"First, pour enough vinegar into the bowl to cover the stains. Next, let it soak in for 30 minutes to an hour," says Marla Mock, cleaning expert and president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. "Then, grab a toilet brush and scrub away.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Pour a cup of vinegar into the bowl, then mix it around with a toilet brush. Add a cup of baking soda to the coated areas and immediately follow up by adding another cup of vinegar. Wait about 10 minutes to allow the baking soda and vinegar to interact, creating that effective fizzing action.
The acidic values of vinegar allow it to soften limescale and prepare it for scrubbing clean. 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.
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.
To get rid of these stains, pour roughly three cups of distilled vinegar directly into the bowl and let the vinegar do the work. Using a toilet brush, dip it into the water and scrub around the inner edges of the bowl. Be sure to get underneath the rim of the bowl where buildup is particularly prone to occur.
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.
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.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Solution – If you want a natural solution for cleaning toilet bowl stains, made with vinegar and baking soda, start with the vinegar. Pour a cup in your bowl and swirl it around with the toilet brush. Then add 1 cup of baking soda and another cup of vinegar. Leave to soak for up to 30 minutes.
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.
Citric acid
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.
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.
Professional cleaners often use the same household supplies as you would: toilet-bowl cleaner (or bleach), disinfectant wipes, rubber gloves, as well as a nonscratch scrub sponge, a microfiber cloth, or paper towels. A handheld scrub brush or a pumice stone can get to especially tough stains.
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.
Choose cleaning products that are designed specifically for cleaning toilets. Avoid using abrasive cleaners, bleach, or other harsh chemicals that can damage your toilet's surface.
Apply baking soda to the tarnish and leave for a few hours. You can also use baking soda in combination with vinegar. Try a mild urine scale remover or limescale remover to tackle brown deposits.
A much better solution is to use some WD-40 Multi-Use Product. Most people don't know that WD-40 can solve many of their household cleaning needs quickly and easily. When cleaning a toilet bowl, WD-40 works by softening the rust and lime deposits, so they can be easily wiped away. You don't need to use much of it.
Add a cup of white distilled vinegar to the tank once a month. Leave it to sit overnight and then flush it in the morning. Check for sediment buildup and staining every month or so. This may be especially important if you have hard water or if you have a toilet that doesn't get used very much.
Lemon and any other citric acid can work wonders in breaking down buildup grease and dirt while lightening stains. It can be a decent bleach alternative that can help you clean the toilet without releasing hazardous fumes. You can mix lemon juice with baking soda to gently scrub the nasty toilet stains.