Someone teach me how to clean a toilet

Earthmummy07 · 03-23-2015, 09:52 AM

Seriously. I think I'm doing it wrong

Especially people with husbands and coordination-impaired boys - how do you keep the hinges on the seat clean? Do I really have to dismantle the whole thing every 5 minutes to keep it clean???

And those with hard water; what gets those stupid marks under the rim away?? We have so many different minerals in our water that our 'limescale' looks like a rainbow.

I don't know anyone who has this much trouble keeping their toilet clean

MaySunflowers · 03-23-2015, 10:32 AM

Bleach and a toothbrush is what I have for hinges.

---------- Post added at 05:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:31 PM ----------

I bleach everything really. I coat in bleach, let it sit then come back and scrub hard.

Earthmummy07 · 03-23-2015, 10:44 AM

My husband is allergic to bleach

I think this is one of my major road blocks.

I just learned a cool tip for cleaning the mineral marks around the rim using toilet paper and vinegar that I am excited to try. Except that I only have ACV and worry it might make staining worse.

bliss · 03-23-2015, 11:15 AM

Baking soda with a little vinegar sprayed or poured on it makes a nice foam that fizzes away the yuckies. You can add a drop or two of a disinfecting essential oil as well. I would do white vinegar, it's cheaper for one thing and won't stain for sure. And definitely teaching those boys to grab some potty paper and quickly wipe any misses will help a bit.

Elspeth · 03-23-2015, 12:22 PM

I use Lysol all purpose spray and paper towels for the outside, toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner for the inside. You could try one of those tank tablets to help keep the bowl cleaner in between deep cleans.

greengirl19 · 03-23-2015, 12:57 PM

Just going to admit in a house of 3 boys I am not very good at this

Mother of Sons · 03-23-2015, 12:58 PM

I use vinegar spray for cleaning everything except the bowl. For the inside I use "the works" it's the only thing that gets all the stains off and it's almost instantaneous. Plus it's cheap.

For the hinges I just spray and wipe and that seems sufficient.

sunflowermom · 03-23-2015, 03:12 PM

We get a lot of mineral build up too and I have to use a pumice stone to get the marks to go away. Regular scrubbing doesn't work for our water.

ArmsOfLove · 03-23-2015, 03:38 PM

a pumice stone is the best way to get the stain away. I hate this because the sound is awful to me, but it really does work. Usually I trade my mom some chore so she will do the pumice stone and I'll do something for her that she hates

and spraying on and around and in the hinges should sort of float out any nasty. I like the idea of baking soda and vinegar. Might need to try that. You can also use diluted hydrogen peroxide the same way.

I like baby wipes for the outside because they grab everything - and make sure you get around the base every single time - not only the outside of the base and the bowl, but the floor around the base. If you wipe down daily, it's less often that you have to be scrubbing it out.

If it's already very stained and soaked in with urine, you might need to redo the caulking around the base.

blessedwithboys · 03-23-2015, 03:54 PM

I just switched to the easy off hinges so that I could just remove the whole seat every time. Way easier than unscrewing it. It's like this- you just twist the hinges to take them off, then twist to put back on. http://t.homedepot.com/p/BEMIS-Lift-...-000/100058606. I use a toothbrush and bleach to clean in the tiny crevices of the hinges when they need it (not super often since under them is typically the worst). If your husband is allergic, you could take the seats outside to do that once in a while, then rinse them.

Aerynne · 03-23-2015, 06:58 PM

All of the above, plus sometimes you have to just go get a new seat/lid. Not too often or anything, but we've had a few we've had to replace because the humidity in the bathroom eats at the enamel or whatever the coating is until it's all bubbly and then you can't keep it clean.

Also maybe try this http://www.collegehumor.com/post/670...rt-mode-toilet

Soliloquy · 03-23-2015, 07:09 PM

Plastic toilet seats instead of wooden ones. Bar Keeper's Friend is the best for getting rid of hard water or rust stains. (It's also the best for cleaning a ceramic/glass cooktop and the glass of fireplaces and woodstoves.)

I try to make my boys sit to pee. My husband does because I told him he'd be cleaning the toilets if he didn't.

Dovenoir · 03-23-2015, 07:15 PM

So you're seriously pumice scrubbing the escape hatch regularly?

Mother of Sons · 03-23-2015, 09:00 PM

D

Chaos Coordinator · 03-23-2015, 09:09 PM

The last time i cleaned toilets i decided replacing them must be easier and only slightly more expensive.

03-23-2015, 09:52 AM	#1
Earthmummy07 Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 8,586	Someone teach me how to clean a toilet Seriously. I think I'm doing it wrong Especially people with husbands and coordination-impaired boys - how do you keep the hinges on the seat clean? Do I really have to dismantle the whole thing every 5 minutes to keep it clean??? And those with hard water; what gets those stupid marks under the rim away?? We have so many different minerals in our water that our 'limescale' looks like a rainbow. I don't know anyone who has this much trouble keeping their toilet clean

03-23-2015, 10:32 AM	#2
MaySunflowers Deactivated Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7,781	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet Bleach and a toothbrush is what I have for hinges. ---------- Post added at 05:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:31 PM ---------- I bleach everything really. I coat in bleach, let it sit then come back and scrub hard.

03-23-2015, 10:44 AM	#3
Earthmummy07 Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Posts: 8,586	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet My husband is allergic to bleach I think this is one of my major road blocks. I just learned a cool tip for cleaning the mineral marks around the rim using toilet paper and vinegar that I am excited to try. Except that I only have ACV and worry it might make staining worse.

