How to Clean A dirty Stained Toilet: Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of purchasing expensive toilet cleaners without the desired results or concerned about the toxic chemicals the cleaners contain?

It’s about time to make your homemade toilet cleaner. A stained toilet bowl is quite unsightly, but as luck would have it, you can use a few tricks and equipment to clean a stained toilet.

Though you may clean your toilet regularly, you might have noticed a yellowish or brown ring buildup on the toilet bowl or stains that run below the rim of the water level.

The buildup of minerals causes most of the stains from the water, i.e., hard water.

What Is a Hard Water Stain?

Also known as limescale, mineral deposits, and mineral buildup, hard water stains are chalky white residue that forms around faucets and water nozzles due to an excess of minerals in the water.

But before you run off and scrub, you must be well-equipped for the task ahead.

It’s prudent for you to have a separate set of cleaning tools for the bathrooms, different from the one you use to clean your house’s other surfaces.

This is crucial because it will help in avoiding contaminating the surfaces.

Whereas there are many commercially available cleaning products, it’s worth noting that a few household products will also get the job done, saving you some cash.

How to Clean A dirty Stained Toilet Effective Techniques for Removing Stubborn Stains

With the help of traditional cleaning ingredients such as baking soda and white vinegar, specialized cleaners such as Borax or wet pumice stones and a toilet brush may be utilized to effectively remove stubborn toilet bowl stains, particularly those caused by mineral buildup from hard water.

Hard water contains elevated levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, which tend to coat toilet bowl surfaces, resulting in unsightly stains that may be difficult to remove.

Employing household remedies like vinegar and baking soda in a thorough cleaning regimen can help eradicate mineral-based stains.

Consistent maintenance can also impede the development of such stains and ensure a sanitary and sparkling toilet.

Step-by-step instructions on how to clean a dirty, stained toilet effectively.

How to Clean A dirty Stained Toilet

Gather the necessary cleaning supplies:

Before you start cleaning your toilet, gather all the necessary cleaning supplies. These may include rubber gloves, a toilet brush, a scrubbing sponge, a cleaning solution, and a bucket.

Turn off the water supply:

Start by turning off the water supply to your toilet. You can do this by turning the valve located behind the toilet. Once you have turned off the water supply, flush the toilet to remove as much water from the bowl as possible.

Apply the cleaning solution:

Next, apply the cleaning solution of your choice to the inside of the toilet bowl. Several options are available, including bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. If you are using a commercial cleaning product, follow the instructions carefully.

Scrub the toilet bowl:

Using a toilet brush or a scrubbing sponge, thoroughly scrub the inside of the toilet bowl. Make sure to scrub the rim, the sides, and the bottom of the bowl. Apply firm pressure and scrub until all the stains and buildup are gone.

Clean the toilet seat and lid:

While the cleaning solution is still working in the bowl, clean the toilet seat and lid with a disinfectant cleaner. Spray the cleaner on the seat and lid, and wipe them with a paper towel or a cleaning cloth.

Clean the outside of the toilet:

Once the inside of the toilet bowl, seat, and lid are clean, move on to the outside of the toilet. Spray a disinfectant cleaner on the tank, the base, and the handle. Wipe them clean with a cleaning cloth or a paper towel.

Rinse the toilet bowl:

After scrubbing the inside of the toilet bowl, turn the water supply back on and flush the toilet to rinse away the cleaning solution. Use the toilet brush to scrub any remaining stains or buildup.

Dry the toilet:

Once you have finished cleaning the toilet, use a clean towel to dry it off. This will help prevent any water spots or streaks from forming.

Dispose of the cleaning supplies:

After cleaning the toilet, dispose of any cleaning supplies, such as gloves, sponges, or paper towels, in a trash bag. Tie the bag securely and dispose of it in a garbage can.

Note: Wear gloves while cleaning your toilet is advisable to protect yourself from hurting your skin and coming in contact with the bacteria in the bathroom.

1.   Using Baking soda and White Vinegar

For this, you must remove your cleaning tools, i.e., rubber gloves, clean toilet brush/ plunger, disinfecting wipes, and natural toilet cleaners, baking soda and vinegar.

 Step 1 Begin by clearing out the water in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush or a plunger.

