Cleaning the toilet is no one’s favorite job. It is a nasty necessity to maintain proper hygiene and clean bathrooms. Ensure the job is done well using some of these tips and tricks. Most of them eliminate the need for using harsh chemicals.
Electric Drill Toilet Cleaning
Using an electric drill with a brush attachment saves effort. Use a bristle brush–nothing abrasive like wire. Pour a pail of water into the toilet first to flush it and leave it mostly empty. Apply your favorite lime and scale remover and let the drill do the hard work.
Acidic Cleaners
Slightly acidic cleaners remove stains and leave toilets smelling fresh.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is readily available in the cleaning aisle of grocery stores or online. It removes limescale and rust stains in the bowl. Just pour a couple of scoops into the water and let sit for a few hours to remove the lime. Citric acid is a mild acidic cleaner made from lemons, limes, and other citrus fruit. It does not contain any chemicals.
Vinegar
Household vinegar is an inexpensive and effective cleaner. Soak paper towels with vinegar and spread them on the sides of the toilet. Tuck them up under the rim. Leave them overnight. In the morning remove the paper towels and clean the toilet. (Paper towels are one of the things that should never be flushed down the toilet.) Empty the toilet with a pail of water to apply vinegar below the water line.
Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid crystals are also acidic. Pour a package into the toilet and scrub. Not only does it clean the toilet but you can choose the fragrance left in the bathroom after cleaning.
Kool-Aid also doubles as a leak detector. The bright colors stand out on the floor if your toilet wax seal is compromised.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is not a cleaner. It is a disinfectant and rust remover. Spray it on the sides of the bowl and under the rim. Let it work for about 30 minutes; then flush it away. Add about half a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the water in the tank. After about 30 minutes flush the toilet to empty the tank. If rust persists–repeat as required.
Toilet Pumice Stone
Use toilet pumice stones to scrub off stubborn stains, water rings, rust, and limescale. They are available at home improvement stores, grocery stores, and online. Pumice stones work well on sinks, tubs, and tile without scaring them. The stones can be sharpened and molded into different shapes for hard-to-get-to places. They are manufactured of recycled glass and are available with handles for convenience.
Denture Tablets
Denture tablets are designed to clean acrylic and porcelain dentures. They work well to remove toilet stains. Throw 2 or 3 tablets into the tank before going to bed. They work to clean the tank overnight, then clean the rim, rim holes, and bowl when the toilet is flushed. You may need to repeat the treatment for a few successive nights.
Shaving Foam
Shaving foam neutralizes urine odor. Spray it on the floor around the toilet, on the toilet seat–especially the underside, and the back of the toilet lid. (Flushing the toilet tends to spray water.) Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then clean it off with a sponge and mop.
Toilet Seat
Take the toilet seat off the bowl every 3 or 4 months and put it in the bathtub to soak for an hour. Add two cups of vinegar to the tub water. Clean around the seat holes in the bowl–including underneath. Use a little bleach if you find mold growth. Toilet seat fixture areas accumulate urine, dirt, and grime which makes for a smelly bathroom.
Coke Toilet Cleaning
Coke works to clean limescale from toilets because of its high acid level and bubbling action. Pour about 12 ounces of Coke into the toilet. Make sure it covers the exposed part of the bowl as it runs into the water. Let sit overnight. Give it a quick scrub in the morning and flush a couple of times.
There are some reports of limescale absorbing the dark color of the Coke and making the stains look worse. You should be cautious with this tip.
Tooth Brush
Cleaning under the rim with a toilet brush is difficult. Use a toothbrush to get under the rim and give it a good scrubbing. Dip the brush in your favorite cleaning solution to remove rust and clean the water holes. An old electric toothbrush works even better.
Grapefruit and Salt
Cut a grapefruit in half, cover a cut face with salt, and scrub your toilet. The combination of citric acid from the grapefruit with the abrasiveness of the salt gets rid of limescale and stains. And leaves a pleasant odor when you are done.
