22.03.2024

Ingenious tricks to clean your toilet and remove limescale and bacteria

By liliaturcin5

This is a tedious task even for the house fairies. Cleaning toilets is never a walk in the park, especially when our toilets give off unpleasant odors or have tartar build-up in them. Luckily, there are many easy and inexpensive tricks to make your toilet spotless!

Tartar, limestone and dirt can build up in your toilets and quickly become difficult to remove. Thought of as a chore by most of us,   cleaning the toilet isn’t all that difficult  . Provided you know the right tips for perfect toilets.

How do stains accumulate in the toilet?  

It damages the fittings, collects in our toilets and leaves white spots on our windows, in short,   limescale is a real nuisance every day   ! This sedimentary rock present in the water from our taps can be very stubborn. If there is no health risk, hard water has the power to calcify the pipes and clog the pipes. Tartar forms, which then becomes problematic because it is difficult to remove. And the longer the problem drags on, the more stubborn the traces become. It is therefore important to trade suitable products as quickly as possible.

Toilet cleaning
Cleaning your toilets regularly will help you fight tartar effectively. Source: Home Serve 

What do you need to clean your toilet properly? 

To clean your toilet properly, you don’t have to spend a fortune on industrial products or scrub until you run out of air. There are many natural tricks to get them sparkling clean. All you need is   the right equipment and the use of effective products  . Arm yourself with a toilet brush, rubber gloves, a toilet plunger and sandpaper. To remove stubborn stains, a few ingredients are preferred. They are mostly 100% natural and will be safe in your cupboards. You will need vinegar, baking soda, a can of Coca-Cola and paraffin oil. If you don’t have paraffin oil, petroleum jelly will do.

Toilet cleaning1
To effectively clean your toilet, it’s important to use the right products Source: Home Serve

Toilet Cleaning: The Basics You Need to Know 

Now that you’re fully equipped, it’s important to know the basics of deep cleaning. The first thing you need to do when your toilet is clogged is to raise the seats to   clean the sides and edges of your toilet  . Start by putting on gloves and pouring in your natural cleaner. Scrub the sides with a toilet brush and the edges with a sponge. Leave for about thirty minutes, give a final stroke with the toilet brush and flush by flushing the toilet. Normally all stains will be gone. If traces of tartar remain, a little more removing agent must be used.

Crusty Stains in the Toilet: The Secret Weapon to Get Rid of Them 

If the dirt remains caked on despite cleaning your toilet, don’t panic! There are effective products to remove stubborn stains with ease.

1) Vinegar and baking soda 

Bicarbonate toilet
Baking soda is one of the most effective natural cleaning products Source: Home Serve 

It is the ideal combination to eliminate bacteria   and remove limescale residues. Several toilet cleaner preparations are based on baking soda. For good reason, this organic compound is full of antibacterial, disinfectant and disinfectant properties. Bonus: Baking soda is biodegradable, non-toxic, and economical. A blessing for the planet and for your wallet. Vinegar is a versatile ingredient for whole-house cleaning. Appreciated by lovers of natural products, this “miracle” cleaner cleans all surfaces and removes encrusted tartar.

2) Coca-Cola 

If this soft drink is not recommended for your line or for your health, it is still   the best ally of your toilets.  To use it, nothing easier! Simply pour a can of Coke, preferably Zero, into the bowl. This trick is very useful for regular maintenance of your toilets.

3) Sandpaper 

If even the mixture of vinegar and baking soda couldn’t overcome the crusted tartar,   it’s time to pull out the deadly weapon   ! Put on your gloves and bring some very fine sandpaper. It’s best to go with the grit called 000, it’s the finest on the market, which will save you the unpleasant surprise of ending up with scratched toilets. You can use it alone or soak it in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to enhance its effects. Scrub vigorously, not forgetting to scrub the sides and edges of your toilets. Flush the toilet and you’re done. Your toilet should be bright white.

Is bleach effective in removing limescale?  

The answer is no. Contrary to popular belief,   bleach does not remove limescale  . Its brightening effect makes it less noticeable, which makes you think it will be gone. Only the latter continues to accumulate and settle in your toilet. Bleach is an excellent cleaning agent, but to remove limescale it must be used in addition to descaling products.

How to clean your toilet with bleach 

bleaching
Bleach is a great ally to get rid of dirt Source: Home Serve 

Bleach tops the list of most commonly used household products. For good reason, this oxidizing liquid solution is considered an   excellent disinfectant and bleaching agent.  To clean your toilet and say goodbye to bacteria, pour 200ml of bleach onto the sides of the bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes before flushing the toilet. An effective solution to restore the whiteness of your toilets and disinfect them thoroughly!

What to do to get rid of the smell of urine in the toilet? 

Sometimes, even after cleaning and disinfecting your toilet, an unpleasant smell of urine remains. If this is your case, there is the solution! Simply follow the pre-cleaning steps, disinfect thoroughly before refreshing the air with a homemade air freshener. To keep your toilets smelling great, it is important to clean them regularly to take better care of them.

How to keep your toilet clean for longer 

After you have descaled, disinfected and thoroughly cleaned your toilets, it is best to keep them clean for as long as possible. This   requires regular maintenance.  Whether it’s your toilets, your faucets, or your pipes, there’s one versatile ingredient that’ll get your bathroom sparkling in no time: paraffin oil. As mentioned earlier, you can substitute this product with petroleum jelly if you don’t have it. For weekly cleaning, soak a microfiber cloth with paraffin oil. There are also great tips for cleaning the tile joints in your bathroom!