Then pour our one cupful of vinegar into the toilet bowl and swish around the walls of the toilet bowl.

Cover the stain thoroughly and let it sit for a minute or two.

Step 2 Into the toilet bowl, pour a cupful of baking soda and add two cups of vinegar.

The baking soda and Vinegar reaction will create a fizzle; let the solution sit for around ten minutes.

Note: If you don’t witness any fizzling action, it might indicate your baking soda is old or not using enough baking soda.

Step 3 Using the toilet brush, swish the solution around the toilet walls while covering all the nooks and crannies.

It’s necessary to note that you don’t flush your toilet during all these processes.

Step 4 Let the solution sit for another 30 minutes while swishing and scrubbing away the stains with the solution at certain intervals.

You can use a stiff-bristled nylon brush if the stains don’t seem to be coming off.

Once the stain comes off, you can flush your toilet.

Pro Tip: While you are still cleaning with the baking and vinegar solution, you can also use it as a homemade drain cleaner to unclog your bathroom sink drain.

2.   Borax and Vinegar

Step 1 Pour about ¼ of a cup of borax into the toilet bowl and swish it around, ensuring your cover up all the nooks and crannies.

Step 2: Add a cupful of vinegar and allow the mixture to sit for around twenty minutes. You will witness some fizzle, but it will go out.

Step 3 Finally, give the toilet a thorough scrub with the toilet brush and flush to rinse once you’re sure all the stains are gone.

3.   Borax Paste.

It’s ideal for stubborn stains that won’t come off in the above methods.

  1.  Drain all the water in the toilet bowl.
  2. Make a thick paste by mixing ½ cup of borax with the vinegar to achieve the right consistency.
  3. Generously apply the paste to the sides of the toilet bowl, paying close attention to stained areas.
  4. Allow the paste to sit for around 20 minutes.
  5. Afterwards, scrub off the paste with a stiff-bristled nylon brush and flush it to rinse the toilet.

4.   Scrubbing with Steel wool

You can use 0000-grade steel wool, i.e., the finest grade, with some water steel wool is quite a useful scrubbing tool.

Ensure you have gloves; the steel wool must be the finest grade to avoid scratching the porcelain surface.

You can use steel wool with the above solutions to scrub off the stains and, afterwards, flush the toilet.

5.   Scrubbing with Pumice stone

The best way to clean your stained toilet while still avoiding using harsh chemical cleaning agents.

  1. Soak the pumice stone in some warm water.
  2. Afterwards, scrub the stained area gently
  3.  Once you’re that stain has been cleared, you can flush to rinse the toilet.

Note: Keep the pumice stone and the area you scrub off the stain wet to avoid scratching the porcelain.

6. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant that eliminates stubborn stains and neutralizes harmful microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, mould, and fungi. When paired with baking soda, its cleaning potency is further amplified.

Pour 1/2 a cup of hydrogen peroxide onto stains in the toilet bowl to use this powerful combination. Next, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on top of the hydrogen peroxide, and allow the mixture to sit for 15 minutes. This dwell time ensures that the cleaning solution has sufficient contact with the stains for effective removal.

After the dwell time has elapsed, vigorously scrub the bowl with a toilet brush, thoroughly cleaning all stained areas. Once the cleaning process is complete, flush the toilet to rinse away the solution and reveal a sparkling clean bowl.

Related: House Smells Like Bleach After Cleaning

Various Types of Toilet Stains.

Hard water – These stains will appear as rings around your inner toilet bowl. They may be pink, red, brown, or white.

When you’re dealing with hard water stains, make a borax and vinegar paste and scrub the stained area. Tip: Always be mindful of cleaning products you shouldn’t combine when making your cleaners.

Mould stains -Can occur anywhere on your toilet. Mould will be slightly fuzzy and blue, green, yellow, grey, black, or white.

Not all moulds are toxic, but many are. Because of this, you should leave mould removal to experts

Mildew Stains – Can be found anywhere on your toilet, but mostly near the top of the toilet bowl or the toilet tank. Mildew usually starts white but may turn yellow or brown in time.

