How do I get brown stains off the bottom of my toilet?

Author: Delmer Price  |  Last update: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Simply pour a kettle of almost boiling water into the bowl, follow up with 250ml of citric acid, and leave it for some hours – preferably overnight. The next day, scrub and flush. What's good for those caked-on pots and pans after cooking dinner is also good for removing a brown stain on the bottom of the toilet bowl.

How do you get stubborn brown stains out of a toilet?

For older stains, using an industrial-strength cleaner like CLR should do the trick. Another less conventional strategy you can try is removing the stains with Coca-Cola. To do this, simply pour a full can of Coke into the toilet and let it sit in the bowl overnight. Then flush the toilet the next day.

Why does the bottom of my toilet go brown?

Brown stains in a toilet bowl are often caused by rust, which can be due to iron in the water, hard water deposits or old pipes. The stains can also be caused by calcium or mineral deposits.

How do I get rid of brown limescale in the bottom of my toilet?

White vinegar

All you need to do is pour a generous amount of white vinegar down your toilet bowl, let it soak in overnight, then scrub with a brush. Then flush to rinse, and voilà, your toilet is back to its former whiteness!

How do you get brown rust stains out of a toilet?

Mix equal parts of lemon juice and borax to form a paste. Apply the paste to the affected areas and let it sit for at least two hours. Use a toilet brush to scrub the rust stains away, and finally, flush the toilet. Repeat the process as necessary until the rust is completely gone.

How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains With Baking Soda & Vinegar

How do I get rid of brown sediment in my toilet?

Citric acid

More importantly, it's probably even more effective than vinegar for getting rid of that brown stain in the toilet. Simply pour a kettle of almost boiling water into the bowl, follow up with 250ml of citric acid, and leave it for some hours – preferably overnight. The next day, scrub and flush.

How to clean a badly stained toilet bowl?

Pour white vinegar into the bowl to cover the stained areas. Let the vinegar soak for 30 minutes to an hour. Scrub the stained areas with a toilet brush. If the stains persist, sprinkle baking soda on the remaining stains and let it sit for up to 10 minutes, then scrub again with the toilet brush.

What is the best toilet cleaner for brown stains?

Bleach only masks the problem—it doesn't get rid of it for good. Instead, try citric acid and a toilet pumice stone for a permanent solution. 🧽✨ Citric acid breaks down those mineral stains, and the pumice stone gently scrubs them away. Say goodbye to those marks for good!

Does Coca-Cola remove limescale from the toilet?

Always wear gloves when cleaning with vinegar to protect your skin from the acid. A special tip: Coca Cola – this fizzy drink contains phosphoric acid which also removes limescale and urine scale.

How to get rid of brown stains under the rim of a toilet?

Try a mild urine scale remover or limescale remover to tackle brown deposits. Use probiotic cleaners such as Sani Clean and Oder prevention from Clean Green. These cleaners are harmless to humans, animals and the environment and contain good bacteria that remove stubborn dirt.

Can you put a dishwasher tablet in the toilet?

Who knew that dishwasher tablets could help keep your toilet sparkling clean? Just drop a dishwasher tablet in toilet bowl and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl and flush it. The tablet will help to break down any stains or buildup in the bowl, leaving it fresh and clean.

What is the best toilet cleaner for hard water stains?

Remove Toilet Hard Water Stains with Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend. Bon Ami and Bar Keepers Friend are effective commercial cleaning products that contain gentle abrasives that can be used to remove hard water stains from porcelain.

Does WD-40 remove limescale from toilets?

While it can be put to a number of helpful uses around the home, WD 40 is particularly good at softening rust and limescale deposits in the toilet (and bathroom). All you have to do is spray it on the desired section of the toilet, wait a few minutes, then scrub it away with a toilet brush.

Why is the base of my toilet brown?

Hard water, commonly found in areas with high mineral content, can leave deposits in your plumbing system and toilet fixtures. These deposits can affect the appearance of the water and contribute to the brown color. The first step to tackling excess minerals in water is to determine the amount in the water.

How do you remove long term toilet stains?

You could use white vinegar and baking soda. Alternatively you could leave a can of coke in the toilet bowl and let the acid start to work it's magic with the acid starting to remove stubborn stains. Alternatively you may decide to use a commercially made toilet bowl cleaner.

What takes off the hardest toilet stains?

While hard water stains are certainly difficult to remove, they are not permanent. There are several effective, non-toxic cleaners you can use to remove pesky hard water stains from your toilet bowl, including baking soda and vinegar, Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend, and borax.

How to remove brown stains in toilet bowl?

How to Clean Toilet Stains with Borax and Vinegar
  1. Flush the toilet to wet the surface of the toilet bowl.
  2. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of borax into the bowl. ...
  3. Pour 1-2 cups of white vinegar around the toilet bowl. ...
  4. Use a toilet brush to scrub away any remaining stains.
  5. Flush the toilet twice to remove the cleaning mixture.

How long to leave Coke in the toilet for stains?

Depending on how bad the stain is, you'll either wait between 2 hours or overnight. Once your waiting time is up, unhook your ball valve and allow it to float - slowly filling up your cistern. When the toilet is ready, flush it. Now that you've flushed the coke you can grab your toilet brush and start scrubbing.

Can you leave vinegar in a toilet bowl overnight?

In conclusion, leaving vinegar in the toilet overnight is not recommended as it can cause damage to the porcelain surface. The best way to clean a toilet is with a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar, followed by regular cleaning with bleach or other cleaning products for tougher stains or odors.

What removes brown limescale from toilet?

Pour undiluted white vinegar into your toilet bowl, making sure you get it up under the rim where limescale often gathers and cover every part of the surface. Leave it for three to four hours and then scrub it with a brush. Repeat if necessary.

How to clean the bottom of a toilet bowl?

To remove limescale from the bottom of your toilet you will want to pour vinegar into your toilet bowl and leave that on there for three to four hours. After the vinegar sits, you can scrub those stains with either a toilet brush or a wet pumice stone and flush the toilet.

What do plumbers recommend to clean toilet tanks?

We recommend using a mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. This ensures your toilet tank is being disinfected without causing damage, which the use of bleach or chemical cleaners can do.

How to get a toilet bowl white again?

The one-two punch of hydrogen peroxide cleans stains and kills germs, leaving your toilet bright, white, and healthy.
  1. Pour a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet and let it sit for 30 minutes.
  2. Use your toilet brush to scrub the stains.
  3. Add a sprinkle of baking soda and scrub again if the stains persist.

What happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar in a toilet?

The 'fizzing' reaction of the baking soda combined with vinegar can also play a part. That fizzing may help to break down the clog into smaller particles, making them easier to flush!

Previous article
Who is responsible for water leaks outside?
Next article
What is the red stuff on my shower head?