How To Clean A Badly Stained Toilet

Badly stained toilets are not only unsightly they can cause you a lot of embarrassment if you're throwing a party or having friends over. Whether you're moving into a different home that already has badly stained toilets or if you've simply neglected to keep yours clean, we've got you.

Read on for 8 tried and true cleaning methods, and answers to frequently asked questions.

When using any of these methods, please be sure to keep children and pets away from the toilet.

Recommended Read: Best Small Toilets for a Compact Space

Using chemicals to clean a badly stained toilet

Method 1: Chlorine bleach

Toilet open that was cleaned w bleach — Toilet Cleaned with Bleach

Note that large amounts of bleach are not safe for septic tanks.

What you will need: Pure bleach, toilet-safe brush, and (if desired) rubber gloves.

How to: You can clean and disinfect your toilet bowl using 1/2 cup chlorine bleach. Pour it into the bowl, and let it stand for ten minutes (or up to 30 minutes). Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush, making sure to get under the rim. Flush. Wait 5 minutes, then flush again.

Recommended Read: Best Toilet Repair Kits for a Strong Flush

Method 2: Name brands

Name Brand Cleaner

There are lots of products on the market, but consumer polls and professional product testers seem to agree on these three: Kaboom! Scrub Free, Lime-A-Way Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner, and Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

What you will need: Cleaner, toilet-safe scrub brush, and (if desired) rubber gloves.

How to: Follow the directions from each manufacturer carefully.

Natural ways to clean a badly stained toilet:

Method 3: Pumice rock

Pumice stone rock zoomed in — Pumice Stone

Pumice stones are not recommended to wash marble, laminate, plastic, or fiberglass toilets; doing so will result in permanent scratches. Use pumice stones for porcelain toilets.

What you will need: Pumice stone, and (if desired) rubber gloves.

How to: Dunk the pumice stone into warm water and let it soak for 5 minutes. This will soften the stone so that it's safe to use on your porcelain toilet. Once wet, rub the stone back and forth over the any engrained lines and "erase" it the same way you would pencil from paper or the strip from a lottery ticket.

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Method 4: White vinegar

Vinegar bathroom cleaner in two bottles — Vinegar in Two Bottles

The pH level means that vinegar can break down not just hard water stains, but also other stains effectively. (Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of minerals.)

For very stubborn stains, you can add a few sprinkles of baking soda or Borax (Ajax).

What you will need: White distilled vinegar (no other kind will do), toilet-safe scrub brush, and (if desired) rubber gloves.

How to: Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the toilet bowl, let stand for an hour or two, brush, and flush.

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Method 5: Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil and flowers — Tea Tree Oil and Flowers

Tea tree oil is an essential oil, which can be purchased at health and vitamin stores or online. It is not only natural, it is antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic!

What you will need: Tea tree oil, baking soda, distilled white vinegar, spray bottle, toilet safe scrub brush, and (if desired) rubber gloves.

How to:

Mix inside strap bottle

½ teaspoon tea tree essential oil

½ cup baking soda

1 cup distilled white vinegar

Spray into the toilet bowl. Let sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with a brush, and flush.

Method 6: Cola

Mom always did say soda would rot the enamel off of your teeth and maybe she was onto something! Whether it's Coca Cola or Pepsi, the acidity in these sodas makes it great for cleaning purposes because it eats away limescale. This is also an effective method when your toilet is stained because of hard water.

What you will need: Coke or Pepsi (brown sodas only—pop has three different types of acid: citric, carbonic, and phosphoric—it's the phosphoric acid found in most dark-colored fizzy drinks we're after here), access to a microwave or stove, toilet safe scrub brush, and (if desired) rubber gloves.

How to: Warm one cup of soda in the microwave (about 45 seconds) or over the stove in a pot (get it warm, not boiling). Pour liquid into the toilet. After letting the soda sit for two hours, flush the toilet. Scrub if needed.

Frequently asked Tough Toilet Stain Questions:

What causes brown stains in a toilet bowl?

Waste can cause these stains if you are not diligent about regular cleanings. Such things build up over time, especially if you are conserving water and not flushing after each use.

However, this is seldom the cause. The brown stain in the toilet bowl usually comes from hard, mineral-rich water—the minerals have calcium compounds, iron, and manganese. Iron oxide, also known as rust, is the main reason your toilet has stubborn brown stains.

How do I remove brown stains from my toilet bowl?

You can dissolve rust with acid, but it has to be one that is safe for your household and the plumbing pipes. Weigh the methods about and try them out. Stick with whichever method works the best for you.

How do I get my toilet bowl white again?

Remember that regular cleanings (about once a week) will go a long way in keeping your toilet bowl clean in the first place. Prevention is key. If you buy a new toilet, you may want to consider one in a color other than white so that stains will not be as noticeable.

What should I clean my toilet seat with?

Avoid cleaning wipes, toilet bowl cleaners or products that contain bleach, aerosols, vinegar, essential oils, or abrasives. Soap and water are your friends here. The toilet seat is usually made of plastic, which is not as touch as the bowl.

Should I use leave-in toilet bowl cleaners?

After toilet tank drop-in tablets were introduced to the public in the 1990s, plumbers noticed an increase in business. Studies confirmed that the chemicals in those convenient capsules eventually damage the flush valve, flapper, and other parts in the tank. It's best to use this method sparingly or not at all. What's more, constantly-chemicalized water presents a hazard to small children and household pets.

Wrapping Up Severely Stained Toilet Questions

There are several different methods for cleaning a badly stained toilet. Whether you want to go the chemical route or the natural way is entirely up to you.

Have you tried any of the methods we suggest? Let us know whether or not they have worked for you and feel free to add tips of your own in the comments below.