You should clean the toilet tank twice per year. If you are using water from a well in an area with hard water, clean the tank quarterly to keep the flush valves in good working order. If your bathroom is in a warmer environment that gets muggy or humid and gets mold often, clean the tank once a month.
"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."
If there are brown stains, it is probably from iron in your water. If you discover a thick, slimy mess, it is likely from iron bacteria growing in your toilet tank. Iron bacteria is a bacteria that fixes to iron particles in the water.
Regardless of your toilet's material, the vinegar is not strong enough to damage the toilet or the toilet's plumbing. So, you can leave the vinegar in your toilets overnight without worry. This post may contain affiliate links.
Over time your toilet water can cause an unsightly rainbow of stains and mineral build up in your toilet bowl. CLR® Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover helps you flush the filth away.
Odor Toilet Tank FAQ
White vinegar and baking soda in equal parts is a cost-efficient and effective means of getting rid odors in a toilet. Add them to the tank, mix them in and then use the toilet brush to gently scrub the tank. Let it sit for a few hours, scrub the tank again and flush.
Over time, dirt, dust, and debris can actually find its way into your toilet tank. The buildup of these and minerals, depending on the type of water your home has, can actually lead to issues with the inner workings of your toilet as well as cause the toilet to malfunction quicker than it should.
For extra-stubborn clogs, you can let the fizz mixture sit overnight or combine this method with plunging. If your toilet remains clogged or continues to get clogged, this may be an indication of plumbing problems such as mineral buildup or pressure issues.
Baking soda and vinegar, when mixed together, can form a chemical reaction that looks sort of like an eruption. This chemical reaction can help clear your toilet and any pipe clogs that you might have.
Vinegar is a great toilet cleaning solution. Not only is it free of chemicals and naturally antibacterial, it's also an acid, so it will remove minor lime and calcium deposits. All you need to do is pour a couple cups of vinegar in your tank and let it sit for an hour or so, then scrub and flush to rinse.
You can use straight or a diluted vinegar cleaning solution for the bathroom to clean bacteria, especially around the toilet. 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.
In general, plumbers caution against the use of any chemicals inside a toilet tank and suggest instead using bowl-based toilet cleaners. Adding anything but water to a toilet tank could result in potentially costly repairs, Abrams says.
To safely and inexpensively clean your toilet bowls, pour a generous glug of vinegar, followed by a heavy sprinkling of baking soda, into the bowl. While the mixture is bubbling up, scrub the bowl (get under the rim, too). Let it soak for 30 minutes and flush. That's it.
So does coke remove limescale? Yes. The acid in coke will help to dissolve limescale and there are several examples of it being used to clean toilets, descale kettles and in other circumstances.
For a more heavy-duty approach, you can pour an entire bottle of white vinegar over and around the bowl, remembering to cover all of it. Then, leave the vinegar to work for a few hours or overnight. Use your toilet brush to scrub any leftover limescale deposits away the next day.
To clean calcium buildup out of your toilet, use vinegar or another acidic cleaner. The acid will break down the mineral deposits so you can brush them away. Be sure to take the necessary safety precautions when working with cleaners. Wear gloves and eyewear and open windows for ventilation.
Make the bleach and water solution in the tank
Check to make sure the flapper at the bottom of the empty tank is closed, then use the measuring cup to add 1 gallon (16 cups) water to the tank. Then add 1/3 cup Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach to the water in the tank.
It's the exact same substance, just with a different name. So when you see the words 'baking soda' in an American cleaning recipe then go ahead and use bicarbonate of soda. The results will be exactly as intended.
Of course, we don't recommend using Coca-Cola every time your toilet needs a good scrubbing, as the dark color of the carbonated soda can actually stain the bowl and leave a sugary residue when used excessively.
Let the mix sit for anywhere between two hours to overnight. If the water levels have drained try flushing, and if the water levels have not moved you can try plunging gently plunging. For tougher clogs, you can try cycling baking soda, hot water, and vinegar; flush and plunge as needed.