General bathroom cleaning tip help

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

I'm no master at cleaning so I hope someone can help! Has anyone had to scrub the grime off the bottom of a toilet pan before, where the water lies? It doesn't seem to be a simple case of leave some Harpic down there and then scrub off with a scourer pad off the back of a sponge, it won't come off no matter how many times I scrub over it with elbow grease!

Is there any particular recommended product that should at least ease off the grime so there's a chance it'll come off?

 

[Tubeboy]

Cillit bang and the dirt is gone!!!

 

[IanXC]

The strongest bleach I've ever come across is Domestos Grot Buster, but I've not used it in the situation you describe I'm afraid.

 

[Mr Spock]

Its possibly limescale deposits (from hard water), not sure if descaler will move it otherwise use an old knife or similar to gently chip it free. Then clean on a regular basis to stop further buildup.

 

[Wyvern]

I use about a cup full of malt vinegar and let it stand overnight, then brush it clear in the morning. Cheaper than Harpic etc. and better for the environment. Smells like a pub though.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Spirit of salts ( hydrochloric acid ) is very effective, but be careful - it's a very dangerous substance.

Don't think we're allowed to use it in drainage systems these days are we?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Its possibly limescale deposits (from hard water), not sure if descaler will move it otherwise use an old knife or similar to gently chip it free. Then clean on a regular basis to stop further buildup.

Could well be actually, Trowbridge is in a hard water area. Will see if something like that works, or the vinegar tip, will report if any of it works

 

[theboywho]

If you get no luck, pump the water out and let a couple of bottles of cheap cola sit in there for a while.

TESCO used to do a rather poor bottle at 15p a few years ago. This ought to eat away enough for a good scrub.

 

[michael769]

Diet cola does the job! It's more acidic than the regular stuff.

 

[185]

I learnt from the experts.... breaching all COSHH and Health and Safety, the carriage cleaners used to sneakily use Dettol 'Mould & Mildew' bleach (green spray bottle). 5 minutes sprayed on the pan or the standing water and anything goes. Ventilate very well, it's the strongest bleach I've ever seen. £2.50ish at Asda.

 

[313103]

Try using a 1 litre bottle of coke, open it and allow the coke to go flat and then pour into toilet. This is a trick my wife did when we first moved into the place we currently live.

 

[Crossover]

I seem to recall seeing something on TV about removing limescale from top ends - basically was white vinegar in a bag, left for a while.

I learnt from the experts.... breaching all COSHH and Health and Safety, the carriage cleaners used to sneakily use Dettol 'Mould & Mildew' bleach (green spray bottle). 5 minutes sprayed on the pan or the standing water and anything goes. Ventilate very well, it's the strongest bleach I've ever seen. £2.50ish at Asda.

Funny you should say that. When I was in halls at uni, I heard a story from the cleaners that although the uni provided cleaning products, to comply with the various H&S regs, they were all c**p (bleach I think being the main thing mentioned)

Of course, the cleaners just brought stuff themselves that actually worked!

 

[DarloRich]

Hello all,

I'm no master at cleaning so I hope someone can help! Has anyone had to scrub the grime off the bottom of a toilet pan before, where the water lies? It doesn't seem to be a simple case of leave some Harpic down there and then scrub off with a scourer pad off the back of a sponge, it won't come off no matter how many times I scrub over it with elbow grease!

Is there any particular recommended product that should at least ease off the grime so there's a chance it'll come off?

firstly we need to work out what it is. Is it:

a) Limescale
b) "residue"
c) Mold

what colour is it? Has it been there long?

If it is limescale get strong bleach, cilit bang remover is good or a specialist limescale remover. These will stink so you should make sure you ventilate the area. Just follow the instructions on the bottle and away you go

If it is residue get a strong bleach, let it soak in for a while and get a toilet brush and scrub.

The old coke trick might work depending on how ingrained the problem is. Poor in a bottle, even fizzy coke will do, and leave overnight for harsh staining. It is the phosphoric acid in the Coke that breaks down the lime scale (apparently)

If it is mold get a mold and mildew remover and poor it in. This is not very sensible but will do the job! For god sake dont ingest any!

 

[Bevan Price]

A bit off topic, but if you use bleach (sodium hypochlorite), be careful to keep it away from any chrome-plated taps, sink or bath plug-holes, etc. - these are easily damaged by bleach....

 

[Welshman]

What a wonderful site this is.

All the latest opinion re HS2 to how to clean your toilet.

What more do you need?

 

[youngboy]

Whilst giving tips out, anyone with an old cast iron bath with a line round or 'yellowy'. Brown Sauce all over overnight then wash off day after, works a treat !!