, simply push the toilet brush down the drain with a few sharp taps, or use a pestle. It may take a while, but you should see the water recede a bit or even disappear completely.
This technique temporarily reduces the water in the bowl while cleaning; All you need is that the waterline is lower than the point.
Another way to lower the water if that doesn't work is to adjust the float in the tank. This is not a temporary change and if you want to undo it you will need to reconfigure it after cleaning.
To set the float in your tank:
- Remove the tank cap
- Remove the chain from the float.
- Position the chain at a lower point by shortening it.
- Put the cap back on the tank
- Unload the bathroom
After the discharge is complete, the water line will be lower. Choosing to keep these settings will save you water, but the stains can be fewer and harder to reach the next time you clean the toilet.
(Photo credit: Getty Images | Calvin Chan Wai Meng)
3. Use a pumice stone to scrape the container
You must now use a white pumice stone or a stone made specifically for toilets to begin scrubbing the stain. Begin by rubbing the stone around the stained ring area. The aim is to slowly scrape off hard water residue.
If you have stains under the rim, you will need to repeat these steps as well. Although you need to be careful and fairly careful with this step, don't worry too much about damaging your toilet - white pumice stone and toilet stones are generally safe to use on porcelain.
The important thing to note here is that really stubborn stains that have been there for a while may take a few attempts to erase them. This is valuable time as maintenance becomes much easier once you've removed the stains. Plus, if you're wondering how many calories you can burn doing chores, you can burn up to 256 calories an hour scrubbing your bathroom.
4. Scrub the mess with a toilet brush.
The next step is to go back to using the toilet brush and toilet cleaner or your natural cleaning solution before flushing. The goal is to loosen dirt and hard water so they lift and drain easily.
One important thing to remember about toilet cleaners: Most plumbers recommend staying away from harsh chemical cleaners, which can be caustic as they can further damage your toilet bowl. For example, commercial drain cleaners are known to degrade porcelain. Instead, opt for a cleaning brand you trust, a homemade concoction, or one that claims to be better for the environment. It is gentler with the toilet bowl.
We recommend using white vinegar and baking soda as a homemade cleaning solution; See below for more information.
5. Clean the rest of the toilet
After removing the stain, it's a good idea to give your toilet a general cleaning. Start at the top of the toilet in the tank and spray on your all-purpose sanitizing cleaner. We recommend choosing a natural solution to avoid harsh chemicals.
Then use a cloth or toilet paper to clean. Toilet paper means you can flush right away for a more hygienic option. If you use a cleaning cloth, be sure to follow the steps for cleaning a microfiber cloth after cleaning any area of the toilet to sanitize it.
Don't forget to clean the toilet. Continue spraying the surface while going all the way around the toilet. It's also a good idea to mop the floor under the toilet unless you plan to mop the floor afterwards.
How do you clean a heavily soiled toilet bowl?
"The general rule of thumb for cleaning toilet bowl stains is to use non-alkaline products," advises Chris Wootton, CEO of household cleaning company Poppies (opens in a new tab) . "Most toilet bowl stains occur in hard water areas, so it's important to remember that bleach won't work and you'll need to use an acid-based product like descaler."
"While bleach doesn't remove scale, it makes it invisible, which blends in with the color of the toilet bowl. This is why stains on the toilet bowl seem to come back quickly because they never went away."
To ensure the limescale is gone for good, Chris recommends using vinegar to create your own powerful yet natural cleaning solution. Here's how to do it...
How to clean toilet stains with vinegar
Chris advises using a non-alkaline cleaning solution, for which he suggests a natural vinegar cleaning trick: "For a strong acid solution, white vinegar is best. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in and around the container and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
Next, apply white vinegar to the baking soda. This creates a bubbling reaction that activates the acid and can break down even the most stubborn limescale. After about 10 minutes, scrub the toilet bowl thoroughly with a scouring pad; take some elbow grease!"
"Once you've done that, rinse a few times to flush everything out. That should do the trick, but if there are stubborn stains, you can also try lemon juice after rinsing, as the acidic solution can help remove more stubborn stains. " ". Stain and deodorize the toilet bowl.
