Cleaning the toilet bowl is undoubtedly the most difficult task in cleaning a bathroom. No matter how much effort you put into scrubbing it and tiring your muscles, sometimes you can’t make it shine like the other bathroom parts. So how to clean toilet bowl stains? Spending money on expensive toilet bowl cleaning solutions is a good idea, but you already have what you need to clean a toilet bowl in your home. Also, these commercial toilet cleaning solutions are harmful in the long run and are not eco-friendly. This article will discuss the most inexpensive and harmless toilet bowl cleaning methods.
We suggest you read this article till the end. This article will guide you about which toilet cleaning solutions to use, how to use them, and what equipment you must invest in.
Reasons Behind Toilet Bowl Stains
Toilet bowl stains are of various types caused by various reasons. Finding the causes is essential; after that, you can figure out how to clean toilet bowl stains well. By knowing the reasons, you can take preventive measures to protect your toilet bowl from getting stains in the future. This way, you discover the most suitable toilet bowl cleaning solutions and effective ways to use them on your toilet.
The following are the most common and nasty types of toilet bowl stains.
Mineral Stains
Water in the urban area is mostly referred to as hard water, containing minerals like limescale, calcium, and iron. When water is continuously used in the toilet, the minerals build up a layer on the toilet bowl, and it looks like a yellow or brown layer that doesn’t go away with even hard scrubbing.
The permanent way to get rid of mineral stains is by installing a water filter at the entry point of the water supply in your home.
Rust Stains
If you notice dark brown or red stains in your toilet, rust is the culprit. The reason behind rust stains is the corrosion in the water pipeline that contaminates the water that passes through it. Also, hard water containing high iron levels can cause rust stains. These stains are also hard to remove even if you use commercial rust remover toilet cleaning solutions. Don’t worry; this article will also guide you on how to get rid of brown stains in toilet bowls.
The permanent ways to remove such stains are to track the corroded pipe, replace it, and install a water filter in case of hard water.
Copper Stains
The hard water of your water supply can have high copper and acidic levels. Also, copper pipelines, if rusted, can cause copper stains. These contaminants travel down the water pipeline and accumulate where it ends up in your toilet bowl. So now you know that copper is the culprit behind the brown stain in the bottom of the toilet bowl. These stains are very hard to clean.
The permanent solution can be the replacement of corroded copper pipes or installing a water filter if your water supply is highly acidic.
Mold Stains
Mold stains are common in the bathroom, especially in the toilet bowl. Initially, they don’t appear as dark green or black spots, but you will feel a foul smell. Cleaning the mold is easier than the other stains explained above, but it builds up repeatedly.
It is better to take care of ventilation in the bathroom to avoid mold buildup.
Natural Ways to Clean Toilet Bowls
This section will discuss cleaning toilet bowl stains with natural ingredients without investing in pricey commercial cleaners. Commercial toilet cleaning solutions are expensive and harmful despite offering excellent results. This article will only focus on natural ingredients to clean the toilet bowl. Take the following preventive measures before starting to clean your toilet bowl.
- Ensure ventilation by opening a window or turning on a fan.
- Wear gloves, a face mask, and protective glasses from harsh smells, odors, and bacteria.
- Take a toilet scrubber to lighten up the stains and molds.
- Flush the toilet and drain all the water.
- Apply the following stain remover solutions directly onto the stains.
Following are the natural ingredients you can use to clean a toilet bowl.
1. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is ideal for lightening stains and whitening the toilet bowl surface. Also, it gives a wonderful aroma to the bathroom. Lemon juice has acid that reacts with the mineral deposits to dissolve them. The antifungal properties of lemon juice remove the mold. The mold, hard water, and rust stains go away with the lime juice. The following is the method to use lemon juice to clean the toilet bowl.
- Take a spray bottle and mix half a cup of water and one cup of lemon juice.
- Spray it all around the toilet bowl, so it reaches every bit of it.
- Let it rest for around 20-25 minutes.
- Flush the toilet.
Hopefully, all the stains have gone with the flush. If not, you can try the next natural ingredient.
2. Baking Soda and Vinegar
Now we will tell you how to clean a very stained toilet bowl with vinegar. Combining banking soda and white vinegar is an ideal stain remover and disinfecting solution. This solution also whitens the toilet bowl. The following is the method for cleaning the toilet bowl.
- Take the baking soda and sprinkle it all around the toilet bowl, especially the stained areas.
- Take the toilet brush to scrub the stains till the baking soda looks like a paste on the bowl.
- Let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Now take about two cups of white vinegar and pour it into the toilet bowl.
- Close the toilet lid and let it work; wait around 30 minutes.
- Now open the lid and scrub the mixture.
- Flush the toilet.
Your toilet is now clean as new. If not, you can repeat the process after every few days or leave the mixture overnight before the final flush. If your toilet still needs to be cleaned, try the next method.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an ideal sanitizer and whitener, a safe alternative to bleach. It can remove hard water stains and mold effectively. The following is the method to use hydrogen peroxide to remove toilet bowl stains.
- Take half a cup of hydrogen peroxide and pour it into the toilet.
- Let it rest for around 30 minutes.
- Take a toilet brush and scrub the stains.
- Sprinkle the baking soda on the hydrogen peroxide mixture and scrub it again.
- Flush the toilet.
Your toilet bowl is now clean and fresh like never before.
How to Keep Toilet Bowl Clean
Each household uses the toilet daily and needs regular cleaning and maintenance. If you do it regularly, the rust stains and molds get easier to remove. To save your toilet from such a scenario, clean the toilet with the solution of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and baking soda every week. This way, there will be no harsh buildup in the toilet bowl, and the cleaning will be easy at every turn.