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Cha Ching Queen
ByErin Reading Time: 9 minutes
Home » Green Cleaning » How To Clean A Toilet Bowl And Remove Hard Water Stains

How To Clean A Toilet Bowl And Remove Hard Water Stains

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This post will help you learn how to clean a toilet, the best toilet bowl cleaner, green cleaning options, and how to remove hard water stains.

Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning Guide; Woman Cleaning Toilet
Image Credit: ChaChingQueen

As a real estate investor and parent to three potty-training kids, I have cleaned many toilets in my life.

I love finding and sharing hacks for cleaning my oven, cleaning my Keurig, washing machine cleaning, cleaning our mattresses, and much more. This time I wanted to figure out how to clean the toilets quickly and easily.

Don’t you hate those hard water stains in your toilet? Even though the toilet is clean, it appears dirty with those dark colored stains.

If you have toilet bowl stains from hard water problems, you have probably found your way here looking for easy and quick ways to clean a toilet and how to remove hard water stains.

How To Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals; Clean Toilet
Chachingqueen.com
toilet before and after cleaning

Related:

  • Never Miss a Spot Again: The Complete Cleaning Checklist
  • Stop Stressing! Complete Guide For Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning

Table of Contents

  • What Causes The Inside Of The Toilet Bowl To Look Gross?
  • Fast and Easy – How to Remove Hard Water Stains
  • How To Clean Your Toilet Without Putting Your Face in it!
  • Quick Easy Ways To Remove Hard Water Stains And Clean Your Toilet
    • How To Clean Your Toilet: Use It!
    • Baking Soda And Vinegar For Toilet Cleaning:
  • How To Clean a Toilet Bowl and Remove Hard Water Stains
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  
    • Instructions 
    • How To Remove Hard Water Stains With Borax And Vinegar
    • How To Clean A Toilet With Abrasion
    • Harsh Chemicals In Toilet Bowl Cleaners:
    • How To Clean A Toilet With Coke!
  • How to Clean Your Toilet with Coke
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  
    • Instructions 
      • Picture Before Pouring Coke In Toilet
      • During Pouring Coke In Toilet
      • After Pouring Coke In Toilet
  • How To Keep Your Toilet Bowl Clean And Prevent Future Stains
    • Brush Your Toilet Regularly
    • Install A Water Softener
    • Have Boys And Men Pee On Toilet Seats Less
  • More Cleaning Hacks From ChaChingQueen

What Causes The Inside Of The Toilet Bowl To Look Gross?

How To Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals; Dirty Toilet
ChaChingQueen.com
How To Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals; Adding Baking Soda to Toilet
ChaChingQueen.com
How To Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals; Adding Vinegar To Toilet
ChaChingQueen.com
How To Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals; Cleaning Toilet
Image Credit: ChaChingQueen
How To Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals; Clean Toilet
Image Credit: ChaChingQueen

The first thing to cleaning a toilet bowl is to understand what’s causing the stained toilet bowl to look the way it does. The rust stains are generally hard water stains and not urine or other human waste.

Usually, it’s limescale caused by minerals in the toilet water like calcium, magnesium, and iron that attach to the surfaces of the toilet bowl. After understanding that you just need to pick your preferred green chemical or all purpose cleaner to break down those minerals. 

You can try getting a water softener. Amazon has a variety of discounted water softener options. Even with water softeners, you may still get some mineral buildup.

Fast and Easy – How to Remove Hard Water Stains

I did some research and experimented on the easiest ways to remove hard water stains from toilets and how to clean a toilet.

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In addition, I wanted to find toilet cleaner and bathroom cleaners without harsh chemicals. I prefer not to use bleach or any other chemicals the require a mask to be worn during cleaning.

How to remove hard water stains from your toilet. Pinterest Long Pin

* With all of these methods, try it on a small section of your toilet first before using the method on the whole toilet.

For best results, drain the tank first. Turn off the water valve behind the toilet. Then flush to remove all of the toilet water.

How To Clean Your Toilet Without Putting Your Face in it!

Good news! They now make extra long toilet wands and brushes so you don’t even have to put your face in the toilet bowl!

Follow the tips below and be sure to grab one of these extra long toilet brushes.  There are often Amazon coupons and deals on cleaning products.

long toilet brush

Quick Easy Ways To Remove Hard Water Stains And Clean Your Toilet

Quick Easy Ways to Remove Hard Water Stains and how to Clean Your Toilet
How To Clean Your Toilet

How To Clean Your Toilet: Use It!

The less a toilet is used, the worse the water stains are. So, one way to limit the stains is through use. Occasionally, use or flush each toilet in your house. 