How to clean toilet stains without scrubbing
For a natural solution that doesn't require scrubbing, cleaning expert, TV star and cleaning queen Lynsey Crombie (opens in a new tab) shares her tips on using her homemade solution to tackle toilet bowl stains. "To get rid of unsightly brown stains on the toilet bowl, I make my toilet bowl cleaning powder with citric acid and baking soda."
Lynsey explains how she uses the solution: "I use 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of citric acid, and add tea tree essential oil because it's antibacterial," she adds. "Mix everything together and pour straight down the toilet. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing and the stains are gone." There is no rubbing.
Lynsey adds, "If you want to remove stains with vinegar without scrubbing, soak a little water, then add about an ounce of white vinegar and leave overnight, then rinse in the morning."
(Photo Credit: Getty Images | Tanya Sid)
What causes brown stains on the toilet bowl?
Of course, the dirt and debris in our toilets is not surprising given their primary function. But when you see ugly, discolored stains on or around the rim of the toilet bowl, you know there are three main reasons that could be the cause.
- Bacterial Growth: The humid environment inside the container is like a haven for germs, giving them room to spread and thrive. And if the toilet isn't cleaned regularly, bacteria will cling to it and start to foul it.
- Hard Water - If you live in a hard water area, you are more likely to get a stained toilet. The quality of your tap water depends entirely on your location. While this isn't something you can easily control, there are ways to lessen the impact. Hard water causes crust residue to form on the rim and in the container. This residue traps bacteria and other debris and creates stains. You might find the same for your kettle or your shower head (you might want to check out our guides on how to descale a kettle and clean a shower head to solve this problem).
- Waiting too long between cleanings: Regular spot cleanings and a weekly deep cleaning should prevent toilet stains.
"Scale is the result of the presence of calcium and magnesium when hard water evaporates, creating a slimy, chalky residue," says Tony Jones, general manager of Harvey Water Softeners (opens in a new tab) . "Limescale can take on a variety of colors depending on the different compounds found in the water entering your home; Aggregates usually turn a whitish or gray color."
"Of all the areas and fixtures in our homes, the toilet is one of the most problematic, and that's because it gets a lot of use and has water in it all the time, which is the perfect environment for limestone to grow," says Tony.
"The stain is further influenced by the fact that the limestone absorbs all dirt particles as it dries and the stains slowly form layer by layer inside the toilet bowl."
This will help you avoid future toilet stains
After you've thoroughly cleaned your toilet to remove stains, you probably want to know how to prevent stains from building up in the future. Here are some tips to prevent toilet bowl stains and ensure regular maintenance of your toilet is quick and easy.
- Clean regularly - Clean your toilet as often as possible to avoid staining. A good rule of thumb for regular bathroom cleaning is once a week, as recommended for how often you should vacuum . Set a bathroom cleaning day or add it to your schedule.
- Flush the toilet: Flushing the toilet frequently helps flush it out quickly and reduces the risk of staining. If you're looking to conserve flushes and water, consider a dual-flush or low-flow toilet. If it's not in the budget, put a rock in the tank. This reduces the amount of water needed to refill the tank after each flush without reducing the amount of water in the bowl.
- Dealing with Hard Water - If you really want to avoid hard water stains on your toilets and other fixtures, you need to invest in a water softener. These aren't cheap, but they add value to your home, increase the life of your appliances, and help keep your plumbing in good condition. Another place where you feel the benefits of soft water is on your body: Hard water can also affect your hair and skin, causing dry skin and weighing hair down.
Cleaning the toilet may never be your favorite pastime, but it pays to have a fresh, clean bathroom every day.
And now that you've thoroughly cleaned your toilet, why not turn your attention to other parts of your bathroom? Check out our guide to cleaning marble or grout in your shower or bath. We also have a step-by-step guide to cleaning windows , an often-overlooked part of our bathroom cleaning routine. The whole room will be sparkling in no time!
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