Anyone who has had dark stains appear in the toilet bowl will know how hard it is to remove them.
In fact, there are hundreds of posts online from people asking for help cleaning their toilet bowl stains.
How to clean toilet bowl stains
While Scalex is a top-rated solution for many, one mum is singing the praises of another product that she says is even better: citric acid!
“To the woman who suggested I use citric acid to clean the black from my toilet bowl. I LOVE YOU,” she wrote in the Facebook group Mum’s Who Clean.
“I have seen you guys use Scalex and acids, but the cost of having to possibly buy multiple bottles to get the job done made me hesitate,” she said.
“I have to be very conscious of how I spend my money. So to find that just one small can of citric acid…could move that muck with just an overnight soak and a scrub from the brush, I am more than thrilled.. plus I already had it in my pantry. WIN WIN.”
At the time of publishing, a 75g container of McKenzies 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 it brings on an asthma attack. This is great.”
How to use citric acid to clean toilet bowl stains
There are a few different approaches you can use, depending on the degree of staining and amount of time you have.
- Pour 1-3 tablespoons of citric acid into your toilet bowl, stir with a toilet brush and leave for 15-20 minutes. Give it a good scrub, flush and you’re done.
- Prepare your toilet by pouring in a bucket or full kettle of warm water. Then, add up to 125g of citric acid and leave it for at least an hour, or overnight for stubborn stains. Scrub the toilet before flushing.
- Repeat your chosen method as needed.
It’s also important to keep in mind that citric acid can be harmful to skin, so make sure you wear gloves.
Other ways to clean toilet bowl stains
If you can’t find citric acid and need to clean your toilet bowl ASAP, there are a few other cleaning options available.
Scalex
As mentioned before, another hot product often mentioned online for cleaning toilets is Scalex. Scalex is a heavy-duty home descaler by Hillmark that removes calcium, lime and rust.
Like citric acid, you can pour Scalex into the toilet bowl, leave it overnight, give a quick clean with a toilet brush in the morning, and then flush.
Vinegar and bi-carb soda
As always, there’s no harm in cleaning the stains with vinegar or bicarb soda – just don’t use them together. Many people think they can be used together because vinegar and bicarb soda are excellent cleaners on their own.
Dr Vincent Candrawinata is a scientist and entrepreneur. He previously told BHG, “You should not mix them.”
“They will become useless as a cleaning agent. The mixture will also produce gas and can cause the container to explode.
“The bubbles produced by the mix do not equal effectiveness. Essentially what’s left are water and a bit of sodium acetate.”
A bottle of can of coke
Coke can also remove stubborn black stains in the toilet. Pour a can of coke into the toilet bowl and let it sit for at least two hours (overnight is better if possible). Once ready, flush your toilet to remove the coke, then give the bowl a scrub and another flush.
What causes toilet bowl stains?
Toilet bowl stains look dirty but there are actually many different reasons they can occur. Here are some of the most common.
Limescale and mineral deposits
Limescale is a chalky-white deposit that can build up in plumbing and even kettles. It, along with other minerals, can stain your toilet depending on the type of water used in your area. So, sometimes the discolouration in your toilet bowl could be from minerals in the water – but it’s still important to clean it as soon as possible to avoid further staining.
Rust
Dark brown or red spots could indicate corrosion in your pipes. Toilet stains like these mean it’s time to bring in an expert to fix the source of the problem.
Mould
Mould thrives in moisture, which means the toilet is a top spot for the fungi to thrive. This is especially common in toilets that are used less. Like any mould you find in your house, treating the cause is essential; otherwise, it will keep coming back.
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