You’ve used the toilet bowl cleaner, broken out the toilet brush and scrubbed as hard as you can, but those pesky rust stains won’t disappear. While it might be time to ring up your local plumber in Grand Prairie, TX, some DIY solutions could help.
If you are ready to remedy those unsightly rust stains in your toilet bowl, read on!
If problems persist, the team at Dial One is here to help. Whether you need emergency plumbing or have some questions about our local plumbing services, give us a call at 469-240-5618.
How to Clean Rust Stains in Your Toilet
Although rust stains don’t always mean you’ve got a dirty toilet, it certainly looks that way. If you are having guests over, those rust stains can be the source of some unwanted stress. So, how do you clean them?
Before you start breaking out the chemicals, there are some things to consider. Rust stains are not like other toilet stains. Some chemicals can exacerbate the problem. One thing you might not know is never to use chlorine bleach to remove rust stains.
Chlorine bleach acts as an oxidizing agent, which can make the rust stain worse. Additionally, you want to stay away from abrasive cleaning techniques. Things like stiff brushes and brillo pads can scratch the smooth surface of the porcelain. Those scratches can make rust stains pop up more often.
To help you on your journey, here is a quick look into some rust stain solutions.
Rust Stain Removers
There is a wide selection of household products designed to tackle stubborn rust stains. You can find eco-friendly products, scrub-free or multi-purpose sprays. Additionally, some products come in gel form, spray form, or foam when applied.
If you head to your local hardware store, you will undoubtedly find cleaners that can help. Be on the lookout for liquid-based removers made for porcelain applications. This will be the best bet to remove the stains without causing other issues.
Keep in mind that these chemicals might require specific handling instructions. Always be safe and wear gloves, safety glasses and other necessary forms of personal protective equipment.
Home Remedies
If you want to avoid a trip to the hardware store, you might have the makings of an effective rust cleaner at home. Let’s take a quick look at some popular home remedies that can take your toilet bowl from rusty to sparkling clean.
Some easy home remedies for rusty toilet stains:
- Vinegar and water — Equal parts of white distilled vinegar and water combined with some elbow grease can make quick work of stubborn stains.
- Baking soda paste — Mixing a thick paste consisting of baking soda and vinegar can provide the alkaline punch to tackle a rusty toilet bowl.
- Borax — While borax might not be as popular as it once was, you still may have some lying around your laundry room. Sprinkle across the stains on the bowl and follow with a good scrubbing with a soft brush.
If you are up for a quick trip to the store, you can also explore using pumice sticks or using shaw’s pads. These products are a chemical-free solution to removing rusty toilet bowl stains.
If stains persist, there may be another issue causing the problem. Dial One is the team you need if you are trying to find a plumber in Grand Prairie, TX. We can look at your toilet and make sure an issue like a slow leak isn’t the problem.
What Causes Rust Stains?
It almost seems like rust stains appear overnight. Even if you keep a rigorous cleaning schedule, you might still face a rusty bowl whenever you venture into your bathroom. This can be frustrating. So why does it happen?
The culprit is iron. This metal can be present in high volumes in some municipal water supplies. Other minerals can also cause those brownish-red stains, but iron is usually the main offender.
Iron is only part of the equation. What causes unsightly rust is oxygen. Once air hits the water on your toilet bowl, it starts to cause a chemical reaction called oxidation. The result is the formation of iron oxide on your porcelain toilet bowl.
Tips for Preventing Stains
Rust is a stubborn stain. Once it gets on your toilet bowl, it might seem impossible to get off, even with a proper cleaning strategy. The best way to stop rust stains dead in their tracks is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Here are some strategies to keep rust stains away:
- Keep a regular cleaning schedule — Make sure you clean all the smooth surfaces in your bathroom and wipe them down weekly.
- Watch for metal in your bathroom — Metal products are often the catalyst for stubborn rust stains.
- Keep components dry — Wipe down all the surfaces in your bathroom, including parts of your toilet. This will make sure residual water isn’t oxidizing and creating stains.
- Use an iron filter — Using an iron filter and other water filtration systems can stop rust stains from forming by going straight to the source. They are usually easy to install and fairly affordable.
Upgrading Your Pipes to Prevent Rust Stains
If you have gone through the trouble of cleaning nasty rust stains and done all you can to prevent more stains from forming but still face issues, what can you do? If rust problems still trouble your bathroom, you might think about replacing your pipes.
Often, older homes will use iron piping. This can be the source of the iron that is causing the rust stains on your toilet. Replacing them with newer copper piping can help reduce the amount of iron seeping into your water supply and causing rust stains.
Leave this task to a plumbing professional. You can find a quality Grand Prairie plumbing company by giving the team at Dial One a call.
Finding an Affordable Grand Prairie Plumbing Company
Rust stains can be a struggle to manage. Even if you do all you can to keep your toilet bowl clean, you might still face red stains when you use the bathroom.
If you are struggling to manage rust stains, it could mean you need some extra help. Dial One is the answer if you are looking for an affordable plumber in Grand Prairie TX. Our team is available 24/7 for all your plumbing needs. Reach out online to schedule an appointment today.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.