How To Get Rid Of Toilet Ring – 2024 Complete Guide

The toilet is one of the most widely used seats in your home and therefore requires a certain amount of care when cleaning. The bowl rings in the toilet are the result of hard water and mineral deposits produce from the standing water in the bowl.

Hard water can be found on all surfaces in the bathroom, including showers, sinks, faucets, and especially the toilet. Unattractive and extremely frustrating, the last thing any of us would want is to throw a party with a toilet that hasn’t been cleaned in months.

In most conditions, weekly cleaning will prevent severe staining and reduce the appearance of any stains, so the container can look spotless and white again.

To get rid of toilet bowl rings, below we’ve discussed several helpful methods that will help you remove those toilet stains.

Let’s take a look!

Best Way To Clean Toilet Bowl Stains:

Following are the best methods that you can try to remove bowl stains from your toilet and give your toilet a neat and clean look.

1. Baking soda and vinegar
2. Borax and vinegar
3. Bleach
4. Pumice Stones
5. Abrasive Sponge
6. Regular Toilet Cleaning
7. Magic Eraser
8. Borax Paste
9. Scrub With Sandpaper
10. Scrubbing With Lemon Kool-Aid
11. Removing Rings With Dryer Sheets
12. Steel Wool
13. Coca-Cola
14. White Vinegar
15. Alka Seltzer
16. Denture Cleaning Tablets

1.  Baking soda and vinegar:

These two common nontoxic and harmless edible items, when used together strategically, are powerful at cleaning things, including hard-water stains in the toilet.

This method involves the following steps:

• Pour 1 cup of ordinary white vinegar into the toilet bowl.
• Using a toilet brush, swish it around. Let it sit for a minute or so.
• Sprinkle a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl followed by 2 more cups of vinegar.
• Get ready, as this is going to create a fizzing action. Leave it be for about 10 minutes.
• Using the toilet brush, swish some more because you want to make sure this solution reaches stains above the waterline and under the rim.
• Still, do not flush. Let the solution sit for 30 minutes, swishing it occasionally until the stains are gone.
• Scrub any remaining stains with the toilet brush or scrubby sponge.
• Flush the toilet to rinse.

2.  Borax and vinegar:

Borax is a stronger yet common multipurpose household cleaning product that can be used to clean hard water stains in the toilet.

Following are the steps involved in this process:

• Sprinkle ¼ cup of Borax into the toilet bowl, and swish it around with a toilet brush.
• Add 1 cup of vinegar.
• Swish around again.
• Let the mixture sit in the bowl for about 20 minutes.
• Finish by scrubbing the bowl with a toilet brush to remove the stains.
• Flush to rinse.

3.  Bleach:

Bleach is also used to clean bowl stains from the toilet.

Following are the steps involved in this method:

• Carefully pour 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the toilet bowl.
• Let it sit for 30 minutes if you are trying to get rid of mold or bacteria.
• Scrub the inside of the toilet thoroughly with a toilet brush.
• Make sure you get the space up under the rim.
• Flush the toilet to rinse away the bleach.

Do not use cleaners containing bleach because, believe it or not, they can make this kind of stain permanent.

4.  Pumice Stones:

Some stains and toilet rings are so stubborn they’re beyond baking soda, Borax, vinegar, or bleach. Sadly, they’ve become permanent. But I have a solution for even those stains, so don’t get worried about it.

Following are the steps involved in this method:

• Just put pumice under the tap for a few seconds and you’re done.
• Pumice works like sandpaper. The friction of 30 seconds or more light pressure usually does the trick, avoiding the need to press hard.
• It is advisable to wear gloves to avoid germs in the toilet, however, as long as you hold the pumice, you can scrape off the shallow layers of the skin. The use of gloves allows your hands to go further in the toilet.

The remedy that follows is only to be used occasionally, and very carefully. Overuse or using the wrong product can damage the surface of the vitreous china, which that toilet bowl is made of.

5.  Abrasive Sponge:

If the toilet ring is not old and neglected, you can remove it by using the abrasive sponge.

Following steps are involved in this method:

• Wear rubber gloves.
• Add any household cleaners to the sponge.
• Start rubbing.
• After you get rid of stains, flush the toilet.

