The toilet is something we clean without thinking (or at least we try not to). We snap on our rubber gloves, polish the lid, wipe over the seat and then squirt some bleach around the bowl for the final touch. Sadly, that’s not enough.
Residual urine and other (ahem) stains can find their way under the seat and around the toilet. And limescale and metal marks can make your toilet bowl look like an eyesore. Suddenly your run-of-the-mill bathroom cleaner seems superfluous.
Thankfully you can deep clean your toilet and shift such stains. All it takes is 5 steps to get your toilet looking and smelling like new. Here’s where to start.
1. Wipe everywhere down
Not a nice thought, but stains are abundant around the toilet. Not just under the seat – urine can also drip down the outside of the bowl and find its way onto the floor. If there’s any male household members, it can even splash onto adjacent walls and counters.
So, to give your toilet a deep clean, start by wiping over all exterior surfaces with an antibacterial bathroom cleaner, such as Dettol Power & Pure Bathroom Cleaner. Check it’s suitable for the floors and counters. Stick to warm, soapy water if you’re wiping down painted walls, then rinse with a damp cloth.
Remember to give the handle a clean too; people often flush before they wash their hands, so this can end up covered in bacteria. If your toilet is built into the wall and suspended above the floor, you can use a flat mop to reach beneath.
2. Remove stains from the seat
We’re not talking about everyday stains here. If there’s some ‘colourful’ stains under the seat which have dyed the plastic, they require some focused effort to remove.
Most modern toilet seats and lids can be removed completely by pressing a couple of quick release buttons. If you lift the lid and the seat, you will find them at the back and centre of the seat, where it’s attached to the bowl. Push these two buttons outwards simultaneously and lift at the same time to remove. You can then lay it inverted on an old towel for cleaning. If you’ve got an older toilet seat and it can’t be removed so easily, don’t worry – you can still clean it while attached.
GHI Tip: If you’ve managed to remove the toilet seat, take the opportunity to clean beneath the attachment to remove hidden dirt.
Mix up a thick water-bicarb paste (a couple of drops of water should create a gloopy consistency). You want it thick enough to stick and dry to the surface. Apply directly to any stains then leave to work for 20 minutes. Check the progress and reapply for longer if needed. Repeat until the stains have faded, then scrub, rinse and leave to dry.
Note: Bicarb is ideal for plastic and enamel seats. For wooden toilet seats, warm, soapy water is best to avoid damage.
3. Remove stains from the bowl
Now for any stubborn stains that persist in the bowl itself. Limescale hidden beneath the rim can be tackled with a simple solution; a pumice stone. While these are great for removing dry skin, they’re also ideal for scrubbing away limescale without damaging the porcelain surface of your toilet.
Note: Stick to porcelain surfaces with pumice stones. It's abrasive enough to damage plastic and enamel fittings.
You can buy pumice stones with handles attached for better reach, although a smaller handheld stone with a pointed edge is ideal for getting under the rim. Don’t apply excessive pressure or you could damage the surface; just dunk the pumice stone in the water and then gently scrub at the limescale until it comes away. Keep wetting and scrubbing as needed. It makes an awful noise that will put your teeth on edge, but it does the trick.
If there’s any metal marks in your toilet left over from metal toilet brushes or drain snakes, a pumice stone can be handy for removing these too. Although you would have to drain the water first.
Once you’re done, rinse your pumice stone and then soak it in a disinfectant, like Milton, for 15 minutes (following dilution recommendations).
4. Apply soda crystals
Your toilet should be sparkling by now, but you’re not done yet. The next step is to give the internals a deep clean to remove hidden traces of limescale and eliminate any smells. Soda crystals are what you need for this.
Simply pour a cup of soda crystals down the toilet and leave it overnight to work its magic. Then scrub the solution around the bowl the with the toilet brush before flushing it away. You can do this as often as once a week to keep on top of limescale!
Alternatively, tablets are also widely available that can be added directly to the cistern to break down limescale. Dr. Beckmann also offers a Power-Foaming Toilet Cleaner which claims to remove dirt and odours.
5. Don’t forget the brush!
Your toilet may be clean, but all that’s a little pointless if you’re going to scrub it with a bacteria-filled brush with your next use!
To give your brush a deep clean, start by filling the holder with hot soapy water. Swill it around with the brush submerged. Then tip the water down the toilet and rinse both with fresh water. Then repeat the whole process with cold water and a few drops of bleach (don’t use hot water as it renders the ingredients ineffective). Let the bleach soak for 10 minutes before pouring it away and flushing both with fresh water. Aim to clean the brush weekly to keep on top of bacteria, and replace it once a year (at least!).
Going ahead, try to leave the brush to dry in the bowl before replacing it in the holder; this prevents a puddle of water from building up in the holder, and avoid extra drips on the floor! Remember to use a dedicated toilet cleaner regularly to keep on top of stains and grime. Some can also help to prevent limescale.
Toilet cleaning kit