This will only help with decreasing the hard water stains. Issues with poor “aiming” may still exist.

Baking Soda And Vinegar For Toilet Cleaning:

For natural green cleaning, I use baking soda and vinegar to clean a lot of my household items. To remove hard water stains:

  1. Start by pouring a cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl and swish it around using a toilet brush.
  2. Then, add a cup of baking soda.
  3. Swish.
  4. Add one more cup of white vinegar
  5. Let it fizz and sit for about 15 minutes.
  6. Swish the mixture around making sure to remove all of the dirt and stains.
  7. Extra scrubbing with a toilet brush or sponge may be needed for extra-tough stains.
  8. Let it sit for as long as possible before use.  

White vinegar and Baking soda is the cleaning method I prefer to use.

How to clean your toilet and get rid of hard water stains

How To Clean a Toilet Bowl and Remove Hard Water Stains

Quick easy ways to clean your toilet.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Dirty Toilet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Cup Baking Soda
  • 2 Cups Vinegar
  • 1 Toilet brush

Instructions
 

  • Add 1 cup vinegar to the toilet and swish it around
  • Add 1 cup baking soda to the toilet and swish it around
  • Add 1 more cup vinegar
  • Allow fizz to sit for ~15 minutes
  • Swish the mixture around to remove dirt and stains
  • Scrub to remove hard stains
  • Flush
Keyword how to

Related:

  • 18+ DIY Household Products You Can Make at Home
  • 50+ Uses for Vinegar – Home, office, car, garden, beauty, health, and pets

How To Remove Hard Water Stains With Borax And Vinegar

Very similar to method one except use 1/4 cup of Borax instead of baking soda.

How To Clean A Toilet With Abrasion

Scrub the toilet bowl with a rough scratchy item. Use sandpaper or a pumice stone to remove hard water stains. To avoid scratches on the porcelain, never sand or rub dry.

This method can also be used to clean the exterior of the toilet and the base of the toilet.

Dip the sandpaper or pumice stone in water first. Always check a small section to be sure scratches don’t appear.  This Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring Remover is a pumice stone made just for toilet cleaning. It shapes easily to flat or curved surfaces.

Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring Remover, TBR-6, Grey Pumice Stone with Handle, Removes Unsightly Stains from Toilets, Sinks, Tubs, Showers, Pools, Safe for Porcelain, 1 Pack
$11.31 $9.99


Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring Remover, TBR-6, Grey Pumice Stone with Handle, Removes Unsightly Stains from Toilets, Sinks, Tubs, Showers, Pools, Safe for Porcelain, 1 Pack
Buy Now
09/27/2023 11:56 pm GMT

Harsh Chemicals In Toilet Bowl Cleaners:

If you are willing to use some harsh chemicals, many people recommend The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It has Hydrocloric Acid, kills 99.9% of household bacteria, and removes rust, lime scale & hard water stains.

The Works Classic Clean Toilet Bowl Cleaner 2 Bottles 24 Fl Oz Each
$12.59 ($0.26 / Fl Oz)


The Works Classic Clean Toilet Bowl Cleaner 2 Bottles 24 Fl Oz Each
Buy Now
09/28/2023 12:06 am GMT

Using hydrochloric acid to clean a toilet can be an effective way to remove hard-water deposits and other buildups, but it is important to use caution when doing so. Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive chemical that can cause serious damage if not used correctly.

Pros: Hydrochloric acid is one of the most effective ways to remove hard-water deposits and other buildups from toilets. It is also relatively inexpensive and easy to find in stores or online.

Cons: Hydrochloric acid is a very strong chemical and should be handled with care. If it comes into contact with skin or eyes, it can cause severe burns or blindness.

Hydrochloric acid should never be mixed with other chemicals as this could create dangerous fumes or reactions. It is also important to make sure the area being cleaned is well-ventilated as hydrochloric acid produces toxic fumes when used.

Since we have three small kids, we prefer other methods.

How To Clean A Toilet With Coke!

cleaning with coke - how to clean your toilet with coca cola

How to Clean a Toilet with Coke (or other cola)

I heard that you can clean with Coke. So I thought I’d try it in the bathroom.   There are so many times we have a party and there are half drunk Coca Cola cans around the house.  

This would be a great use for leftover cola.  I poured Coke around the toilet bowl.  I used a toilet brush to loosen up the stains.