6.  Regular Toilet Cleaning:

You do not need to use strong and costly chemicals to prevent hard-water toilet stains. Borax, vinegar, and baking soda do a great job of cleaning and disinfecting. When used regularly, they will prevent hard-water stains from building up.

To help keep your toilet clean and free of hard-water buildup, use ¼ cup Borax with every cleaning.

7.  Magic Eraser:

There are numerous ways how to use this fantastic product. One of them is removing the toilet ring. The procedure is not complicated at all, but you need time for preparation.

Following steps are involved in this process:

• Cut a piece of Magic Eraser and let it float in the bowl overnight.
• Don’t use the toilet until morning.
• By then, the toilet ring will disappear.
• Unfortunately, since your Magic Eraser floats, you can’t flush it. Fish it out before flushing the toilet.
• To prevent the occurrence of new toilet rings, you can put a piece of this product into the toilet tank. That way, you will clean your bowl every time you flush.
• Take care to attach it near the side of the tank. If it gets caught under the flapper, you will get a permanent water run-off.

8.  Borax Paste:

For really stubborn hard water toilet stains, try using Borax paste.

Shutting off the water to the toilet at the fixture shutoff valve, then flush the toilet to drain the bowl. This is necessary so that the hard water stains are not covered by water.

To use this method, follow the following steps:

• Make a paste by mixing 1/2 cup of Borax and enough vinegar to form a thick paste.
• Spread the paste immediately onto the hard water stains in the toilet so they are completely covered by the paste.
• The Borax will harden quickly so don’t add the vinegar until you are ready to apply the paste.
• Allow the paste to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the paste and stains by scrubbing with a stiff-bristled nylon brush. Flush the toilet to rinse.

9.  Scrub With Sandpaper:

You can also use sandpaper to clean the toilet bowl stains.

It involves the following steps:

• Use wet/dry sandpaper to sand away the stubborn toilet bowl stains.
• Be prepared to burn some calories because you’ll need to scrub forcefully to remove the stains effectively.
• Don’t worry about damaging the porcelain finish of the toilet bowl, the grit of the sandpaper is fine enough not to damage it.

10.  Scrubbing With Lemon Kool-Aid:

Another way to clean bowl stain is by applying lemon Kool-aid to the toilet bowl. The bowl stains are removed very easily through this method.

It involves the following steps:

• Open a small package of lemon Kool-aid (available for $0.25 USD at many grocery stores).
• Sprinkle the Kool-aid powder all over your toilet bowl, making sure it covers the rings.
• Once you have successfully applied the Kool-aid powder, set a timer for 1 hour.
• Make sure that no one in your household uses the toilet during this time.
• Using a toilet brush, scrub the lemon Kool-aid into your toilet bowl.
• Work in a circular motion, paying particular attention to the rings.
• When you are done, flush the toilet.

11.  Removing Rings With Dryer Sheets:

Another effective tool for removing the rings in your toilet is a regular dryer sheet. In fact, used dryer sheets work a bit better than new ones!

After you remove the clothes from your dryer, retain your used dryer sheets.

• This method for removing toilet bowl rings involves placing your hands into the toilet water.
• In order to avoid contact with germs, you want to wear rubber gloves.
• Rub the dryer sheet against the rings in your toilet and watch them vanish.
• When you are finished, give your toilet a flush.

Dryer sheets can be used for cleaning your sink, tub, shower, and any other surfaces in your bathroom, as well.

12.  Steel Wool:

Another option for scrubbing very stubborn hard water stains in the toilet is 0000-grade steel wool (0000 is the finest grade). If the toilet ring is particularly stubborn, you need a more drastic solution.

Try to remove these hard water stains with the finest, 0000-grade steel wool.

• Steel wool cleans by itself or with plain water, but you can also use it with household cleaners.
• Usually, steel wool will remove even the hardest stains, but you can combine white vinegar or any other household cleaners with it to get a better result.
• Don’t forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin and nails.
• Be sure to use 0000-grade steel wool to prevent scratches to the porcelain surface.

