Cleaning a Toilet

D Vautier
10/2022

Repeated use of a toilet results in the build-up of a deposit derived from urine and water on the surface of the toilet bowl. This hardened mineral scale is difficult to clean completely, especially in the case of deposits under the rim which are not readily visible.

Most people don't know that a toilet is not clean until they look closely under the rim.  If your family has boys then the problem can be much worse because little kids splatter urine all over the bowl and it soon forms calcium deposits underneath the rim and out of sight.  The only way to see these deposits is with a mirror, or if you are more aggressive, you may be able to have a good look with your cell phone.

Most toilet cleaners are chemically basic (bleach) and are designed to disinfect and make the toilet smell nice.  They are not designed to remove calcium build-up.  A good cleaning with a bleach once a week will keep the calcium deposits from smelling bad but they will not remove them and these deposits will continue to build up, regardless of how often you clean. You will still have calcium build-up and eventually a smelly toilet.  It's just part of life.

There is no easy way to remove these deposits except with the right chemicals.  Acid dissolves calcium, but a lot of people are afraid of using acid, especially stronger acid.  I'm talking hydrochloric acid which can easily remove calcium stains and deposits.  I did try a number of other cleaners like a hydrofluoric acid cleaner and that kind of worked but not very well, because it is a much weaker acid.  But once I got a gel cleaner that contained hydrochloric acid my problems were solved.  The calcium deposits came off easily.

Doing the Rim

Of course you have to use all the usual precautions; rubber gloves, fan, even a mask if you do not have good ventilation.  Take a small piece of cloth and pour the cleaner right into the rag.  Go all around the bowl and then let it sit for 10 minutes.  Do it again.  Come back and again saturate the rag and begin scrubbing.  You will be surprised at how easy the build-up and stains come off.

Cleaning the P-trap

All plumbing drains have P-traps which block sewer gases from entering a residence.  Toilets have very large (4 inch) P-traps.  A calcium build-up often happens there too.  Turn off the toilet water supply and flush the toilet.  Remove as much remaining water as possible.  Pour several ounces of acid-based cleaner into the p-trap and let it sit for an hour or so, the more concentrated the better.  The deposit should dissolve.  Take a cleaning brush and scrub it out as far back as you can.  Your toilet is now clean.