03-23-2015, 11:15 AM	#4
bliss Rose Garden NEUROSPICY! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Other worlds than these Posts: 13,430	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet Baking soda with a little vinegar sprayed or poured on it makes a nice foam that fizzes away the yuckies. You can add a drop or two of a disinfecting essential oil as well. I would do white vinegar, it's cheaper for one thing and won't stain for sure. And definitely teaching those boys to grab some potty paper and quickly wipe any misses will help a bit. __________________ Me, The Surveyor, The Truck Driver, The Landscaper, The SAHM, The Grocery Manager, The Gamer, The Gardener, The Home Improvement Manager, and The Grandkids

03-23-2015, 12:22 PM	#5
Elspeth Rose Trellis Hold on tight and pretend it's a plan. Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,590	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet I use Lysol all purpose spray and paper towels for the outside, toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner for the inside. You could try one of those tank tablets to help keep the bowl cleaner in between deep cleans. __________________ Mama to Thor (6yo), Loki (4.5yo), Sif (3yo), and Jane (1yo) Breathe in peace, breathe out love. And drink coffee. Lots of coffee.

03-23-2015, 12:57 PM	#6
greengirl19 Rose Trellis For G Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: close but not close enough to the beach Posts: 2,806	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet Just going to admit in a house of 3 boys I am not very good at this __________________ Wife to V since 5/19/07 my hard workin man Mom to G since 8/10/09 my crazy 10 yo Z since 9/10/13 my wild thing 6 yo Surprise! N born 2/8/16 terrific 4 yo my help comes from the Lord above

03-23-2015, 12:58 PM	#7
Mother of Sons Rose Garden My kid shoots laser beams from his hands Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,900	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet I use vinegar spray for cleaning everything except the bowl. For the inside I use "the works" it's the only thing that gets all the stains off and it's almost instantaneous. Plus it's cheap. For the hinges I just spray and wipe and that seems sufficient.

03-23-2015, 03:12 PM	#8
sunflowermom Rose Garden Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 3,579	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet We get a lot of mineral build up too and I have to use a pumice stone to get the marks to go away. Regular scrubbing doesn't work for our water. __________________ Mae Married my DH in 2/2008 Gave birth my DS 3/2012

03-23-2015, 03:38 PM	#9
ArmsOfLove Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 79,607	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet a pumice stone is the best way to get the stain away. I hate this because the sound is awful to me, but it really does work. Usually I trade my mom some chore so she will do the pumice stone and I'll do something for her that she hates and spraying on and around and in the hinges should sort of float out any nasty. I like the idea of baking soda and vinegar. Might need to try that. You can also use diluted hydrogen peroxide the same way. I like baby wipes for the outside because they grab everything - and make sure you get around the base every single time - not only the outside of the base and the bowl, but the floor around the base. If you wipe down daily, it's less often that you have to be scrubbing it out. If it's already very stained and soaked in with urine, you might need to redo the caulking around the base. __________________ Crystal "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Maya Angelou

03-23-2015, 03:54 PM	#10
blessedwithboys Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,481	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet I just switched to the easy off hinges so that I could just remove the whole seat every time. Way easier than unscrewing it. It's like this- you just twist the hinges to take them off, then twist to put back on. http://t.homedepot.com/p/BEMIS-Lift-...-000/100058606. I use a toothbrush and bleach to clean in the tiny crevices of the hinges when they need it (not super often since under them is typically the worst). If your husband is allergic, you could take the seats outside to do that once in a while, then rinse them. __________________ Honored wife to my amazing husband Mommy to E-boy (11) Nosey (8) Mr. T (6) and Rosie (5)

03-23-2015, 06:58 PM	#11
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,359	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet All of the above, plus sometimes you have to just go get a new seat/lid. Not too often or anything, but we've had a few we've had to replace because the humidity in the bathroom eats at the enamel or whatever the coating is until it's all bubbly and then you can't keep it clean. Also maybe try this http://www.collegehumor.com/post/670...rt-mode-toilet __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

03-23-2015, 07:09 PM	#12
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet Plastic toilet seats instead of wooden ones. Bar Keeper's Friend is the best for getting rid of hard water or rust stains. (It's also the best for cleaning a ceramic/glass cooktop and the glass of fireplaces and woodstoves.) I try to make my boys sit to pee. My husband does because I told him he'd be cleaning the toilets if he didn't.

03-23-2015, 07:15 PM	#13
Dovenoir Rose Garden Dove - noir Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cincy, OH Posts: 5,600	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet So you're seriously pumice scrubbing the escape hatch regularly? __________________ Lyz

03-23-2015, 09:00 PM	#14
Mother of Sons Rose Garden My kid shoots laser beams from his hands Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,900	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet D Last edited by Mother of Sons; 03-24-2015 at 05:41 AM.

03-23-2015, 09:09 PM	#15
Chaos Coordinator Rose Garden They need freedom to just be fluffy mashed potatoes and feel their fluffy feelings. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Up to my earballs in little boys. Posts: 20,259	Re: Someone teach me how to clean a toilet The last time i cleaned toilets i decided replacing them must be easier and only slightly more expensive. __________________ Joy Progressive Methodist Enfp mama to Sparrow, 10 Zion, 7.5 Baby Gus, 4.5 Preschool teacher. Musician. Timelord. Www.justicemercymayhem.wordpress.com "What you plant in the kingdom will surely grow, and what you grow with love will surely bloom, and the fruit of the spirit will come back to you."

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