Clean The Metal Parts
After you are finished scrubbing the walls, corners, and the bottom of the toilet tank, it’s essential not to forget to clean the metal parts inside the toilet tank as well. “While the water in the tank is usually clean, the metal parts can corrode and rust, and the interior of the tank can get discolored,” says Home Depot bath fixtures merchant Patty Stoffelen to . “Cleaning your toilet tanks helps prevent the build-up of rust and mildew.”
Bob Vila explains that you do not want to spray the parts directly with the cleaner, either. Instead, they advise that you spray a sponge with a watered-down cleaning mixture first to ensure that the parts are not ruined. It’s not a bad idea to check what the parts are made of to see what type of cleaner to use, because pure bleach could easily damage the metal parts.
Apply Disinfectant To The Inside Of The Bowl
Start at the top of the bowl under the rim and apply around the circle, letting the cleaner drain down the sides. Some cleaners come in bottles with an angled spout that makes this task a bit easier, but squeezing out the fluid still requires quite a bit of hand strength. If thats an issue for you, aerosol sprays might make this step a bit easier. If youre trying to get rid of more stubborn stains, let the disinfectant rest for up to 10 minutes.
Check Out The Tank Condition
If you could only see dirt and grime on the surface, that will be an easy cleaning job for you to carry out. For this reason, you can proceed to the next step.
However, if you notice any form of mineral deposits or stains at the tanks base that goes up to the wall, vinegar has to come in handy. This all-natural cleaner can clean up mineral deposits, stains, mildew, and molds effectively.
Now, lets tell you how to clean toilet tank with vinegar. First, fill up the tank with about three gallons of vinegar, depending on the tank size. After pouring the vinegar, leave it in the tank for about 12 hours to help loosen the mineral deposit, molds, and mildew.
After waiting for the stated hours mentioned above, flush the vinegar completely. You might have to flush the tank two or more times to remove any residue of vinegar present in the tank. This process is also an easy guide on how to clean toilet tank mold with hassles.
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Soak In Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is an excellent cleaning product to have on hand. It can clean the inside of your toilet bowl, other bathroom surfaces, including a showerhead, and thankfully the inside of your toilet tank.
According to Ken’s Plumbing, vinegar is an excellent solution to ridding a toilet tank of excess mineral build-up. The company explains that you can fill the tank with vinegar and let it penetrate the tank, leaving it to sit overnight. The best part is that you can wake up to a clean tank by morning, and who wouldn’t love that no scrubbing needed. We love the sound of that! Additionally, lemon juice can be used instead if you don’t like the smell of vinegar. The Pink Plumber says that lemon juice can help remove hard water deposits, but be warned not to dilute with vinegar because then this method won’t work.
Learn How To Clean A Toilet Tank With Hydrogen Peroxide
We already know that peroxide can be used for a variety of home remedies, including as a sore throat cure and as a tooth whitener. So, it isnt surprising to find that hydrogen peroxide also makes an excellent toilet tank cleaner.
- 1 bucket of warm water
Drain the tank, and allow it to dry. Use a toilet brush to apply the peroxide to the inside of the tank wherever needed. Allow the peroxide to sit on the stains for thirty minutes. Scrub the loosened stains with the toilet brush, and rinse the area with warm water.
Re-apply the peroxide if needed. The peroxide not only cleans off stains but disinfects, too. Germs wont stand a chance if you hit them with peroxide, and it leaves the tank clean and beautiful.
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Successfully Repairing Your Toilet
While most repairs for toilet tank leaks are relatively simple, there are still some things you should keep in mind to avoid any further issues.
- Always adhere to any codes that may apply to your work.
- If the tips above dont fix the problem, or you have any doubts or questions about the repair, get in touch with a licensed plumber.
- Never overtighten bolts, nuts, or any other connectors. Overtightening metal components can result in cracking of the toilet. Whereas, overtightening plastic connectors will damage the connectors themselves.
- Practice care when turning fasteners and connectors to prevent damage. A great technique to protect the finish on metal fasteners is to apply tape to jaws of a wrench or pliers.
- When you remove the tank lid, carefully and slowly lift it off. Then, place it in a safe spot to avoid cracking it.
- Make sure that the replacement parts you purchase are right for your toilet. Always choose the repair component based on the existing part. It helps to bring the existing part with you to the store to find the proper replacement.
Note:If the repair involves adjusting or replacing the fill and flush valve assemblies, requires that you turn off the water supply and empty the tank before you can begin any work. When you disconnect the supply line, make sure you have a bowl or bucket in place to catch any water that escapes.
