What Causes Rust In The Toilet Bowl (Find Out Now!)
You use your toilet every day, and it’s normal to want it not only to be hygienic, but look like it is, too. One of the most common eyesores that occur inside a toilet bowl is rust. Though stubborn, you actually can get rid of rust stains, so don’t be tempted to simply paint over them or leave them alone.
If you have rust stains in your toilet bowl, you most likely have high levels of iron in your water supply. To resolve the issue, you can either replace your old iron pipes or install a water filtration system or water softening system. In the meantime, use cleaners and a soft brush to keep the inside of the bowl clear.
Knowing how to clean a rusted toilet bowl is only half the battle. In this article, we’ll also go over what causes rust to form and how you can get rid of it for good.
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Causes of Rust in Your Toilet Bowl
High levels of iron in your water supply will cause the bowl to rust over time. This is because it the iron oxidizes over time and turns into a distinct reddish-brown color that will stick to the surface of the bowl.
However, you don’t have to panic as this is not necessarily a health risk. However, you will probably still want to resolve the issue regardless because it can be rather unsightly. Over time it may also begin to omit an odor, too.
How to Clean Rust Stains
When cleaning rust stains out of your toilet bowl, it’s important to wear safety gear like rubber gloves and goggles to avoid injury from any splash back. You’ll also want to shut your water off and empty as much water out of the bowl as possible, so you can have contact with the stains and can let any cleaners directly target it.
Try Homemade Cleaning Solutions
The good news is you won’t often need any fancy branded cleaners to rid your toilet bowl of rust stains. In fact, homemade solutions will work best! There are a handful of different things you can try for starters:
- 1-part vinegar & 1-part water in a spray bottle. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- 3-part baking soda & 1-part vinegar to create a paste. Let it sit for about 1 hour.
- A layer of white vinegar followed by a layer of salt. Let it sit for 24 hours if possible.
- A layer of salt followed by lemon or lime juice. Let it sit for a few hours.
All these materials will act as an effective agent for removing the toughest rust stains. The good news is a lot of them will already be in your house, too, so you don’t have to make a trip to the store to solve the problem.
Use a Soft Cleaning Brush
When it comes time to scrub the stain away, use only a nonabrasive toilet brush or scouring brush. These tools are used specifically for cleaning the inside of the toilet bowl without damaging anything along the way.
Try Commercial Cleaning Products
For the most stubborn stains that you just can’t beat, try using a commercial cleaner instead. Commercial rust stain removers are designed specifically to handle rust on a large scale, making them a highly effective option. When handling these strong cleaners, most definitely use gloves and goggles before boring it in the bowl. Some popular commercial cleaning options include…
- Borax
- Bar Keepers Friend®
- Iron OUT®
How Not to Clean Rust Stains
Believe it or not, there is a wrong way to clean rust out of your toilet. This means more than the cleaning method simply not working; it means you can actively make the problem worse if you try this.
Don’t Use Bleach
This may seem counterintuitive, but bleach can actually make rust stains worse. Not only will it worsen the stain that is already there, but it will also create more rust. This is because the main ingredient in bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is an oxidizing agent, so it will cause the iron present in the bowl to further oxidize and discolor.
Don’t Use Abrasive Scrubbers
The last thing you want to do is try to fix one problem and cause a bigger one. Abrasive scrubbers can easily scratch the inside of your toilet bowl, especially if it’s made from porcelain. Therefore, not only will you not get the rust stain off, but you’ll also end up making it look even worse. Plus, those scratches will actually make it easier for rust to form again in the future.
How to Prevent Rust Stains in the Future
Cleaning the rust out of your toilet bowl will only be a temporary fix if you can’t figure out how to stop it from coming back. To stop those pesky stains from returning or even appearing in the first place, there are a few things you can do.
Replace Old Pipes
Old iron pipes are often the cause of iron being present in your water supply. That said, a foolproof fix will be to replace those pipes with brand-new ones. Plumbing pipes are usually made from copper, galvanized steel, brass, or PVC. This project can get rather expensive very quickly, ranging anywhere from $200 all the way to $15,000, but it’s an ideal long-term solution, nevertheless.
Install a Water Softener System
If you live in an area that has hard water, you may want to invest in a water softener system, which generally costs about $1,500 for installation. This filtration system removes high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from your water. That way, those minerals don’t bind with the metal in your pipes over time.
On top of causing rust to accumulate in the toilet bowl, hard water will create mineral deposits that can clog your drains and cause huge plumbing problems.
Add a Water Filtration System
Water filters are in the same wheelhouse as water softeners, but they target different types of materials in your water supply. Instead of focusing on primarily on calcium and magnesium, water filtration systems remove contaminants like arsenic, lead, copper, iron, cadmium, and more. It will also neutralize acidity in the water to reduce the risk of corrosion of your plumbing fixtures.
Regularly Clean Your Toilet
The simplest form of prevention is simply to keep your toilet clean to prevent iron and other minerals from building up in the first place. The good news is this doesn’t have to entail a long, drawn-out process. You can use a bit of cleaner and a toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl to keep germs at bay until your next deep clean.
Related Questions
What causes the brown ring in a toilet bowl?
This stain form from hard water, which contains a high concentration of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and iron. The main cause of the brown ring specifically is the presence of iron and magnesium compounds.
Can Coca Cola remove toilet stains?
Yes, the carbonation in Coke can help lift normal stains, so you don’t have to spend as much time scrubbing. Pour the drink along the edges of the toilet bowl and leave overnight. Then, flush and give it a once over with your toilet brush, and everything will look good as new!
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Final Thoughts
Rust can make your toilet bowl look terrible even though it’s not posing an actual health risk. Luckily, cleaning it is a pretty straightforward process as long as you use the right type of cleaners and brushes for the job.
Rust formation is caused by high levels of iron and other minerals in your water supply. That’s why it’s important to take steps toward removing them completely. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself with a recurring problem and a lot of cleaning on your hands.
I am a copywriter and editor based in the Las Vegas area with nearly a decade of experience under my belt writing landing pages, cost guides, blog posts, newsletters, case studies, and social media content. I have a degree in Strategic Communication and experience working in both the account and creative spheres. My goal is to always be discovering new interests and bettering myself as a writer and editor along the way.
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