How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains

Cleaning the bathroom can often feel like a never-ending chore, especially when stubborn toilet bowl stains refuse to budge. These unsightly marks not only detract from your bathroom’s cleanliness but can also harbour germs and bacteria that impact your home’s hygiene.

No matter how much scrubbing you try, even a regularly cleaned toilet can appear neglected. But the good news is they don’t have to be permanent.

Using the right technique along with a trusted disinfectant like Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power—which kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria when used as directed—you can remove stubborn stains and keep your toilet bowl clean.

In this guide, we’ll explore common types of toilet bowl stains and share effective cleaning tips to restore your porcelain throne. It’s time to take control and say goodbye to those stains for good!

What causes toilet bowl stains?

Before we jump right into how to remove stubborn stains from toilet bowls, let’s explore the four common toilet bowl stains and the reasons behind their existence.

1. Limescale

Limescale is common stains you will find inside your toilet bowl. These stains are caused by high concentrations of particular minerals in the water supply, such as calcium.

As the water evaporates, the mineral deposits are left behind in the toilet bowl, gradually accumulating and forming chalky white, or yellow stains.

2. Rust stains

Rust is another common stain found in the toilet bowl, sinks, and tubs. The high iron content present in the water reacts with the water and oxygen to form iron oxide (reddish-brown stains) on the porcelain material that are hard to remove and simply don’t wash away.

3. Copper stains

As the water flows through the copper supply pipes, small amounts of the metal are dissolved, mostly due to corrosion, resulting in blue-green or bluish stains accumulations on surfaces such as toilet bowls, sinks, and bathtubs.

4. Mold stains

Mold spores, when coming into contact with moisture, water leaks, or humid conditions, grow and multiply in your toilet around the waterline as well as under the inner lip of the bowl, leading to black and dark green stains with a musky and unpleasant odor.

Cleaning toilet bowl stains, but first!

Equip yourself with the following essential toilet cleaning tools:

• Lysol^® Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power
• Toilet brush

How to clean toilet bowl stains

Follow these steps to remove stubborn stains from the toilet bowl effectively:

Step 1: Turn off the water supply

Turn off the water supply to the toilet bowl using the shut-off valve, usually located behind or beside your toilet. This step will ensure no water flows into the toilet bowl while you clean.

Step 2: Flush the toilet

Flush your toilet a few times to empty the toilet tank, and to work with a clean canvas for the stain removal process.

Step 3: Pour the toilet bowl cleaner

Pour Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power into the toilet bowl. Direct the nozzle under the rim and squeeze the bottle gently to distribute the solution smoothly around the entire surface. The angled bottle helps target the hard-to-reach areas to ensure maximum bowl coverage.

Allow the cleaner to sit in the bowl for 5-10 minutes, giving the solution ample time to penetrate and dissolve dirt, grime, germs, stains, and other mineral deposits.

Step 4: Scrub with a toilet brush

Scrub the insides of the toilet bowl using a toilet brush. Remember to scrub the areas with more stains diligently.

Start cleaning from under the rim of the toilet seat and work your way down to the main hole of the toilet bowl and around the edges of the bowl.

Step 5: Turn on the water supply and flush

Turn on the water supply and wait for the water to fill up the toilet tank completely. Flush the toilet bowl to thoroughly rinse away the cleaning solution and the accumulated mineral deposits. Repeat the flushing process until all the cleaning solution has been washed away.

FAQs

How often should I clean the toilet bowl to prevent stains?

You should clean the toilet bowl weekly, using a premium commercial cleaner, such as Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power to remove and help prevent stains and maintain overall cleanliness.

Can germs still linger in the toilet bowl even if it looks clean?

Yes. Even if stains are gone, germs can remain on the toilet bowl’s surface. Using a disinfecting toilet bowl cleaner helps eliminate 99.99% of germs.

Can I prevent toilet bowl stains completely?

While it is impossible to prevent the toilet bowl stains completely, you can minimize them by:

• Installing water softener systems
• Adopting frequent bathroom cleaning routine
• Using Lysol^® Automatic Clip On Toilet Bowl Cleaner, that hangs on the inside of the bowl to clean with every flush.

What should I do if the stains don’t come off easily?

If the stains don't come off easily, then repeat the cleaning process, scrub more vigorously, and allow the Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power to sit in the toilet bowl for a bit longer.

How can I keep my toilet smelling fresh between cleanings?

Using a product like Lysol^® Automatic Clip On Toilet Bowl Cleaner can help maintain a fresh scent—such as Crystal Waters—every time you flush, keeping your bathroom smelling pleasant between deep cleans.