How to Get Rid of Brown Stains at the Bottom of the Toilet Bowl
Toilets are notorious for collecting spots and stains that are difficult and even next to impossible to remove. Brown stains show up with a contrasting brilliance against a pearly white toilet bowl. It can be frustrating to scrub the bowl with fervor and still see evidence of the unsightly stains despite your best cleaning efforts.
If you’re tired of seeing these brown rings in your toilet bowl, we have a few proven methods for removing them more quickly and easily to restore your toilet bowl to its former brilliance. Here is everything you need to know about removing brown stains from the toilet.
What causes brown stains in a toilet bowl?
There are several ways to remove the brown stains at the bottom of a toilet bowl, but first, it’s essential to know the causes and how to prevent the stains from happening in the first place. According to Hunker, the brown stain you see at the bottom of the toilet bowl is caused by the mineral content in hard water. Even though you can’t see the particles, tiny pieces of iron and manganese minerals exist in hard water along with calcium compounds.
These minuscule minerals collect on the surface of your toilet bowl and in time, they build up, creating a scaly foundation. Tiny iron particles oxidize and rust, creating the brown or brownish-red stain near the bottom of the bowl and in other places in the toilet bowl. Lime buildups also contribute to a foundation of mineral buildups and scaling. It combines with the calcium to begin forming residue that is rock hard.
How to Get Rid of Brown Stains at the Bottom of the Toilet Bowl
The reason why it’s so difficult to remove the stains from a toilet bowl is from a combination of things. The calcium in hard water forms hard deposits against the bowl. These build up over time and they’re hard to chip away without damaging the toilet bowl. The stains form on top of these calcium buildups and throughout the deposit and are difficult to remove.
What to avoid when cleaning brown stains from a toilet bowl
The porcelain of a toilet bowl is glazed and provides a slick and attractive finish, but if you’re not careful, you can cause scratches or cracks in the finish. These areas will either cause leaking or will attract more stains that you won’t be able to remove once they get in the cracks. That’s why it’s important to avoid using sharp objects or abrasive scratchers.
You can easily damage the finish, or worse yet, crack the bowl if you use a metal object to chisel or use any kind of impact. Also, be careful about the type of cleaners you use. Bleach is effective but it can damage the porcelain finish. While some acids remove the calcium and other mineral deposits easily, some of them can damage the plumbing and pipes. With all of these precautions in mind, how do you remove the brown stains from a toilet bowl quickly and effectively?
Homemade toilet bowl cleaning solutions
Buying Home Spirit offers a few different simple homemade cleaning solutions that work well for loosening and removing mineral deposits in the toilet bowl. Here are two surprising solutions and cleaning methods.
Baking Powder and Vinegar
Baking powder and vinegar are common household items but they are powerful for loosening mineral deposits and removing stains without damaging the finish of the toilet bowl. Simply pour 2 cups of straight vinegar into the toilet bowl. Sprinkle a box of baking soda into the bowl afterward. Next, take power pumice and mix the solution around inside the bowl. Allow the mixture to sit in the bowl undisturbed for between 20 and 30 minutes. After the solution has soaked into the calcium deposits, use a power pumice to brush away all of the buildups and the stains. You will be amazed at how effective this method can be. If there are still some stains left, you can add lemon juice and scrub it one more time with the power pumice. If necessary, you can repeat the process to thoroughly remove mineral deposits and the stains they cause.
Coca Cola Cleaner
Coca-cola is a popular beverage, but it is also used for a variety of cleaning applications. The acid content in the cola is high and it helps to loosen and remove mineral deposits on porcelain. It also lifts brown stains from the bottom of the toilet bowl. For the best results, Add a full two-liter bottle of Coca-cola to the toilet bowl before you go to bed at night. Allow it to sit undisturbed overnight. In the morning, flush the toilet before you use it. Use the Power Pumice to scrub away any remaining mineral deposits and stains.
Baking soda and Coca Cola
You can also strengthen the power of Coca-Cola as a cleaning agent by sprinkling baking soda into the mix after pouring it into the toilet bowl. According to Plumbertip, this is a powerful and effective toilet bowl cleaner that works much like vinegar and baking soda.
Final thoughts
It’s not difficult to remove the nasty brown rings from the bottom of your toilet bowl if you know which ingredients to use and how to apply them. Lime and calcium create a buildup that iron and manganese are attracted to. This is the recipe for a stubborn brown stain. Using a few household ingredients can help to loosen these unattractive buildups to make your toilet bowl look clean and new.
It’s best to use these methods at the first sign of staining because it’s much easier to remove when it’s just starting to form. There’s no need to despair or use dangerous chemicals or sharp objects to tackle stubborn toilet bowl stains. A little know-how and patience go a long way for this cleaning task.
You can also read:
- How To Clean a Toilet with Pumice Stone
- The 10 Best Toilet Brushes Money Can Buy
- What Should You Do About Flushing the Toilet with Frozen Pipes?
- What Should You Put In a Guest Room Toiletries Basket?
- Reasons Why Your Toilet Might Be Squealing
