The presence of metal marks or stains makes your porcelain toilet bowl look dirty and old, rather than shiny or clean. These stains can be caused by a variety of things, including a metal toilet brush or a “snake” drill. However, it turns out that you can remove stains like this much easier than you think! If the stain is on the toilet bowl, empty the water before starting. Just use a pumice stone to remove small stains, or scrub away large scratches and dark spots with an acidic cleaning powder. Your toilet will be back clean and free of stains in no time!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Removing Stains with Pumice
Step 1. Wet the stone with tap water
Open the water tap and wet the stone so that the outside is slightly wet. Pumice is abrasive and porous so it can absorb water quickly. Just use normal tap water and don't add any special cleaning agents/products to the stone.
- Make sure the toilet bowl is clean before you try to remove the stain so you don't spread germs or bacteria.
- Make sure the stone remains wet to maximize its abrasive cleaning content. If it feels too dry, the stone can actually scratch the porcelain surface.
- If you don't have a pumice stone, a microfiber scrubber or cleaning sponge (eg Magic Eraser) can be a good alternative.
Step 2. Rub the stone on the stain carefully and do not apply pressure (or press gently)
Hold the stone with one end facing the other (not toward you) and carefully rub it against the metal stain. Metal stains don't penetrate the widest layer of porcelain and can be thought of as pencil marks on paper, rather than stains sticking to the deepest layers. After rubbing for a while, the stain will lift.
- Don't apply too much pressure when rubbing the stone. Otherwise, you could scratch or lift the outer layer of the porcelain.
- Pumice will leave a brown residue when rubbed. However, these residues or marks are not permanent and can be removed by watering.
Step 3. Remove any remaining pumice with water and a damp cloth, then recheck the condition of the toilet
Pour water from the bottle into the toilet bowl or use a damp cloth if the stain is on the outside of the toilet to remove any remaining pumice stone and check if the stain is gone. If the stain remains, rub the stone back against the stain and apply a little extra pressure to remove it.
You may need to apply more force to remove large black spots. However, be careful not to press too hard so that the stone does not break or the outer layer of the porcelain is scratched and damaged
Method 2 of 3: Using Cleaning Acid Powder
Step 1. Wet a porcelain-safe abrasive sponge with water
Look for an abrasive sponge designed for porcelain items. If you use a sponge that has bits of metal or a sponge that isn't recommended for porcelain, you could actually damage the closet even further than the current state of the toilet. Wet the sponge thoroughly until the water drips off.
The back of a kitchen sponge can usually be used, but make sure you don't use cleaning products or utensils that aren't explicitly recommended for cleaning porcelain
Step 2. Sprinkle cleaning acid powder on the stain
Pour enough cleaning powder on the stain to cover the stain. You don't have to go through the hassle of wetting the toilet bowl before scrubbing it, as the water absorbed in the sponge is usually enough to dissolve and activate the cleaning agents in the acid powder.
- Some popular cleaning acid powder products for removing metal stains are Bar Keeper's Friend or Antonish. However, you can also use a regular ceramic hob cleaner or a product like Rust Stain Magic can be a great alternative.
- Although considered to be a powerful and more common powder cleaner, some products (eg KIFa) are bleach-based and may not remove metal stains as effectively as cleaning acid powders.
Step 3. Rub the cleaning powder vigorously on the stain using a sponge until the stain is lifted
Keep scrubbing the stain until you don't see it anymore. Unlike when using a pumice stone, you need to apply firm pressure to effectively lift the stain, as the sponge works more effectively when you press it firmly.
If the sponge starts to dry, wet it under running water from the tap and wring it out to remove any remaining powder. After that, re-wet the sponge and rub it over the stain
Step 4. Remove any remaining dirt and add more cleaning powder to the stain as needed
Remove the remaining powder and water under running water or a damp cloth, then check to see if the stain has disappeared. If the stain is successfully removed, congratulations! If not, re-add cleaning powder to stubborn stains, clean and re-wet the sponge, and rub it back into the stain.
Some stains are more "stubborn" than others, so it may take a few tries to get rid of them. Be patient and keep trying to clean it
Method 3 of 3: Emptying the Bidet
Step 1. Place a towel around the toilet to protect the floor from splashes and residual cleaning products (especially if you have a dry bathroom)
Use a few towels to cover the floor around the bottom of the toilet and even the back so that water or cleaning powder doesn't get on the floor. Don't use new towels unless you plan on washing a large load. Use dirty or used towels so you don't have to add a new load of laundry.
You can use paper towels, but you will need to use almost a full roller to cover the floor around the toilet effectively
Step 2. Turn off the water supply tap to the toilet
Most toilets have a shut-off faucet at the bottom. Pay attention to the bottom of the toilet and turn the faucet to the opposite side to turn off the water supply to the toilet. If you don't close the faucet, you won't be able to empty the tank and toilet bowl to remove metal stains.
If the stain is on the outside of the toilet, you don't have to bother turning off the water supply because the water won't stop you from doing your job
Step 3. Press and hold the bidet button or handle to drain all the water from the tank
Open the toilet tank cover and place it on a towel, then press and hold the bidet button to flush the toilet and empty the tank. Most of the water in the toilet bowl will be wasted, but there may still be some water remaining. This process takes a few minutes so be patient.
- If the toilet does not automatically drain water from the tank to the bowl, flush the toilet once the tank is full and keep holding the handle or drain button.
- As long as there is no water left in the tank, you are ready to move on to the next step.
Step 4. Pour water from the bucket into the toilet hole to empty the water from the bowl
There may still be some water remaining in the toilet bowl and the most effective way to empty it without pressing the flush button is to pour about 11 liters of water from the bucket into the toilet bowl. Pour water to a height of 50-60 centimeters to simulate the pressure of flushing a toilet.
In this step, a towel spread out on the floor will help you because there may be a chance at first, you won't be able to pour the water accurately into the toilet bowl or accidentally spill the water on the floor (if you have a dry bathroom)
Step 5. Use a large sponge to absorb any remaining water from the tank or bowl
Prepare a large, dry sponge, then absorb any remaining water from the bowl and tank. As long as the stain isn't exposed to water, you're ready to scrub and lift the stain. However, as much as possible dispose of the remaining water.
- You may need several sponges to remove any excess water, so it's a good idea to buy a pack of several large car wash sponges.
- You can also take advantage of this moment to clean the toilet bowl with soap if the bowl is dirty. However, you will need to re-flush it with water from the bucket before proceeding to the cleaning process.
- Try sprinkling baking soda on the stain before spraying it with vinegar. Use a soft patchwork to scrub and remove metal stains.
