Dirty-looking toilets are never a pleasant sight and may have you wondering how to remove rust stains from a toilet. These stains are always tough to get out, and it almost seems like they develop overnight. And when you have visitors, you may feel a bit embarrassed by these stains.
Simple home materials like lemon juice, white vinegar, salt, baking soda, and commercial rust removers can remove rust stains. Apart from being cheap, these items are easy to use and can probably be found in every home. Proper use of these materials lets you get your toilet sparkling clean and free of rust.
In this article, I will show you how to get rust stains out of a toilet by following a few simple steps.
My Quick Overview (30 Sec)
- Rust stains in toilet bowls are not uncommon, given the iron content in water and how easily it oxidizes when in contact with air.
- Removing those unsightly stains can seem impossible, but several substances in your kitchen will likely do the job.
- The best defense against toilet bowl rust stains is vinegar. Simply pour white vinegar into your toilet bowl and allow it to stand for at least an hour. Then scrub the rust off with a nylon-bristled brush.
- Other effective rust eliminators include lemon juice and Coke. Lemon juice and salt make an excellent rust-cleaning solution. Alternatively, allow the rusted bowl to soak in Coca-Cola for up to 24 hours before scrubbing.
How To Remove Rust Stains From A Toilet
So, where should you begin when learning to remove rust stains from a toilet?
Without stepping out of your house, these materials can be found in almost every kitchen and are excellent rust removers:
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is one miracle product every home should have. From cleaning to laundry to pet care, the uses are almost limitless. White vinegar is a clear, sour-tasting fermented liquid containing acetic acid and water.
To use vinegar:
- Spray the rust with vinegar and allow it soak in for a few minutes
- Agitate the rust using a soft brush or sponge
- Some stains can be hard to go off. In the instances, leave the white vinegar in the toilet bowl for roughly an hour. Then have another go at scrubbing it off.
An alternative is to mix water, liquid soap, and white vinegar in a spray bottle and apply it to the rust. The dish soap has grease-fighting ingredients to take away any slime. The acidic vinegar will break through the rust, while the soap removes other dirt and impurities.
If the stain is still visible, pour undiluted white vinegar into the toilet water tank. However, you must leave the vinegar in it for at least 12 hours before flushing. Repeat the flushing process until the water is clear.
2. Lemon Juice
Easy-to-find lemon juice can be combined with salt, powdered laundry detergent, or borax to remove toilet rust. To use, stir equal parts lemon juice and any of these ingredients in a small bowl. Once the paste is thoroughly coating the stains, scrub them with your brush or sponge. Be sure to do so in a circular motion.
Cover the stained area with paste for super-tough stains, then wrap it in plastic wrap and wait. Allow it to stand for roughly an hour, then pull the plastic wrap back and scrub off the stains. Flush the toilet to check for stains. If there is still some rust left, repeat the process till you get what you need.
3. Coca-Cola
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly cleaning solution, try out Coca-Cola. Your favorite frizzy Coca-Cola isn’t just great tasting. It’s also an excellent cleaning agent. It contains phosphoric acid, a solvent that breaks apart the iron oxide present in rust, eliminating stains.
For best results when treating superficial rust stains, soak the stains in Coke for about 2 hours, then scrub with a toilet brush. For more stubborn stains, wait 24 hours before scrubbing them off. Some rust stains may not go off at your first attempt; repeat the process till it’s all cleared off.
One tip for using Coke is to make it warm before using it, as it dissolves stains more effectively.
Conclusion
Everyone desires to have a clean toilet, free from rust stains. However, it’s not everyone that knows how to achieve this. Now you know how to get rust stains out of a toilet, you shouldn’t have a problem doing so.
