Nobody looks forward to cleaning the toilet. However, it should be cleaned every week for the obvious reasons and to prevent mold growth. Mold spores are everywhere. They grow and thrive in wet or humid locations where there is an organic source of food. Bathrooms–especially toilets–provide everything mold requires. Especially if it is not cleaned regularly.
The Importance Of Cleaning Mold
Mold growth is not only unsightly, but it is also unhealthy. Mold releases spores that can cause allergic reactions and breathing problems. Some types of mold release mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and could produce some of the following reactions.
- Sneezing.
- Runny or Stuffy Nose.
- Cough and Post-nasal Drip.
- Itchy Eyes, Nose, and Throat.
- Dry Scaly Skin.
- Severe Asthma Attacks. Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness.
3 Ways To Clean Mold From a Toilet Base
The most likely location for mold to grow on a toilet base is in the bowl. Don’t ignore the outside–especially where it sets on the floor. Condensation, urine, and water leaks combined with dirt grow mold. If mold persists at floor level, your subfloor may be the culprit. A leak from the base of the toilet soaks the subfloor, causing mold and rot to spread. Subfloor damage usually leads to a time-consuming and sometimes expensive repair.
Bleach
Bleach removes surface mold from non-porous material like porcelain. It will not lift mold out of porous material like wood.
- Mix 4 teaspoons of bleach in a quart of room-temperature water. Or follow label directions. (Some bleach is stronger than others.)
- Spray the mixture liberally on moldy areas.
- Let it work for about 15 minutes.
- Scrub off the mold with a soft bristle brush.
- Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda can be used in two ways. Mix up a paste and spread it on the moldy sections of the toilet base. Or sprinkle dry baking soda on moldy areas, then spray with undiluted vinegar. The paste sticks on sloped surfaces better than dry baking soda.
- Mix two parts baking soda with one part vinegar into a thick paste. (8 tbsps of baking soda and 4 tbsps of vinegar cover approximately one square foot.)
- Spread the paste about ¼” thick on moldy areas.
- Let sit and dry for about one hour.
- Scrub off the dried paste and mold.
- Flush the remains inside the bowl and vacuum up the flakes outside the bowl.
- Wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened with vinegar to remove any remaining paste and help deter future mold growth.
Hydrogen Peroxide
- Mix hydrogen peroxide and water 50/50 in a spray bottle.
- Spray the entire base–inside and outside–with the solution.
- Let it work for about 15 minutes.
- Scrub with a soft bristle brush or microfiber cloth.
- Rinse and dry well with another microfiber cloth.
End Notes
Other than baking soda and vinegar, do not mix any of the three cleaners together. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar create a toxic chemical reaction harmful to skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. Hydrogen peroxide mixed with bleach can cause an explosion.
