The contaminants notorious for causing brown stains in toilet bowls are iron, manganese and sulfur. These pollutants can also produce iron bacteria, manganese bacteria and sulfur bacteria, which also can produce brown stains.
Or perhaps you are seeing some black stains in your toilet bowl or dishwasher? These unsightly stains may be a result of high levels of manganese in your water. Manganese is a natural element that is commonly found in water, soil, and some foods and, at appropriate levels, plays a role in keeping us healthy.
One of the most obvious signs of hard water buildup is in the toilet. You might see a white or rust-colored ring forming at the waterline or staining at the base of the bowl.
To prevent calcium carbonate from piling up into your cistern, pour a single cup of white vinegar into it. The mixture should be three parts white vinegar to one water. After you pour it into the cistern, mix it slowly and carefully until it's evenly distributed.
Brown stains are the result of hard water and not your cleaning wrongly. Don't use bleach as it will only bleach out the stain, but not remove it. Use a clean brush with plastic bristles.
The carbonic acid that is in coke is what helps to clean toilet stains. Picture the acidity slowly working its way through the stains, melting them away. It can take a while depending on how stubborn the stain is which is why it's vital to have a suitable cleaning method depending on how bad the toilet condition is.
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. Simply spray on the affected area, wait a minute or two and brush it away with a regular toilet brush.
As a one-stop cleaning solution, pour one cup of bleach around the bowl. Then tackle every inch with a toilet brush or a handheld scrub brush. Let it sit for five minutes, then flush.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar
“Combining these two creates peracetic acid or corrosive acid, an irritant that, in high concentrations, can harm the skin, eyes, throat, nose, and lungs,” says Bock.
As it turns out, you can actually unclog a toilet with dish soap instead of turning to a harsh, toxic bowl cleaner.
If the clog still seems to be intact, start over at step 1 and repeat the process a couple of times. For extra-stubborn clogs, you can let the fizz mixture sit overnight or combine this method with plunging.
Cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the bathroom can work really well. To clean your toilet with vinegar, pour a cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let sit overnight. The next morning, sprinkle a little baking soda into the bowl, scrub, and then flush clean.
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.
White Vinegar and Baking Soda
The best way to clean stubborn stains in your toilet is with baking soda and vinegar. Sprinkle a good amount of baking soda inside the bowl, then spray on the vinegar until it starts foaming. Wait ten minutes, then scrub the bowl vigorously with a toilet brush.
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.
Cleaning your toilet with baking soda
Simply apply it all around the sides at the top of the bowl and leave it to sit for five minutes. During this time it will 'eat away' any dirt and grime. After this, use a toilet brush to scrub the rest of the bowl, working the baking soda into the surface of the toilet.
"The biggest don't when it comes to toilet tanks is bleach—do not use bleach or products containing bleach inside the tank, as it can corrode the internal parts of your toilet. If you are aiming to remove tough stains from the tank, I also recommend white vinegar diluted with water."
You clean your toilet bowl almost every day, but it somehow gets dirty in no time? This is a quite common though very frustrating scenario and the reason might be one of these: Chlorine in hard water. This combination causes the iron and magnesium to precipitate out and thus muck up the toilet.
Let It Sit For 12 Hours
Leave the vinegar and water mixture in the toilet tank for 12 hours without flushing the toilet. This is why this cleaning process is best done overnight, as you are less likely to need the bathroom throughout the night than during the day.
Once a week at least.
Tetro says your bathroom is the ultimate bacteria host; E. coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.