How to Prevent a Toilet Bowl from Staining

Co-authored by Daniel Olin

Last Updated: October 27, 2021 References

Toilet bowl stains can form because of hard water mineral deposits, stain-causing bacteria, rust, and other substances that get stuck to the sides of the bowl. Whatever the cause, nobody likes to see stains of any kind in their toilet. Luckily, there are lots of ways you can prevent toilet bowl stains. Try some of the tricks on this list to help keep your toilet bowl sparkling clean. You can choose methods based on the types of stains you want to prevent or use several methods together to prevent a wide variety of stains.

1

Flush infrequently used toilets daily.

Regular flushing prevents pink bacteria stains from setting. You’ve seen those nasty-looking stains in old, unused toilets, right? Flush any guest toilets or toilets in secondary bathrooms every day to prevent those!^{[1]
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- If you have an old toilet that you just don’t use at all, consider turning the water off, giving it a good cleaning, and letting it dry out to avoid stains and the need to flush it.

2

Clean your toilet weekly.

A regular cleaning schedule helps prevent any kind of stains from building up. Use a toilet bowl cleaner and a toilet brush to scrub out the bowl. Wipe down the outside surfaces of the toilet with a disposable disinfectant wipe while you’re at it.^{[2]
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Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}
- If you share the toilet with several people, especially kids, clean it every 2-3 days instead.
- Flush the toilet one more time to rinse your brush clean before putting it back on its stand.^{[4]
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  Daniel Olin
  Home Cleaning Specialist
  Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}

3

Let toilet bowl cleaner sit in the bowl.

This can prevent stain-causing bacteria from growing. Spray any commercial toilet bowl cleaner around the bowl of the toilet, from just under the rim and downwards. Let it sit until you need to use the toilet again, then gently swish the water in the bowl around the sides of the bowl using a toilet brush and flush.^{[5]
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4

Scrub the bowl with vinegar monthly.

Vinegar prevents limescale deposits and water rings from appearing. Pour about 3 cups (0.7 L) of vinegar into the bowl, making sure to cover all sides of the bowl as you pour it in. Let it sit for a while, then scrub the bowl thoroughly with a toilet brush and flush the toilet.^{[6]
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5

Clean the tank 2 times a year.

A dirty toilet tank can lead to rust, mold, and mildew stains in the bowl. To clean the tank, start by shutting off the water valve and flushing the tank to empty it all the way. Fill the tank with vinegar up to the overflow valve and let it sit for 12 hours. Flush all the vinegar out, then scrub any remaining grime out of the tank using a scrub brush and a disinfectant spray that doesn’t contain bleach.^{[7]
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- Vinegar helps remove mold, mildew, and hard water mineral deposits from the tank. It also helps clean rust off any metal parts in the tank. All of these things can cause staining in your toilet bowl if you let the tank get too dirty.
- Never use bleach or cleaners that contain bleach to clean the inside of the tank. It is very corrosive!

6

Use non-corrosive tank tablets.

Tank tablets fill the toilet bowl with cleaner every time you flush. However, many types of tank tablets contain bleach or other harsh chemicals that can damage the valves and parts inside the tank over time. Make sure to choose tablets that say “natural” or “chemical-free” to avoid this.^{[8]
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Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}
- These tank tablets can kill stain-causing bacteria from growing as well as keep mold and mildew away.

7

Coat the bowl in polymer-based car wax.

Stains can’t stick to the slick surface! Make sure to clean any existing stains first, then shut off the water valve and drain the toilet as much as possible. Dry the bowl thoroughly with a cotton rag, then use another cotton rag to rub the car wax all over the bowl. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes before you fill the toilet with water again.^{[10]
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- The wax coating can last for up to 6 months or so. Reapply it twice a year to keep those pesky stains away!

8

Clean the bowl with Teflon.

Toilet cleaners that contain Teflon protect the surface from all stains. Squirt some of the cleaner all over the inside of the toilet bowl and scrub it clean as you normally would. Clean your toilet regularly with the surface protector to keep the bowl coated and stain-free.^{[11]
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