Best Way To Remove Mold From Your Toilet Bowl
The best method for removing black mold from the bowl is using bleach removers. First, flush the toilet and pour a cup of bleach into the bowl when the water begins to return. Next, using a scrubber, begin to scrub around the toilet bowl and edges of the seat. Continue scrubbing, re-dipping the brush in the bleach water when needed, until it is gone. Allow for that to settle in the bowl for 30 minutes or so. Finally, using a clean sponge or cloth, wipe down the lid and edges of the toilet to fully remove the bleach. Flush the toilet a few times to flush the bleach solution.
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How To Clean Toilet Tank
Did you notice any stain and mineral buildup in your toilet tanks? Have you tried cleaning them off, but they proof stubborn to remove? Well, you dont have to worry because we will show you how to clean your toilet tank without hassles.
After a long period of use, a toilet tank harbors all sorts of dirt and mineral buildup. This mess produces offensive smells and allows bacteria, mold, and mildew to strive. And if you dont control this quickly, not only will it make the toilet look unpleasant, but it will also harm your health.
A thorough cleaning of your toilet tank is a great way to prevent this lousy smell and bacteria buildup. Thats why we have put together an easy way on how to clean your toilet tank properly
Clean The Tank With Homemade Tank Tablets
Commercial tank tablets corrode rubber and plastic toilet components. If you want a cleaning tablet that cleans the tank without damaging the toilet, try this homemade tank tablets recipe. Do not drain the tank for this solution
- 1 large bowl of warm water
Mix baking soda and citric acid in a plastic or ceramic container. Stir in the essential oil until it is thoroughly mixed. Slowly stir in the dish soap until combined. The finished product should clump in your hand when squeezed if you dont get clumps, add enough dish soap to hold the product together.
Place a tablespoon of the mixture into a silicone mold an ice cube tray works well and will produce lots of tablets. The tablets should dry for a few days before use. Store the dried tablets in a sealed jar or another dry container.
When you need to clean your tank, drop a tablet into the tank water, and allow it to dissolve over fifteen minutes or so. If any stains remain, scrub them with a toilet brush.
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Can I Put Bleach In My Toilet
You can put bleach in the toilet or toilet tank. However, it is vital to avoid mixing bleach and other cleaners. Unless you buy a pre-made mixture, the chemical reactions can be damaging to your health. Still, using plain bleach should be safe enough with good ventilation.
To clean your toilet bowl or tank, add a half cup of standard liquid bleach directly to the water. Allow it to sit for at least ten minutes before scrubbing and flushing. Alternately, you can use a concentrated bleach tablet if you prefer.
A clean toilet isnt worth getting sick or hurt, so always take the time to protect yourself from fumes and splashing. Make sure you open a window and wear a mask with gloves when working with bleach. Skin contact and inhaling the fumes is not recommended. Bleach can cause chemical burns on your dermis, and it causes burning and inflammation on the inside of the esophagus and lungs when inhaled.
are a lightweight, splash-free solution to your bleach needs. Drop one of these in your toilet tank for a cleaner toilet with far less work. The ultraconcentrated bleach tabs work just like a liquid, with no mess. Plus, Evolve comes in a variety of scents to suit any home.
Cleaning Inside The Tank
You can easily clean mold that collects above the water line inside the toilet tank and underneath the lid with a chlorine bleach solution. Wear rubber gloves while working with chlorine bleach and avoid inhaling the fumes. After shutting off the toilet supply and flushing, fill the tank about halfway with the bleach solution and scrub the sides of the tank above the water line and the underside of the lid with a kitchen scrubby. After rinsing the sides and the lid with clear water, turn on the water and flush several times to clear the tank of residual bleach.
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Removing Heavy Bacteria Build Up
If you have a large amount of slimy yuck left after the water has drained from the tank, you can spray straight chlorine bleach on it.
Be careful and dont get the bleach on you or anything other than the inside of the toilet tank. The chlorine bleach will not just sterilize the tank, it will break up and liquefy bacteria too.
Then run a gallon or two of plain cold water through the tank and toilet and flush until all of the bleach has been flushed through the toilet and its gone from the tank.
How Do You Prevent Mold From Growing In The Toilet
- If you have a bathroom window, open it during showering.
- Make sure that you are using your exhaust fans when you take a shower or bath and leaving them on for at least 30 minutes after you finish.
