How to clean a very old dirty toilet?

Author: Shania Koch  |  Last update: Monday, August 11, 2025

Try this: Swish a cup of vinegar around in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush, then add a cup of baking soda, followed by an additional cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes. Use a toilet brush to scrub stains. Let mixture sit for a few more minutes and then flush.

How do you clean a toilet that hasn't been cleaned in years?

One way is to put HOT wet rags on the floor first. Let them sit a bit to help loosen the gunk. Then, put down something like Soft Scrub with bleach. Let them sit for about 15-20 minutes to penetrate and disinfect better. Then, use a scrub daddy sponge and a cleaning toothbrush for around the bottom of the toilet.

How do I get rid of brown buildup in my 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.

How to make an old toilet look new?

If the only problem with the toilets is that they have a dull surface, first wipe them with a cloth soaked in warm water with lemon and let it work a little to remove the dirt. Then rinse and wipe with a cloth soaked in hot white vinegar. Rub with a dry, lint-free cloth and you're done!

What cleans a badly stained toilet bowl?

Vinegar and baking soda: Add 1 or 2 cups of vinegar to the toilet bowl along with a few sprinkles of baking soda. Swish the solution around the bowl with your brush for a few minutes and then let it sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub the stains with your brush (or pumice stone).

How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains With Baking Soda & Vinegar

How to clean a really dirty toilet?

Try this: Swish a cup of vinegar around in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush, then add a cup of baking soda, followed by an additional cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes. Use a toilet brush to scrub stains. Let mixture sit for a few more minutes and then flush.

How do I get yellow brown stains out of my toilet bowl?

To start, pour 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet, then add 1½ cups of white vinegar. Let the mixture bubble up for 30 seconds, then flush for a squeaky-clean bowl. For deeper-set stains, let the mixture sit in the bowl for up to a few hours, then flush. This YouTube video shows the fun, fizzing action!

What is the absolute best toilet bowl cleaner?

Our favorite, editor-approved toilet bowl cleaner is the Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It's an easy-to-find cleaner that works great on tough stains, has a clean scent, and lasts for a long time.

How do you clean the bottom of an old toilet?

Dish soap

Simply pour a generous amount of washing-up liquid into your toilet bowl, leave for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub with a brush. Finally, flush to rinse. Your toilet's bottom will be rid of all encrusted limescale, and your toilet will be back to its former glory.

Should I replace my 20 year old toilet?

On average, toilets can last up to 50 years if they are properly maintained. But, the rule of thumb is to replace your toilet every 25 years, due to damage and regular wear and tear.

How do you remove encrusted limescale from a toilet?

The answer is simple - use vinegar.
  1. Get a liter of undiluted white vinegar then pour it directly into the toilet bowl.
  2. Allow for 3 - 4 hours before scrubbing the toilet bowl using more white vinegar.
  3. After that, flush your toilet to get rid of residue and stains.

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!

How to clean a calcified toilet bowl?

Pour lemon juice or vinegar on the deposits. Don't dilute the vinegar or lemon juice, or you'll reduce its effectiveness. Leave the acidic liquids in place for a few hours to do their work, preferably overnight. Scrub the scale with a stiff-bristled toilet brush before flushing the toilet.

What happens if I never clean my toilet?

Over time, if your toilet isn't cleaned, the minerals in the toilet water can stain your toilet bowl. These stains pick up and trap dirt particles and bacteria, making your toilet dirty and unhygienic. Mold growth. Mold grows quickly in moist environments, and a damp toilet bowl is a perfect place for mold to grow.

What is the golden rule for toilet cleaning?

He said: “The golden rule for cleaning toilet bowl stains is to use non-alkaline products. “Most toilet bowl stains appear in hard water areas, so it's important to remember that bleach won't work, and you will need to use an acid-based product such as limescale remover.

How do you remove years of toilet stains?

Option 1: Use Vinegar and Baking Soda

Vinegar and baking soda produce that oh-so-familiar chemical reaction that powers through buildup and loosens tough stains. While it might seem like it's chewing its way through grime, it's not powerful enough to damage the porcelain finish of the toilet bowl.

How do you clean a badly soiled toilet?

Cleaning a toilet with vinegar and baking soda
  1. Start with vinegar. Put on your gloves and pour 250ml of vinegar into the toilet bowl. ...
  2. Add baking soda…and more vinegar. Now add about 200 grams of baking soda, and another 250ml vinegar to your toilet. ...
  3. Scrub away!

How do I get rid of the brown stuff at the bottom of my 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. 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 to deep clean your toilet?

Mineral Deposits (including limescale): Use vinegar, a pumice stone, or a commercial cleaner designed for mineral deposits to remove them. Dye Stains: Flush immediately and scrub with a toilet brush. For set-in stains, try a baking soda paste or diluted bleach.

What do plumbers recommend to clean toilets?

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda is also a mild abrasive, so it will remove stains and grime from your toilet bowl. To clean your toilet, use one cup of baking soda with two cups of white vinegar. Brush it into the bowl, let it sit for five minutes, then flush again with the water on full force.

What happened to Kaboom toilet cleaner?

Kaboom is now OxiClean. New look, same powerful clean.

Everything you love about Kaboom™ bathroom cleaners isn't going away – it's just merging with OxiClean™.

What is the best toilet bowl cleaner hack?

Hydrogen Peroxide: A Super Toilet Cleaning Hero

Hydrogen Peroxide is a DIY toilet bowl cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup of this disinfecting superhero right into the toilet. For additional power, pour in one cup of baking soda. Let the combo sit for at least 15 minutes, then scrub with a toilet brush.

How do you clean a badly stained toilet bowl?

Flush the toilet to wet the surface of the bowl. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and heavily mist the bowl surface. Allow the vinegar to sit for half an hour. Use a toilet brush to scrub away any stubborn stains.

How to get rid of brown limescale in a 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.

Does CLR remove toilet bowl stains?

Over time your toilet water can cause an unsightly rainbow of stains and mineral build up in your toilet bowl. CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover helps you flush the filth away. Before you get started, always use gloves and check if CLR is suitable to be applied on the material you are trying to clean.

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