Did you know that one gram of wet stool contains an estimated 100 billion bacteria? While many die once excreted, others can survive outside the body. That includes toilet surfaces and the water in the bowl itself.
That’s enough reason to deep-clean your toilet regularly. Besides, doing so can make it easier to clean toilet stains before they turn permanent.
The question now is, how exactly can you keep your toilet sanitary and stain-free? That’s what you’ll learn in this toilet cleaning guide, so be sure to read on.
Suit Up
Thousands of eye exposures occur in the US each year due to household cleaning products. Worse, many of those cases result in eye irritation, injuries, and even damage.
That’s why it’s vital to don eye and face protection before you start cleaning toilet stains. Be sure to wear rubber gloves, too, to protect your skin from infections and injuries.
Remove Everything on Top of the Toilet Tank
If you use the top of the toilet tank as a makeshift shelf for toiletries, set them aside first. That way, you can clean the entire toilet from top to bottom and not only the bowl. Besides, shampoo, conditioner, or soap bottles can leave residue and stains on the tank.
Give the Toilet an Initial Rinse
Gently pour some clean water all over the toilet, starting from the top of the tank. After that, you can rinse the tank’s sides, the toilet seat cover, the bowl, and the sides of the bowl.
That initial rinse will help clear away loose debris in and on the toilet. That can then help expose other stains that you might otherwise miss.
Remove Stains With Baking Soda
Did you know that the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 involved using over 100 tons of baking soda? That’s because baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a mild abrasive. It’s abrasive enough to act as a natural scrubber but not that harsh to damage Lady Liberty.
That makes baking soda an ideal and cost-effective solution to clean toilet stains. In addition, it’s non-toxic, so it’s far safer than commercial cleaning chemicals.
To use baking soda for general cleaning and stains, mix it with a small amount of water to create a thick paste. You can then smear this all over the toilet, from top to bottom. Then, let it sit for about 15 minutes before using a toilet brush or sponge to scrub the toilet gently.
Bleach Away Stains
If baking soda doesn’t work, you can use regular household bleach instead. Aside from being an effective stain remover, bleach is also a potent disinfectant. Just make sure to dilute it with room temperature water and never mix it with other cleaners.
An ideal solution is to mix half a cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Once combined, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz enough of it to cover the toilet surfaces. Let the solution sit for about 5 minutes before brushing the stained areas.
You can then rinse the toilet with room temperature water.
Seek Professional Help
If you’re too busy to clean the toilet, consider enlisting residential cleaning services. That way, you can have professionals give your bathroom a deep clean.
One of the best things about bathroom deep-cleaning is that toilet stain removal is just one part of the job. That’s because the service includes cleaning and disinfecting the entire bathroom.
Use These Hacks to Clean Toilet Stains Like a Pro
As you can see, something as accessible as baking soda may be enough to help you clean toilet stains with ease. If not, you may need to use bleach diluted with water. However, if you don’t have time to do all that, it may be best to let the pros handle the job of deep-cleaning your bathroom.
Either way, make sure you clean and disinfect your toilet regularly.
Ready for more tips on home improvement? Feel free to check out our recent blog posts then!