- If your bathroom is prone to higher humidity, grab one of these recommended bathroom dehumidifiers and use it during and for an hour after you shower or take a bath.
- Never leave waste sitting in the toilet. I know a lot of people like to follow the if its yellow let it mellow motto but when it comes to mold you always want to flush.
- Clean your toilet bowl once or twice weekly using a scrub brush and the EC3 Mold Solution Concentrate or Vinegar.
- Add 1 cup of vinegar to the toilet tank a few times a week to help prevent the mold.
- For toilets that are not used often, be sure to flush them every other day.
- Fix any bathroom leaks immediately.
Remember, no mold is the best mold so make sure that you are taking care to prevent it and remove it correctly if you do find some.
In this post I refer to EC3 products. They are one of the only two mold and mycotoxin removal products that I personally use and recommend. Please read my article outlining what makes EC3 superiorwhen it comes to killing mold and mycotoxins. It has been independently lab tested and proven to be 99% effective when used properly. I encourage you to purchase EC3 products directly through Micro Balance. If you prefer to shop on Amazon, Micro Balance has a presence there as well.
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How To Drain A Toilet
This article was co-authored by James Schuelke. James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest. This article has been viewed 159,849 times.
You may need to drain a toilet to give the bowl or tank a thorough cleaning, and especially if you need to do repairs. Fortunately, you can drain a toilet in only a few minutes. All you need to do is shut off the water and flush the toilet to get it to drain. You can then work on or clean the toilet without worrying about excess water.
What Is Ghost Flushing
Also called phantom flushing, ghost flushing happens when you hear that the toilet is refilling, without you having flushed the toilet at all. This noise may occur constantly or intermittently. Oftentimes, when it happens every few minutes, this is a strong indication of a major toilet tank leak that should be addressed immediately.
In other cases, the noise may occur every few hours. Although it doesnt occur as often, a low toilet tank leak should still be taken care of as quickly as possible. If you notice the ghost flushing sound, this means you have either an internal or external leak. We already went over the two most common causes of internal toilet tank leaks above. Continue reading to learn what causes an external toilet tank leak.
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Apply The Toilet Cleaner To The Bowl
To begin, turn off the water supply to the toilet and flush. Apply the toilet cleaner as close to the toilet rim as possible.
If youre using a gel cleaner, let it sit for five minutes while you proceed with the next step of this process.
If youre using a liquid cleaner, make sure to scrub immediately as the solution will flow down the sides of the bowl really quickly! In this case, you can skip Step 5.
Tip: Baking soda can clean the toilet too!
For a gentler alternative to a toilet cleaner, you may want to consider using baking soda instead.
Its easyjust pour some baking soda into the toilet and leave it to sit for 30 minutes!
Section 3 Of : Doing An Overnight Vinegar Soak
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Reduce The Water Level In The Bowl
For the toilet bowl cleaner to do its work in sanitizing the porcelain, it needs to be undiluted, so you have to drain the water in the toilet. You have a few ways to accomplish this, but the easiest and quickest Ive found is to fill a bucket or empty storage bin with about a half-gallon of water and quickly pour it into the toilet, aiming toward the back, where the water leaves the bowl. This step will trigger the flushing action and drain the water out without new water filling in from the tank.
How To Clean A Toilet Tank Dont Bleach Again
Last Updated on January 20, 2022 by toilethaven
Most people have never seen the inside of their toilet tanks. Some dont even know how a toilet tank works. To some, it is just a water reservoir for flushing the toilet.
It doesnt help much that the toilet tank is always closed. This is why most people always remember to clean the toilet bowl and not the tank.
But why would anyone want to clean a toilet tank? At least we know what happens in the bowl, but the tank! What could possibly happen inside the toilet tank that would necessitate the need to clean it?
The first time I saw the inside of my toilet tank I didnt believe what I saw. The base of the tank was literally black. The walls brown. I initially wanted to replace the toilet flapper, but I instead spent the entire afternoon cleaning the toilet tank.
A toilet tank is placed on top the toilet bowl by design rather than accident. It makes it possible to flush the toilet by the help of the natural force of gravity. The tank is connected to the house water system by the toilet water supply line.
A toilet tank is covered with a lid at all times and most bathrooms are cleaned daily. How then does the tank get dirty?
To clean a toilet tank, turn off water supply and drain the tank. Fill the tank with vinegar all the way to the top of the overflow tube and let it sit for 12 hours. Flush down the vinegar, spray a disinfectant inside the tank and use a brush to scrub it. Avoid using chemicals like bleach and acids.
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