Rusty toilets are a cringe-worthy sight. They make your bathroom appear gross even after you’ve spent hours cleaning it. Fortunately, there are many ways to remove rust stains from your toilet and prevent them from coming back.

Where Do Rust Stains Come From?

Rust stains are caused by the iron content in the water that settles in your sinks, tubs, and toilet bowls. When air reacts with these particles, it causes the iron content to oxidize. Over time, stains develop over surfaces where water drips regularly. With the right techniques, you can prevent the accumulation of iron deposits on your bathroom surfaces, keeping the surfaces stain-free.

Removing Rust Stains

Bleaching agent on a table

Although it might sound like the best option, avoid using bleach to remove rust stains from your toilet. Bleach does quite the opposite of removing rust stains from surfaces. It chemically charges rust stains, worsening the problem. You should be wary of using sharp cleaning objects that can damage your toilet bowl. Scratched or cracked surfaces can make removal of stains impossible!

Try These Safe Rust-Removal Solutions

  • Create a mixture of a part of vinegar to a part of water. Shake it well and spray it in your toilet bowl. Use a hard-bristled brush to remove the stains.
  • Add three parts of baking soda to one part of vinegar, and make a paste. Scrub the toilet bowl using this paste as you would with a powdered cleanser.
  • To get rid of bacteria, foul odors, and rust stains, dust ¼ cup of borax into your toilet and scrub with a brush. This technique is quite useful in removing the most difficult rust stains.
  • You can buy a pumice stick at a local shop. Wet it with water and rub it directly on the stained surfaces.

How to Prevent Rust Stains in Your Toilet, Tub & Sink

Once you’ve cleaned the rust stains from the toilet bowl, it’s time you keep them from ever coming back! Here’s what you can prevent rust stains from developing again:

  • Clean your bathroom regularly to keep the stains away for good. Weekly cleanup will prevent the buildup of iron content on your bathroom surfaces.
  • Keep things dry as much as possible. Wipe down bathroom surfaces that are exposed to iron residue or running water. This, of course, excludes the toilet bowl.
  • Watch out for metal bottle cans like shaving creams, air fresheners, candle holders, etc. metal containers placed on bathroom surfaces leave rust stains on them. Instead, keep metal containers inside cabinets.
  • Add a water softener or an iron filter purification system to eliminate the source problem. Removing iron content from the water will prevent future stains.
  • Upgrade your plumbing. Older homes have old and rusty pipes, developing more rust deposits. Upgrade your plumbing system to prevent pipe breakdown!

To call a professional plumber in Rockwall, Texas, reach out to Wasden Plumbing Services, LLC. We can replace your old flappers and toilet seals at the base. Contact us for fast and reliable water leak repairs in Rockwall, TX, right away!