What Plumbers Recommend to Clean Your Toilet
Keeping your toilet clean can be a messy job sometimes, but the right methods and tools used by plumbers make it much easier. More than that, there are things that you should and should not clean your toilet with. Using the wrong things can damage your toilet, pipes, or the environment. Just ask a plumber what they use for the best recommendations. Here is what our plumbers recommend to clean toilets.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda is an inexpensive way to eliminate mold and mildew. It also removes the foul odor that may be present. Baking soda is also a mild abrasive, so it will remove stains and grime from your toilet bowl.
To clean your toilet, use one cup of baking soda with two cups of white vinegar. Brush it into the bowl, let it sit for five minutes, then flush again with the water on full force. This is a trick used in multiple parts of your house to clean stains, including hard water stains.
Bleach-Based Cleaners
Bleach-based cleaners can remove stains from the toilet bowl without too much trouble. It has been used for a long time and is the go-to option because it not only cleans but disinfects too. You can do a lot with bleach and there are a lot of product options on the market. With that being said, you should never pour straight bleach down any of your plumbing pipes as it can lead to pipe corrosion and damage.
It’s important to keep in mind that bleach will damage most surfaces it encounters, so always make sure it is rinsed off before it dries. Bleach can also discolor some materials in your toilet, including plastic and paint.
Bleach-Alternatives
You can save your toilet from the damaging power of bleach by opting for a less toxic alternative. One of the most popular bleach alternatives is hydrogen peroxide. Used in small amounts, it can be just as effective at cleaning.
Just make sure that you wash all of it away from using the toilet again to avoid getting it on you. Always dilute the hydrogen peroxide before you use it, as pure peroxide can be too powerful for everyday cleaning.
Automatic Cleaners that Clip onto the Bowl
There are numerous automatic cleaners that you can use to sanitize your toilet. Most of them clip onto the bowl and release cleaning agents and disinfectants with every flush. These can be effective, but you may need to hand-clean occasionally for tougher build-up.
Do not confuse these with options that go into or clip onto the tank. Anything that involves the tank should be avoided since it provides limited help and can damage your toilet significantly. In most cases, it even voids the warranty.
Avoid These Options
There are several cleaning options that are somewhat popular, but plumbers avoid them as much as possible.
Here are a few options that plumbers recommend that you avoid:
Pumice Stones
They are popular, but they are not the most effective cleaning solution. Plumbers say that pumice stones can scratch the surface of your toilet. This removes the polishing layer that protects the porcelain from stains. You may get the one stain off, but the polish will be gone, and you’ll get more permanent stains in your toilet as a result.
Heavy Acidic or Caustic Cleaners
Heavy acid cleaners, like CLR, that use dense acids to eat away at scale and biomatter. While they are effective at unclogging drains or removing stains, they also damage the surface of your toilet and pipes.
The acid can eat away at them, removing protective players and damaging your plumbing if used too often. They also eat away at the rubber gaskets and plugs in your plumbing, which can cause a leak.
Schedule An Appointment with Local Plumbers
Dealing with tough stains and clogs can be a real challenge. Get help from a plumber to deal with serious issues. Contact Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric to schedule an appointment with one of our trained, certified, and licensed plumbers, today!
