Tired of stubborn toilet stains that just won’t budge? You’re not alone; thousands of Aussies are searching for how to clean a stained toilet bowl. One mum’s viral $3 cleaning hack is changing the game with a pantry item you probably already own: citric acid.
Why toilet bowl stains happen
Toilet bowl stains may look unpleasant, but they’re often a result of everyday issues like:
- Limescale and mineral deposits: Especially in hard water areas
- Rust: Caused by old pipes or iron in your water supply
- Mould and mildew: Common in toilets that are used less frequently
The good news? These are all fixable without harsh chemicals.
How to use citric acid to remove toilet bowl stains
One Aussie mum shared her budget-friendly method in a Facebook cleaning group, and it’s gone viral:
“To the woman who suggested I use citric acid to clean the black from my toilet bowl. I LOVE YOU… One small can of citric acid moved that muck with just an overnight soak and a scrub.”
At the time of publishing, a 75g container of McKenzie’s Citric Acid costs $3 at Woolworths, making it an efficient and cost-effective way to clean your toilet.
After reading this post, many other mums said they were excited to try this at home.
“I literally cannot wait to try this,” said one commenter. “I joined this group to try and deal with this exact problem.. black stuff on the bottom of my toilets that I can’t budge!!”
Another said, “Wow, thank you for sharing. I have issues with harsh chemicals and can’t use them as they bring on an asthma attack. This is great.”
Here’s how to do it:
- Quick clean: Pour 1-3 tablespoons of citric acid into the toilet bowl, swirl it with a toilet brush and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Scrub and flush.
- Deep clean: Pour a bucket of hot water into the toilet first, then add 125g citric acid. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Scrub and flush.
Always wear gloves when handling citric acid, as it can be irritating to the skin.
Other ways to clean a stained toilet bowl
If you don’t have citric acid handy, try one of these alternatives:
- Scalex: A heavy-duty descaler that targets calcium, lime and rust. Pour the mixture into the bowl and let it sit overnight.
- Vinegar and baking soda (separately): These are great natural cleaners, but don’t mix them! Use vinegar for soaking, or sprinkle baking soda before scrubbing.
- Coca-Cola: Surprisingly effective. Pour a can into the bowl, let sit overnight, then scrub.
- Pumice stone: For extreme buildup on porcelain only—never use on plastic or enamel.
How to remove brown, grey, and yellow toilet stains
- Brown stains: Often caused by hard water and rust. Try citric acid or Scalex.
- Grey stains: Typically, these are caused by mould or mineral buildup. Use vinegar or bleach (never together).
- Yellow streaks: Usually, urine scale or mineral staining. Citric acid and vinegar work best.
Can you mix baking soda and vinegar in the toilet?
Scientist Dr Vincent Candrawinata previously told BHG no:
“They will become useless as a cleaning agent. The bubbles don’t mean cleaning power. What’s left is mostly water and sodium acetate.”
Instead, use them one at a time. For example, soak in vinegar first, then scrub with baking soda after.
How to prevent stains from coming back
- Clean regularly with a toilet brush and vinegar.
- Use a descaler monthly if you have hard water.
- Flush regularly in low-use bathrooms.
- Keep the bathroom ventilated to prevent mould.
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