First, flush the toilet to drain as much water as possible. Next, spray mildew stains with distilled white vinegar and scrub until you see no more streaks or waterlines. You may need to repeat the flushing and scrubbing process a few times.

How To Get Rid Of Brown/Black Stains In Your Toilet Bowl?

Several steps can be taken to remove brown/black stains from your toilet bowl effectively.

  1. First, turning off the water supply and flushing the toilet if the stains are at or below the water level is recommended.
  2. Next, mix one cup of tartar cream with ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide to form a thick paste. Using a plastic-free toilet brush is recommended to avoid any potential damage to the bowl. Use the toilet brush to scrub the black/brown spots with the paste, applying sufficient pressure to remove the stains.
  3. Allow the mixture to sit for 15-20 minutes, ensuring the paste remains in contact with the stained areas. After the mixture has sat for the recommended amount of time, scrub the stains again with the toilet brush, then flush the toilet to rinse off the paste.
  4. Repeat the above process for any remaining stains, allowing the paste to sit on the stained areas for longer. It is essential to be patient and persistent in cleaning, as stubborn stains may require multiple treatments to remove them.

In conclusion, eliminating brown/black stains from a toilet bowl can be achieved by using a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste, followed by thorough scrubbing and allowing the paste to sit for an extended period if necessary. A sparkling and hygienic toilet bowl can be achieved by following these steps and exercising patience.

DIY-How to Make a Toilet Bomb to Clean and Disinfect your Toilet

You can use the ice cubes to clean and disinfect your toilet; all you do is drop the ‘bombs’ in the toilet bowl.

You will require an ice cube tray or silicone mould, and a teaspoon full of disinfecting essential oil, for example, Tree oil, orange, pine, lavender, baking soda, and citric acid.

Choose your favourite fragrance of the essential oils, or, better yet, blend them to create your unique scent.

  1. In a mixing bowl, add the baking soda, essential oil, and citric, and keep stirring to form a homogenous mix while adding the white vinegar with a teaspoon drop by drop.
  2. Add only enough vinegar into the mixture to make it damp enough to hold its shape when moulded in your hand
  3. Place the mixture in the ice cube/silicone mould and allow the mix to dry for at least 24 hours.
  4. Pop the tablets and store them in a tightly closed glass jar.
  5. You can now use the ‘toilet bombs’ to clean your toilet.
  6. Drop into the toilet bowl a tablet to clean and disinfect it simultaneously.

What is the strongest toilet bowl cleaner?

Many strong toilet bowl cleaners are available on the market, each with unique features and benefits. However, some of the strongest and most effective toilet bowl cleaners contain powerful ingredients such as bleach or hydrochloric acid.

  1. Bleach-based toilet bowl cleaners are widely available and effectively remove stains and disinfect the bowl. They work by breaking down and bleaching away tough stains caused by hard water, mineral deposits, and other contaminants. Bleach-based cleaners also disinfect the bowl, killing bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms.
  2. Hydrochloric acid-based toilet bowl cleaners are stronger and more effective than bleach-based ones. They dissolve mineral deposits and other stubborn stains, leaving the bowl clean and shiny. However, it is essential to note that hydrochloric acid-based cleaners should be used cautiously and only in well-ventilated areas, as they can produce harmful fumes.

When using any toilet bowl cleaner, following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and wearing protective gloves and eyewear is essential. Using the cleaner in a well-ventilated area is also recommended to avoid inhaling fumes.

Additionally, while using them, it is advisable to be cautious and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safe and effective use.

Final Thought on How to Clean A Stained Toilet

A stained and unclean toilet can harbour various disease-causing bacteria and viruses, which be quite deleterious to your home.

Keeping a toilet clean and stain-free may seem daunting, but it can be a quick and easy process with the right tools and techniques.

Regular cleaning and disinfecting of the toilet bowl, especially around the rim and under the seat, can help prevent stains from forming in the first place.

When stains occur, choosing the appropriate cleaning solution and following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure safe and effective use is important.

Additionally, wearing protective gloves and eyewear when cleaning a toilet is recommended to avoid any potential harm from cleaning products. Consistent maintenance and proper cleaning technique can achieve and maintain sparkling clean toilets.

Related: Best Fiberglass Shower Cleaners

Leave a Comment