How to Clean Toilet Bowl

If the dark line is from rust or water minerals, try a product like CLR. Put a good amount in the bowl and leave it sit for a long while.

That is a hard water stain... you need a product like lime away or CLR. Remove as much water from the bowl as possible... (turn of the water inflow and flush it, and then scoop out as much water as possible...) sometimes you can turn the water off and then plunge the bowl (use a toilet plunger) and that will force the water out.

Put some of the CLR on the hard water stain (the dark line) and let sit for a while, then scrub it off.

Be sure to read the labels of the chemicals you are using... some do not mix and can cause a toxic gas.

Start with dumping a gallon of vinegar in there and leaving it for 24 hours. If it is mineral deposits it will dissolve them.

I finally broke down and addressed mine last week. I bought a bottle of cheap generic cola soda and drained the bowl. Then I put in the whole 2 liter bottle and let it set overnight. The next morning I just flushed and it was gone! there was still as stain in the bottom of the neck, but the ring was gone and mine is from hard water too. I would give this a try. (I saw it on one of those how dirty is your house shows on BBC). I was impressed. But, I am also going to buy one of those stones on a stick to scrub out the last little bit.

When I cleaned houses for a living, we used a piece of window screen to scrub it.

M.:

If you have a "stain" around the water line and it's orange or reddish brown? that's an iron stain from your water.

Bleach will not work on that stain. There are products that work on hard water and rust - CLR - Calicum, Lime and Rust. It's a green bottle. you should be able to buy it at your local grocery store.

I would also try the product (I am sorry I can't think of its name right now) that you attach to the inside of the bowl and it combines with the water when flushing!

Good luck!

I use all green non-toxic cleaners. Yet, when the toilet has those stains, I open the window and use Lime-Away.

May be something in your water that can't be taken out by bleach. Try vinegar or something in the tank to use each time you flush. Limeaway works well.......make sure you open a window.

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I use a product called the bathroom stone. I have only found it at bed bath and beyond. Its and actual stone like thing attached to a sponge. So, you will actually have to stick your hand in there and use the stone to scrub it away. It works amazing, and the stone is meant for use on porcelain so no scratches. But you cant use it on the seat because that is painted on and it will scratch that. Good luck!

Black rings around the water in your toilet, if not a sign of cleaning neglect, can mean hard water in your septic system. Hard water buildup can leave stains that may need a heavy cleaner like CLR, or the use of a pumice stone (wet) to remove.
My experience is the black rings are related to a person with diabetes. I started dating a guy with diabetes. When he would visit me he would consistently use the second bathroom toilet. The black rings were only in the toilet in the bathroom that he used. This went on for over a year. I recently relocated to another state so we did not see each other for over a month. My new place has three toilets and for over a month none of the toilets had the black rings. Well my boyfriend came to visit for a week. Within two days of his arrival the toilet in the bathroom he used had the black ring at the water line. The other two toilets that he did not use did not have a black ring. I treat the toilet with bleach. I keep a small bottle of bleach under the sink in his bathroom and pour a small bit in the toilet daily when he comes to visit. This pretty much keeps the black ring away. Hope this helps!

If you want to avoid the toxic smells from Lime-Away, you can get a pumice scrubber on a handle. It's abrasive, and with some persistent rubbing, it does remove that ring.

There's also a non-scratching scrubbing block made from recycled, ground glass, called BathStone. No handle, though, so you'd want to turn off the water to the toilet, flush, and then scrub the emptied bowl. I just ordered one and haven't used it yet, but customer reviews are very positive on several sites: https://www.earthstoneinternational.com/cleaning/bath-stone

I use Comet to clean the bowl then I use a Bleach disc in the water tank so it keeps it from getting so yucky. It often will get rid of a line in the bowl but if it's too old it may not come out at all.

Use a pumice stone, works wonders

CLR (calcium, lime, rust product) and Scotch Brite Heavy Duty Scour pads. Use full strength if possible (by draining toilet bowl), otherwise pour a fair amount in the water. Scrub away! Worked for me!