Pre-treat. For small stains, apply
Gall soap is the best for poop and barf. If you can get your hands on the hard soap variety, it's better value for money. Just work on the stains with some soap and a brush. They will come right out.
If baking soda doesn't work well enough alone, try a solution of baking soda, white vinegar and water. Either soak it or put it in a spray bottle and spray the stained area. Leave it for at least an hour then rinse in cool water and wash as usual.
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.
Enzyme-based detergents represent one of the best choices for removing biological stains, including those from poop.
Fecal incontinence or staining can be the resultant of constipation, not having the correct stool consistency, not fully emptying during defecation, and/or pelvic floor muscle weakness.
If you're looking for other ways to tackle stains or if you can't get some sunshine, pre-treating with certain products can also work wonders. Many parents on the Babylist team, including myself, swear by blue Dawn dish soap and Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Spray.
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.
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.
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.
This washing additive powder also helps remove leaky diaper stains and poop stains. It's also free of any dyes and chlorine-free, so it's tough on stains but gentle on your baby's clothes!
Saturate the stain by spraying it with a solution of equal parts distilled white vinegar and cool water. Scrub the stain well, using an old soft-bristle toothbrush. Blot the area with paper towels or, better yet, extract the liquid faster using a wet/dry vac. Allow the area to dry.
An enzyme cleaner uses biological enzymes (molecules that speed up a chemical reaction) to effectively break down stains quickly. Filled with “good” bacteria, when sprayed onto a surface, they multiply fast and start to produce these enzymes.
Skiddy stools
These poos leave skid marks down your toilet. This is because they have too much sticky mucous in them. This may mean you need more fibre in your diet. Stools that leave skid marks are quite common.
Baking soda is the holy grail of poop removers.
Customers say the Zep Calcium, Lime, and Rust Stain Remover is an effective and cost-efficient alternative to more expensive brands like CLR. Many users appreciate its ability to tackle tough stains, particularly in toilets and on various surfaces affected by hard water.
Use vinegar and baking soda to clean toilet bowl stains. This mix creates a reaction that lifts stains well. It's also good for the planet and safe for your family.
If CLR Grease & Oil Remover is left on a surface for too long it begins to dry and can be very difficult to remove.
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.
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.
Black toilets need to be cleaned with much more care and no abrasive items or harsh chemicals. To clean a black toilet, wipe over regularly with a soft cloth and warm water, not only around the toilet seat and lid but the base and inside of the toilet too.
If the stain persists after washing, you can place the garment in the sun to help bleach out any remaining stains or soak the item in a solution with Tide Brights + Whites Rescue™ before laundering. This oxygen-based technology will banish stains while keeping colors bright.
Rinse or soak with cold water (blotting helps). Wash in the washing machine using hot water, an enzyme-based cleaner (if suitable for the fabric) and bleach or vinegar (if suitable for the fabric).
We tested more than 20 stain removers to see how they fared against a wide variety of both fresh and seriously set-in stains on washable fabrics. Amodex Ink & Stain Remover did the best job overall, and we have five other recommendations to help you fight the good fight.