Then, I soaked a rag in Coke and stuffed it in the rim of the bowl as well.  After letting it sit for a couple of hours, I flushed, and voila! So much better!  This is an amazing green cleaning alternative to harsh chemicals!

pouring coke into a toilet to clean it

How to Clean Your Toilet with Coke

Did you know you can clean a toilet with Coca Cola? Here's how.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Resting Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Cloth
  • Toilet brush

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cloth
  • 1 can of Coca Cola
  • 1 toilet brush

Instructions
 

  • Pour Coke around the toilet bowl.
  • Use a toilet brush to loosen up the stains.
  • Soak a rag in Coke and stuff it in the rim of the bowl.
  • Let it sit for a couple of hours.
  • Flush the toilet.
Keyword cleaning, coke, toilet

Picture Before Pouring Coke In Toilet

Dirty toilet before cleaning the stains
Picture Before Pouring Coke In Toilet

During Pouring Coke In Toilet

Clean a Toilet with Coke or Cola
Picture During Pouring Coke In Toilet

After Pouring Coke In Toilet

After pic of a clean toilet with lid open
Picture After Pouring Coke In Toilet

How To Keep Your Toilet Bowl Clean And Prevent Future Stains

Instead of waiting until your toilets look as gross as the pictures in this post, try the below methods to prevent toilet bowl stains.

Brush Your Toilet Regularly

To keep your toilet clean brush the toilet once a week to remove minerals/particles. This only takes a few minutes. I do this every week as I empty the trash can in the bathrooms.

Install A Water Softener

Try a water softener. Here are some of the best sellers of water softeners and related products.

Or consider installing a whole house water softener.

Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series – Softener/Whole Home Filter Hybrid, Gray
$869.00


Whirlpool WHESFC Pro Series – Softener/Whole Home Filter Hybrid, Gray
Buy Now
09/27/2023 04:17 am GMT

These will help with the toilet bowl. The best way to keep your toilet seat clean, is by telling the men who use the toilet to lift up the seat when they are going potty!

Have Boys And Men Pee On Toilet Seats Less

It’s a common problem for many parents, wives, and girlfriends: How to stop boys and men from peeing on the toilet seat. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks you can use to help keep your bathroom clean and hygienic.

One of the most important things is to teach proper etiquette when using the toilet. For men, this means lifting the seat before urinating and then cleaning up any spatter or stray drops afterwards.

You can also invest in a P-flector, which is a urine deflector that prevents potty training kids (and adults) from peeing through the gap between the toilet seat and bowl.

P-flector - The Urine Deflector That Prevents Potty Training Kids (and Adults) from Peeing Through The Gap Between The Toilet seat and Bowl.
$14.95


P-flector - The Urine Deflector That Prevents Potty Training Kids (and Adults) from Peeing Through The Gap Between The Toilet seat and Bowl.
Buy Now
09/27/2023 05:02 am GMT

Another way to avoid messes is by teaching your children how to urinate without touching the toilet. This involves standing slightly further away from the bowl and aiming downwards at an angle. This helps reduce splashback and keeps your bathroom cleaner.

You can also add a glow in the dark target to help improve aim.

Fun Motion Sensor Activated Bullseye Illuminated Laser Beam Nightlight
$34.88

Make peeing fun again!

Fun Motion Sensor Activated Bullseye Illuminated Laser Beam Nightlight
Buy Now
09/27/2023 05:16 am GMT

Finally, it’s important to remember that when using restrooms, you should always put down the lid before flushing. Not only is it common courtesy, but it also traps germs and splashes when flushing.

clean your toilet without putting your face in it

Want more?

More Cleaning Hacks From ChaChingQueen

  • 7 Common Plumbing Issues, And How To Avoid Them
  • Be Prepared for Any Mess by Keeping This Cleaning Kit On-Hand!
  • How Often Should You Clean Your House? Room By Room Tips
  • DIY Reusable Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets
  • When To Start Potty Training From Parents Of Twins!
how to clean your toilet without putting your face in it
Erin
Website | + posts

Erin is the mother of identical twin girls and their slightly older brother. She is a domestic engineer, and previously had a career leading customer service teams for a major HVAC company. Cleaning without harsh chemicals, and cooking easy and usually healthy meals are part of Erin's daily life. She volunteers with youth leaders, and genuinely wants to help others win. Erin has a degree in Communications, with a focus on Broadcast Journalism.

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Our Daily All Purpose Cleaner
Force of Nature Natural Cleaner & Disinfectant - Force of Nature

As parents of 3 little kids, Force of Nature is our go-to all purpose cleaner. It's nontoxic but is EPA approved for use against Covid-19.


We love vinegar, but we use Force of Nature every day.

Force of Nature Natural Cleaner & Disinfectant - Force of Nature
Get Your ChaChingQueen Discount Now
Our Full Review

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