Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by Kravelv
Rust stains can be difficult to eradicate from toilet bowls. Scrubbing them away using harsh cleaners may scratch the porcelain and make removal even harder.
Do you want to learn how to prevent toilet rust with ease? Continue reading to get the inside scoop!
Afterward, you can click the following link to learn some of the best tricks that you can use to get rid of the rust that’s already in your toilet — https://www.diamondbackplumbing.com/blog/rusty-toilet-bowl-5-ways-to-get-rid-of-toilet-rust/.
1. Keep the Water Clean
Toilets covered with rust stains may appear unsightly, but their removal needn’t be difficult. The first step should be identifying whether or not these are rust stains; mineral or organic deposits could also appear reddish-brown and should also be checked against. Pour some vinegar over each stain to see if they lighten or dissolve faster.
Cleaning vinegar should be used on a regular basis to help prevent new rust from forming, while commercial products like CLR are designed specifically to eliminate all-in-one rust cleaners.
Pumice stones equipped with long handles allow for easier scrubbing, effectively removing rust stains from toilet bowls. Wet stones must be used, however, to protect porcelain surfaces and not damage them in the process.
2. Turn Off the Water
Rust stains can be difficult to eradicate, but you can prevent further formation with some basic maintenance steps. Start by turning off the water supply for your toilet bowl; this can be accomplished by finding its valve on either the back or within the bathroom itself.
Routine cleaning with mild cleaners and baking soda is key in preventing mineral build-up in your toilet, and water softeners can reduce iron and mineral levels and help eliminate rust stains from water supplies.
Mix lemon juice and table salt to create an effective paste that removes rust stains from your toilet bowl. The natural acidity in lemon juice and the light abrasion of table salt makes this solution highly efficient in dissolving stubborn rust stains.
3. Clean Your Pipes Regularly
Rust stains appear in toilet bowl surfaces from iron and oxygen deposits in pipes that bring water to your toilet, producing reddish-brown rust particles that combine to form red rust stains that adhere to surfaces in your bowl.
To avoid unsightly rust stains in your toilet, regularly cleaning your pipes will help ensure they are leaking freely without creating unsightly rust stains.
Citric acid powder or lemon juice are effective tools for eliminating rust stains from your toilet bowl. To use either method, simply turn off your water supply, fill your toilet bowl with solution, let it sit overnight, scrub away rusty areas, rinse, and scrub again if necessary before flushing with fresh water.
If stubborn rust stains remain unabated after this approach has failed, try using a pumice stone; its gentle process removes stubborn rust spots without scratching porcelain and also removes mineral build-up.
4. Change Your Water Filter
Rust stains in the toilet can be a stubborn affliction that’s difficult to eliminate. While regular use of non-abrasive cleaners will help, for a more straightforward solution, try switching out your water filter or installing a softener to help avoid future incidents of rust stains in your water supply.
Citrus fruits such as lemons have natural acidity that can dissolve mineral deposits like rust. Combine this with some mildly abrasive properties of salt for an easy yet effective cleaning solution for rusted toilets.
If that still doesn’t do it for you, consider having your pipes upgraded by professionals; frequently, rust stains result from corrosion caused by iron and minerals in pipes, and installing filters could make a tremendous difference to how easily your toilet flushes.
5. Install a Water Softener
Rust stains in your toilet can be unsightly, especially for guests visiting. However, these rust stains aren’t permanent and can easily be removed through simple cleaning techniques. The first step should be shutting off the water supply to the toilet by turning off its valve – typically located behind or at the rear of its bowl or behind walls in bathroom facilities.
After this step is completed, combine lemon juice and salt into a paste that can scrub away rust stains. Natural acids help dissolve the rust, while salt adds extra abrasiveness for extra scrubbing power. Installing a water softener, maintaining regular cleaning routines, and promptly addressing plumbing issues are also effective preventive measures.
