Tired of scrubbing stubborn toilet stains? Try these brilliant, hassle-free hacks! Use lemon juice for copper stains, the vinegar and baking soda duo for tough grime, and even Coke or Alka Seltzer to fight mineral buildup. DIY bath bombs, a splash of hydrogen peroxide, and a vinegar soak for deep tank cleaning are also on the list. Each tip makes it easy to keep your toilet sparkling clean with minimal effort.
In this article, we discuss 7 Brilliant Toilet Cleaning Hacks for effectively cleaning the tank, bowl, and removing tough stains. Each method is practically tested and proven effective.
1. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda have powerful cleaning properties due to their unique chemical makeup:
- Vinegar: It contains acetic acid, which helps break down minerals, grime, and bacteria. This acid can dissolve tough stains, remove hard water deposits, and eliminate odors, making it a great natural disinfectant.
- Baking Soda: Baking soda is slightly abrasive and mildly alkaline, allowing it to scrub away stains and neutralize odors. When mixed with vinegar, it creates a foaming reaction that helps lift dirt, grease, and other tough stains from surfaces.
Together, vinegar and baking soda are an effective, eco-friendly solution for tackling various cleaning tasks around the home.
(i) Clean Inside the Toilet Tank With a Vinegar Soak
How much vinegar do you put in the toilet to clean it? The answer is gallons. The vinegar soak is one of the easiest methods that you can use to clean your toilet tank. It’s best if you have another bathroom available if you use this method since your toilet will be out of commission for a while.
You’ll Need
- 3 to 7 gallons of white vinegar (depending on the size of your toilet tank)
- Scrub brush
Instructions
- Empty the water from the tank.
- Fill the tank with vinegar to the overflow tube, making sure to cover any rust, mold, or algae that might be inside the tank.
- Allow the vinegar to sit in the tank for 12 – 13 hours.
- Drain the vinegar by flushing.
- Use the scrub brush to remove any leftover debris.
- Turn the water back on.
- Rinse the toilet tank a few times by filling and flushing.
(ii) Scrub to Clean Your Toilet Tank
If you don’t have 12 hours to wait for your throne to be back in commission, then you can give this quicker method a try.
You’ll Need
- 2 tablespoons Dawn dishwashing liquid
- 1 cup vinegar
- ½ cup baking soda
- Toilet brush
Instructions
- Drain the water out of the tank.
- Add the Dawn, vinegar, and baking soda to the tank.
- Use the toilet brush to swish it around.
- Scrub down the sides and bottom.
- Let it sit for about an hour.
- Give it another good scrub to get out any new stuck-on sediment, algae, rust, and mold.
- Turn on the water and flush out the tank.
Recommended Reading: Unlock Vinegar’s Cleaning Secrets: 22+ Things You Can Clean With Vinegar
Recommended Reading: 5+ Easy Ways to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger
Need to Know
When it comes to using vinegar to clean your toilet tank, it's a natural antifungal and antibacterial. It also creates a toxic vapor if mixed with bleach. If you use vinegar to clean your tank, do not use any bleach.
Q: When should I use commercial tank cleaners?
A: Use commercial cleaners like Instant Power Toilet Tank Cleaner if you have tough stains or very hard water. These are specially made for tanks and are effective when vinegar, baking soda, or borax aren’t enough.
Q: Can I use white vinegar in the toilet tank?
A: Yes, vinegar is an easy way to clean your toilet tank and keep it sparkling.
2. Pour in a Can of Coke (Not Joking)
You’ll need two cans of Coke for this toilet cleaning hack – one for you and one for the toilet. Turns out, Coco Cola has carbonic acid, which can help dissolve calcium buildup and rust stains. This isn’t going to replace your normal cleaning or be a miracle worker, but it’s a refreshing way to get at those tough stains.
Pour one can of Coke around the inside of the toilet bowl, just under the rim, and let it run down into the water. Then take the second can of Coke and go do something else for an hour (we won’t tell if you add rum, though it probably wouldn’t do anything for the toilet). Come back and flush to see the stain is reduced.
Need to Know
You can also use a pumice stone soaked in hot water for a hands-on approach to scrubbing off mineral buildup and stains, but if you ask us, we'd rather try the Coke and give ourselves a pedicure with the pumice stone instead.
3. Drop in an Alka Seltzer
Sure, Alka Seltzer can come in handy after a rough night or a few too many trips to the buffet, but it’s also super useful for cleaning your toilet. This hack is about as easy as it gets, too. Plunk two tablets right into the water and go do something else for about 15 minutes (maybe a chapter of your book?). Then come back and flush for a nice clean toilet.
4. DIY Bath Bombs for Your Toilet
Ever made a DIY bath bomb? They’re actually super easy, and believe it or not, you can make mini toilet bombs to clean your toilet. You’ll need silicone molds from the craft store (doesn’t matter if you choose a fun shape, but it can be cute).
Just mix 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup citric acid, and two teaspoons of Dawn to create a paste. Push the paste into the molds and let it dry. When you’re ready to clean, drop one in the toilet and leave it for 20 minutes before flushing.
Recommended Reading: How to Make a Natural DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner
5. Sanitize With Hydrogen Peroxide
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hydrogen peroxide is a safe and effective germ fighter.1 To disinfect your toilet, pour ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bowl, let stand for 30 minutes, and then flush to rinse.
6. Lemon Juice Scrub
Best for: Copper stains. The acidity of lemon juice helps break down copper stains, leaving your toilet bowl gleaming. Instructions: Squeeze the juice of one fresh lemon into the toilet bowl, or if using bottled lemon juice, pour in about half a cup.
Let the juice sit for 30-60 minutes to work its magic. Then, grab your toilet brush and give the bowl a thorough scrub, focusing on any remaining stains. Finally, flush to rinse away the lemony freshness and enjoy your sparkling clean throne.
Recommended Reading: How to clean Non-Electric Bidet Toilet Step by Step Guide
Recommended Reading: The 7 Best Bidets for Apartments (Minimal Installation!)
Recommended Reading: 5 Best Bidets Under $1,000
Recommended Reading: Best Bidets Under $500
Recommended Reading: Best Bidets Under $400
Recommended Reading: Best Bidets Under $300
Recommended Reading: Best Bidet Under $200
Recommended Reading: Best Bidets Under $100
Recommended Reading: Best Bidets Under $50