How To Clean Nasty Toilet Bowl Stains Fast and Easy
You just finished cleaning your toilet and saw there are still stains sitting under the rim and down in the bowl. You tried to rub it a couple of times but it doesn’t come off.
What are those stubborn stains anyway? And is there a way to clean them easily?
In this article, we will discuss what causes brown and other nasty stains on your toilet bowl and how to remove them.
What Causes Toilet Bowl Stains?
Toilet stains come from a number of sources. But the one thing they have in common is that they’re hard to remove and they’re very unpleasant to look at.
Most people believe it’s the build-up of urine and "number 2" waste because of the resemblance in colour.
But poop waste and urine build-up are usually very easy to work with and don’t normally cause stains. They’re usually gone after a couple of flushes or light scrubbing.
Instead, here are the common causes of hard stains in our toilet bowls:
Yellow or White Calcium Build-Up
This is caused by the build-up of hard water that accumulates over time. These are the common white or yellow stains that you see in toilets that aren’t properly cleaned on a regular basis.
Brown Rust Stains
While many confuse these brown stains with poop, it is rust that is the culprit. These brownish or reddish stains accumulate over time thanks to the iron in hard water in combination with the corrosion of old water pipes.
Black or Pink Mould Stains
The most hazardous type of toilet bowl stain. They are characterized by black, green or pink stains that are caused by the build-up of bacteria or fungus which can be very dangerous it left untreated.
How To Clean a Stained Toilet Bowl
Assuming you have cleaned your toilet as part of your normal bathroom cleaning process and are still left with stains in the bowl, you can proceed with the following method.
Step 1: Wear Gloves
First, wear some protective gloves. You’re going to have to get your hands up close and personal with your toilet, so it is best to protect your hands for your own sanitation.
Step 2: Drain The Water
Next, remove all the water from the bowl to expose the stained portion. There are a lot of ways to do this but the easiest way is to push the water down to the sewer using a plunger.
If that doesn’t remove all the water, you can use a wet vacuum to suck the water out of the bowl.
Be sure to have proper ventilation cause without the water, the toxic gasses from the sewer can escape.
Draining the water is important because you want the chemicals to be undiluted when you’re up against hard stains.
Step 3: Use The “Right” Chemicals
Next, you want to use a high quality cleaning solution specifically designed for removing toilet bowl stains. Our top recommended products are:
Spray a generous amount of undiluted Toilet Cleaner directly into the stains. Follow the directions on the bottle, but for stubborn stains you should be aiming to let the solution sit on the stain for about 3-5mins.
Don't forget to check under the rim as these are usually the worst areas that most cleaners miss.
Ensure all stained areas are doused with the cleaning soolution and give it some time to break down the stains.
Step 4: Scrub (For Stubborn Stains)
For stubborn stains, you will need to give it some elbow grease. This means scrubbing the toilet using a toilet brush.
Start scrubbing under the rim first before working your way down.
Because the chemical we used breaks down the organic glue that holds those stains in place, the stains should start to lift off.
Step 5: Flush
Lastly, flush the toilet.
The toilet cleaner will continue breaking down organic matter in the drain leaving you with a clean and fresh toilet.
If you still see some stains, repeat the process and let the chemicals sit there a bit longer next time.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’ve removed the stains in your toilet, the process doesn’t end there.
Make sure to keep it clean and stain-free by regularly cleaning your toilet at least once a week.
That way, you break down the build-up before it becomes a massive problem.