How to Clean a Very Stained Toilet Bowl

A Detour Before We Begin

You may find that you have to use a particular solution listed below multiple times to see significant results. Or you may have to use multiple solutions to get the desired result.

Every toilet bowl stain is different and some will be harder to remove than others. Choose a solution on the list and try it out, if it doesn’t work move onto another solution.

Let’s get back to cleaning your stained toilet bowl…

Things You Should Always Do

When cleaning a very stained toilet bowl you should always do the following:

• Wear gloves – This will protect you from harmful bacteria, splashes and potential skin irritation from cleaning solutions.
• Put a mask/shield on – There’s a chance something could get into your eyes/mouth whilst cleaning.
• Open a window – This will help to keep the room ventilated.
• Follow instructions – If you buy a product you must follow the instructions on the packet.
• Remove as much water as possible from the toilet bowl before you begin – This will help to expose as much of the bowl’s surface as possible, so you can do a better job of cleaning it. Use a cup-like device to scoop the water out.
• Check which products you can use – Check with your toilet’s manufacturer to see if you can use different products down the toilet (do an online search).
• Hit all areas – You have to make sure that the solutions you use get into all the tiny areas in the toilet, this includes the u-bend.

Let’s take a look at how you can clean a very stained toilet bowl…

White vinegar

White vinegar is great at removing stains from a toilet bowl. The acidic nature of vinegar helps to lift and loosen grotty stains from the bowl!

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – buy a toilet cleaner that helps to remove limescale. Use a clean brush to rub the cleaner around the bowl and leave it for a while. Flush the toilet after about 30 minutes.
2. Grab some white vinegar and pour around 130 ml of the vinegar down the toilet.
3. Shut down the lid.
4. Leave the toilet overnight – about 8 hours is enough.
5. If you find that you’ve still got stains around the rim, drape some vinegar-soaked toilet paper around the rim.
6. Leave it for a few hours.
7. If there are still marks, gently rub at the marks with a clean pad – don’t scrub because you’ll scratch the toilet bowl.
8. Flush the toilet.

Vinegar can be a bit smelly to work with, so always open a window to keep the air circulating as you clean. If you’ve tried this method and you’ve not had the desired result, try the solutions below.

White vinegar and bicarbonate of soda

The mild chemical reaction that happens when you mix white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is perfect for removing tough toilet bowl stains!

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – use a toilet cleaner to clean the toilet bowl. Follow the instructions on the pack.
2. Grab some white vinegar and pour around 250 ml into the toilet bowl.
3. Allow the white vinegar to rest for about 2 minutes.
4. Add 3 generous tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda to the toilet bowl.
5. Pop in another 150 ml of white vinegar.
6. The mixture will start to bubble but don’t panic.
7. Use a toilet brush to push the mixture around the toilet and into all the small areas.
8. Leave it for about 5/10 minutes.
9. Take a clean toilet brush and start rubbing at the stains – you might have to use a cleaning pad too.
10. Flush the toilet.

Vinegar and lemon juice

If you’re not keen on the smell of vinegar this solution might be good for you. The smell of lemon will help to take out the sharp vinegar odour.

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – purchase a toilet cleaner that helps to remove limescale and use it to clean the toilet bowl. Follow the instructions on the pack and flush the toilet when you’re done.
2. Pour around 250 ml of white vinegar into the toilet bowl.
3. Allow the white vinegar to rest for about 2 minutes.
4. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the toilet bowl.
5. Pop in another 150ml of white vinegar.
6. Make sure you push the mixture into all the small nooks.
7. Leave the toilet for about 5-10 minutes.
8. Flush the toilet.
9. If the stains are still there, take a clean toilet brush and start rubbing at the stains.
10. Flush the toilet again.

If you don’t think this option is for you, keep on reading because there are plenty more solutions below.

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is well-known for cleaning tough stains, and this includes stained toilet bowls. It’s also great for absorbing bad smells – deodorising your loo as you clean!

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – buy an off-the-shelf toilet cleaner. Leave the cleaner to work its magic, then flush the toilet.
2. Drop around 3 tablespoons of baking soda into the toilet bowl.
3. Push the mixture around the toilet so you cover the stain.
4. Close the lid on the toilet and leave the toilet overnight.
5. Gently rub away any excess baking soda and stains.
6. Flush the toilet.

