I don’t know about you, but my idea of a good time isn’t getting down and dirty with my toilet bowl. Although it’s one of those daunting house chores that no one wants to do, toilets just breed germs and are so dirty that they need to be cleaned regularly. Sometimes, you can clean your toilet many times and you’ll still be frustrated to see brownish or yellowish rings around the bowl at the water level.
Most toilet stains are caused by a buildup of minerals from hard water which can cause damage, or mold and mildew buildup. Since toilets are made of porcelain and they are prone to picking up these stains, you’ll be set up for success if you know how to tackle them.
However, you have to be extra careful during cleaning to avoid damaging your plumbing systems. Otherwise, you may have to call in a plumber to fix any damages you may have caused. To avoid this, here you will find nine ways on how to clean a badly stained toilet:
1. Vinegar
If you want to know how to clean a badly stained toilet, your first line of defence should be good old vinegar. Not only is vinegar a proven solution in removing those stubborn toilet stains, but it’s also an all-natural cleaner. Say goodbye to those harsh chemicals and strong-smelling cleaners and opt for vinegar.
To remove those pesky stains, put three cups of vinegar straight into your toilet bowl. Then all that’s left to do is scrub the stains away with your toilet brush.
2. Borax
Another proven solution for removing toilet bowl stains is borax. Borax is a powdery white mineral that can be found at your local grocery store. It’s been used for decades as a cleaning product for different things around the house. Borax will help get rid of your toilet stains and also works to remove mold and mildew.
3. Kool-aid
Another great way to get rid of hard water stains is a little unconventional. Who knew kool-aid was a great solution for cleaning toilets? So how does it work? Sprinkle one package of lemon Kool-aid around the toilet bowl. Then simply wait one hour and use a toilet brush to scrub away the stains! It’s that easy. A bonus? You can get kool-aid packets at your local grocery store for under a dollar!
4. Bleach
Bleach might have been what you thought of when you first started reading this article. It seems bleach is the go-to cleaner and disinfectant for many things around the home and toilets are no exception. To use bleach on your toilet, put half a cup of dry bleach powder into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few hours. You’ll notice the stains start to dissolve away and that’s when you can flush the toilet.
5. Pumice Stone
To use a little more elbow grease, scrub away at those stubborn toilet stains with a pumice stone (but use a different one than the one you use on your feet!). To do this, soak your pumice stone in some water for about 10-15 minutes. After letting it soak, it’s time to get to work and scrub out those stains!
6. Trisodium Phosphate
Trisodium Phosphate is a white, granular solid, which is highly soluble in water and produces an alkaline solution. To use this cleaning solution on your stained toilet, incorporate one tablespoon of trisodium phosphate to 3.8 liters of warm water and mix the solution until well dissolved. Once complete, instead of pouring it directly into the toilet, soak a cloth in the solution and use it to rub the toilet stain clean.
7. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree only isn’t the first option you think of when deciding how to get rid of your toilet stains, but it’s worth giving it a try. To make the tea tree solution, add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil to your toilet bowl. Another method is to or spray the tea tree oil solution onto the spots. To do this, combine 5-10 drops of oil into a water spritzer.
8. Fine-Grit Drywall Sanding Screens and Barkeepers Friend
This method takes about 10 minutes and includes cutting 1-2 small pieces of fine-grit drywall sanding screens and setting them aside. The next step is to open the Barkeepers Friend and sprinkle it inside your toilet. Then, gently yet firmly, scrub away at the toilet stains in a circular motion using the drywall screen. Some words of caution: make sure you wear gloves and don’t press too hard while scrubbing as you may risk damaging the porcelain bowl.
9. Dryer Sheet
Like pumice stones, dryer sheets are a great method to scrub away at the toilet stains. All you do for this one is put on some rubber gloves and then scrub the stains away. Pro tip: used dryer sheets seem to work better than new ones, so save those dryer sheets!
These nine ways to clean a badly stained toilet should leave your toilet glistening! If one method doesn’t work as well for your particular toilet, there are many other options listed here that you can try.