13.  Coca-Cola:

It is very interesting to hear that you can also use coca-cola for cleaning bowl stains. The advantage of this solution is that you won’t need to scrub the remains of the toilet ring.

You just have to follow the following stains:

• For this action, it will be enough to purchase one can of Coca-Cola, but any similar Cola sodas will work effectively, as well.
• Pour it into the bowl.
• Let the acid from the soda removes stains for an hour.
• Then flush the toilet.

14.  White Vinegar:

As soon as you notice the toilet ring occurs, you can remove it with white vinegar. For this you have to follow the following stains:

• Add vinegar to the bowl and flush the toilet after approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
• It will be enough if you react right away after stains appear.
• If you need to get rid of more stubborn hard water stains, you should let the vinegar sit in the bowl for at least an hour.
• After that, you should use the toilet brush and scrub the rest of the ring.

15.  Alka Seltzer:

The procedure for cleaning the toilet ring with Alka Seltzer is probably the most comfortable way possible. These tablets are magical for both cleaning your bowl and preventing the occurrence of new stains.

It involves the following steps:

• If you want to remove the existing toilet ring, all you need to do is to put two Alka Seltzer tablets into the bowl and let them dissolve.
• The citric acid, in combination with bubbles, will clean the stubborn stains right away.
• When you want to prevent the appearance of new rings, you should put Alka Seltzer tablets in the toilet tank.
• That way, you will keep your toilet fresh for a long period.

16.  Denture Cleaning Tablets:

Denture cleaning tablets are as useful for toilet ring cleaning as Alka Seltzer. They do not require any complicated procedure.

• Put the tablet into the bowl.
• Let the acid cleans stains.
• The advantage of these tablets is that they are less harsh than Alka Seltzer.

Best Product to Clean Toilet Bowl Ring – Toilet Ring Remover

Remove Toilet Ring Without Scrubbing:

If you are having a dirty toilet and you don’t want to clean the bowl ring by scrubbing, you don’t need to get panic.

We have a mess-free and easy tip for you that will not take you much time. All you need is a Magic Eraser.

Steps:

• Cut a Piece: Cut a quarter of the Magic Eraser off.
• Wait For Overnight: Drop it into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight.
• Take it Out: In the morning, use a long-handled net to fish it out. Do not flush it.
• Do Flush: Flush the toilet to rinse away any residue.

What causes the toilet bowl to ring?

Toilet bowl rings have several different causes:

1. Constant Shift: They all occur because of the constant shift between wet and dry conditions at the water’s surface.
2. Hard water and Mold: Pale brown stains that look like rust can be due to mineral deposits and hard water, while black, orange or green rings and streaks may be mold.
3. High Concentration Of Minerals: The brown stain in the bottom of the toilet bowl comes from hard water, which is water that contains a high concentration of minerals.

The minerals include calcium compounds, but the ones most responsible for brown stains are iron and manganese compounds. Iron oxide, or rust, is the main culprit.

Keeping a Cleaning Routine:

To keep your toilet clean and tidy, you need to clean it daily. Make sure you have all of your cleaning supplies and tools on hand before you start so that your time is not wasted in searching for the things and get distracted.

• Gather your materials and equipment.
• The disinfectant has had time to work, so scrub the bowl and flush.
• Treat any stubborn toilet stains if needed. Otherwise, spray the outside of the toilet with disinfecting cleaner and wipe it with a clean, damp cloth.
• Lift the lid, then spray and clean the seat.
• Repeat after lifting the seat to wipe the rim.
• Be sure you clean the hinges too, they get really grimy, especially if you have young boys.
• Leave the exhaust fan running.

Warnings:

• Protect Your Hands: Make sure you protect your hands with rubber gloves.
• Never Use Bleach: Never mix bleach with anything other than water, because doing so can cause dangerous chemical reactions.

FAQ’s

To Sum Up:

A ring of hard water around the toilet bowl can make your toilet look dirty even when it doesn’t. Hence, you probably want to do something to fix the problem.

Fortunately, with the right products and methods, you can remove the unsightly orange ring in the toilet bowl quickly and easily.

If you regularly follow the method outlined above, your toilet will stay fresh and smell fresh.