You can also use baking soda to do a general clean of your toilet bowl because it’s good at getting rid of bacteria.

Coke

Coke, the drink, is an option you can also try. This solution has mixed results, but when it works well it’s a pretty cost-effective way of removing stains from toilet bowls.

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – buy a regular toilet cleaner that helps to remove limescale from toilet bowls. Pop this into the toilet bowl and flush the toilet after you’ve finished cleaning.
2. Grab a can of Coke (330 ml).
3. Pour the whole can into the toilet – make sure the Coke covers the toilet bowl.
4. Leave to rest for about 1 hour, but you can leave it for longer if you like – the Coke will loosen the stain.
5. Get a clean toilet brush and start scrubbing at the stains.
6. Flush the toilet.

If you don’t see the result you want after trying this solution, you need to try one of the other solutions. Your stain is probably quite solid and it needs a little more force to remove it.

Bicarbonate of soda and Coke

If you want to stick with your can of Coke, you can always mix it up with some bicarbonate of soda. The two products work with each other to loosen scruffy toilet bowl stains.

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – get a toilet cleaner to clean the toilet bowl, this can be bought from a shop. Spread the cleaner around the bowl and leave it for a while, then flush the toilet.
2. Add about 3-4 generous tablespoons of baking soda to the toilet bowl.
3. Pop in a can of Coke.
4. You will get bubbles appearing but don’t fret.
5. Leave it for about 2-3 hours.
6. Take a clean toilet brush and start rubbing at the stains – you might have to rub at the stains with a cleaning pad.
7. Flush the toilet.

If you’re still not convinced that you’ve found your solution, check out some more below.

Denture cleaning tablets

Denture cleaning tablets such as these from Steradent are used to remove stains and bacteria from dentures. And, you can also pop them into your toilet bowl to get the same effect.

Denture tablets might not remove extremely hard toilet stains, but they’re a quick and easy option to try out after you’ve tired another solution on this list!

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Do an initial clean of the toilet bowl – buy a regular toilet cleaner that helps to remove limescale from toilet bowls. Follow the instructions of the packet.
2. Put 6 denture cleaning tablets into the bottom of the toilet bowl.
3. Leave them overnight.
4. Flush the toilet and wipe away any stains that are left behind.

You can pick up denture cleaning tablets at most shops. Check out our guide to denture cleaning hacks and discover just how versatile they are!

Pumice stone

You might not know this, but the old pumice stone is good at cleaning stained toilets! You must use this option with care, because if you scrub too hard you could mark your toilet bowl.

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Make sure you soak the pumice stone in warm water for at least 20 minutes.
2. Go to the toilet and check if the toilet bowl is wet.
3. If the toilet bowl isn’t wet, pour some warm water into the bowl.
4. When the pumice and toilet bowl are wet, you can start rubbing the pumice stone gently against the stain in the toilet bowl.
5. Keep on rubbing until the stain has gone.
6. You might need to re-soak the pumice in warm water as you work through the stain.
7. Wipe away any dirt with a paper towel.
8. Flush the toilet.

You can get a really lovely finish if you try this method, but it can be time-consuming. And not everyone fancies getting too close to their toilet bowl.

Additionally, you can try this solution with sandpaper instead, but you must use FINE sandpaper.

Specialised products

You can buy products that can help you clean a stained toilet bowl, but sometimes a homemade remedy and some elbow-grease is what works best!

Here are some products you could try:

• HG Super Powerful Toilet Cleaner – See on Amazon.co.uk
• Dr. Beckmann Power-Foaming Toilet Cleaner – See on Amazon.co.uk
• Harpic Power Plus Toilet Cleaning Tablets – See on Amazon.co.uk

Tips to Avoid Getting a Very Stained Toilet Bowl

If you want to keep your toilet bowl stain-free then you need to do the following:

• Clean your toilet bowl regularly.
• Do a thorough clean of your toilet at least once a week.
• Clean your toilet brush.
• Disinfect the tools you use to clean your toilet.
• Get a new toilet brush every six months or earlier if you notice significant staining or damage to the brush – the toilet brush is a lovely little place for germs to set up home in. Also, don’t buy metal brushes, as they tend to mark the bowl.