When people see toilet bowl stains, they usually think that they’re brought about by urine and other body waste. This is usually true but, as a homeowner, you have to realize that many of these stains are also caused by the minerals that are found in hard water. These substances, which include calcium, iron, and magnesium, stick to almost all surfaces that they pass by. So, if you’ve been flushing your toilet for years, these minerals most likely have made their mark on your toilet and created unsightly layers of stains on the otherwise pristine surface.
Fortunately, these stains aren’t permanent, but you’ll need to spend elbow grease to remove them. If you’re ready to get started, here are some of the steps you can take:
1. Gather The Supplies You Need
It’s important to have everything you need on hand so you won’t leave the task just to track an item you’ve forgotten. You’ll need to have a pair of rubber gloves as well as a nylon-bristle brush or a pumice stone. You should also have the type of cleaning product you want to use.
2. Put On Your Gloves
Wearing gloves will help protect your hands from any bacteria in the water and keep you away from contamination. It will also prevent the cleaning product you’ll use from touching your hands and irritating your skin.
3. Turn Off The Water Supply
Before doing anything else, shut off the water supply valve to the toilet, then flush it once or twice. Doing this is standard procedure for almost any toilet-related task you do since it ensures that you won’t get swamped by an unwanted gush of water while you’re cleaning (or repairing) the toilet.
4. Ensure The Bowl Is Free From Water
Flushing the toilet should get the bowl’s water level below the stains. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to use a cup to remove water from the bowl until the water level sits below the mineral deposits.
5. Use Your Preferred Cleaner
If you decide to use a commercial toilet cleaner, read the directions and follow them to the last letter. However, if you want to minimize your exposure to chemicals, you can also opt for natural alternatives or at least less toxic products. One of your choices is good old soda like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which contains enough acid to eat away at the mineral deposits and break them down. Just fill the bowl with soda, let it sit overnight, and brush the bowl the next morning.
You can also use vinegar and baking soda to remove the stains. Simply pour one or two cups of vinegar to the bowl and sprinkle a handful of baking soda; after 15 to 20 minutes, use your brush to scrub out the stains. You can also make a paste by mixing two parts of baking soda and one part white vinegar. Apply the paste to the stains, leave them for 30 minutes, then start scrubbing the deposits.
Use these tips now to remove mineral deposits from your toilet bowl and give your toilet a clean, hygienic look.
