Rust stains on the toilet bowl often come from iron or manganese in the water supply or sometimes from old pipes. Colored toilet bowls do not hide these rust spots. Stains do not easily remove, but can be removed with acidic cleaners. Colored toilet bowls are usually colored vitrified porcelain mixed in porcelain. It will not damage the color with acidic cleaners, because the color is not just on the surface.
Instructions
Vinegar
1 Saturate a paper towel with vinegar. Vinegar is acetic acid, a soft and safe product for the toilet bowl.
2 Place the paper towel over the rust stain. If the rust stain is below the water level, you may need to empty the toilet bowl, turning off the water on the back of the toilet and flushing. This does not remove all the water, but it will remove most of it to allow your paper towel to cling to the surface.
Place 3 more paper towels soaked in vinegar around the toilet bowl, where the rust stains show.
4 Leave the paper towels in place for a few hours.
5 Remove the paper towels and discard. Make paper towels do not flush down the toilet.
Lemonade Drink Mix
6 Wash the toilet to wet the sides.
7 Empty the toilet bowl if necessary to reach the rust spots. Close the water on the back and flush to do this.
8 Pour dry lemonade beverage mix into the wet surface of the toilet bowl, where the rust stains show.
9 Wait an hour or so for the acid to remove the rust.
10 Rub with a toothbrush to remove all residue and discoloration. Turn the water again and wash the toilet.
Oxalic acid
11 Buy a household cleaner with oxalic acid. Zud and Barkeeper's friend are two products that contain this acid, and both are in powder form.
12 Rinse the pot to wet the sides. Drain the toilet bowl if necessary to reach oxidation. Close the water at the bottom of the dresser and go to the drain.
13 Sprinkle the cleaner containing oxalic acid on the rust spots.
14 Wait 30 minutes for the acid to remove the rust.
15 Rub with a toothbrush to remove remaining rust spots. Turn the water again and wash the toilet.
Tips and warnings
- A paste of cream of tartar can clean the stains of rust, if you do not have other products.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on the toilet bowl. Over time, this could damage the finish and allow the oxide to penetrate the surface.
- Do not mix different types of household cleaners.