Whether you just bought a new home and are faced with toilet bowl stains from previous owners or have neglected your cleaning duties for a little too long, stubborn toilet bowl rings can be one of the most difficult things to clean. In some cases, porcelain toilets are prone to picking up these stains and holding onto them even with regular cleaning. These stains can be dark, slimy, and make the toilet look like it hasn’t been cleaned in ages. Caused by a buildup of minerals found in hard water, stubborn toilet bowl rings are a common problem. Here are some ways you can eliminate toilet bowl rings for good.
Vinegar
Ideal for less problematic stains or for those who are tired of using harsh abrasives and toxic chemical cleansers, vinegar is a natural way to clean your toilet. One method is to place three cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl and scrub the stains away with a brush. The other method is to put the vinegar into a spray bottle, drain the toilet bowl, and spray the solution directly onto the stains. Unfortunately, vinegar might not be strong enough to remove extra tough stains. If this tip doesn’t work out for you be sure to try one of the other solutions found below.
Borax Powder
Although borax paste is sold in hardware stores it’s a powerful cleaning agent that can be used to clean a variety of tough household stains – toilet bowl stains included. Start by shutting off the water supply to the toilet and draining the toilet do the hard water stains aren’t covered by water. Make the paste by mixing ½ cup borax powder with enough vinegar to form a paste. From there, liberally spread the paste over the stains until they’re completely covered. Allow the paste to sit for about twenty minutes before scrubbing it off with a toilet brush. If successful, the stubborn stains should come off with the paste.
Lemon Kool-Aid
Sometimes what’s hidden away in your kitchen can work wonders for hard water stains, and Lemon Kool-Aid is one of those hidden wonders. Simply empty a packet into the toilet, let it sit for a bit, and scrub away the stains with a brush. Lemon Kool-Aid works in the dishwasher too! If you notice a build-up of soap scum in your dishwasher, just replace the soap or detergent with a packet of Lemon Kool-Aid, run an empty load through a regular cycle, and your glasses and plates should come out crystal clear.
Coke
Believe it or not, you can use a can of Coke as a cleaning agent in the bathroom. Although pouring a two liter bottle of Coke into the toilet may sound a bit odd, it’s an effective way to clean stubborn toilet bowl rings. Usually all you’ll need to do is let the Coke sit in the toilet bowl for about thirty minutes before wiping away with a soft rag. For extra cleaning power, let the Coke sit in the toilet overnight before scrubbing. Note: since it’s the phosphoric acid that does a lot of the cleaning work (and not the actual Coke), it’s just as effective to use soda water in lieu of Coke.
Muriatic Acid
Since this method is a rather dramatic way of cleaning stubborn toilet bowl rings, it should only be used if the above methods didn’t work. Make sure to use the weakest form of the acid possible and wear protective gear while working with muriatic acid. Before starting, ensure the toilet bowl is empty and the water supply has been turned off. Muriatic acid works by eating away the first layer or two of your toilet bowl, thus getting rid of the stain. Just be sure to follow the directions on the back of the package closely, as using too much muriatic acid can be harmful.