Many people get baffled, confused and even angry whenever they see those stubborn brown stains in their toilets. They secretly wonder why their toilet bowl has nasty brownish or yellowish stains at the bottom of the bowl. Usually, they begin to suspect that someone is not properly cleaning up after using the toilet. What then follows is finger-pointing, accusations and counter accusations, because nobody in their right mind wants to take responsibility for an unsightly toilet. Of course, the most popular (and nasty) stains to deal with are those arising from lack of proper flushing after use. But other stains are brought about by a buildup of minerals from hard water (water which contains large amounts of minerals). Many homes have hard water, which can cause damage to your toilet or sink and leave stubborn stains that are very difficult to remove. The porcelain material from which toilets are made is prone to picking up these stains and holding onto them. So, how do you get rid of those embarrassing stains? There are plenty of Do-It-Yourself options to try;Like sandpaper. This is a heavy paper coated on one side with sand or other abrasive material and used for smoothing surfaces.Use wet/dry sandpaper to sand away the stubborn toilet bowl stains. Be prepared to burn some calories because you’ll need to scrub forcefully to remove the stains effectively. Don’t worry about damaging the porcelain finish of the toilet bowl, the grit of the sandpaper is fine enough not to damage it. An alternative to sandpaper is a pumice stick, which will also achieve the same results.VinegarIf you’re sick and tired of cleaning your bowl with strong cleaning solutions, try the vinegar option. One method is to place three cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl and scrub the stains with a toilet brush. The other method is to put the vinegar into a spray bottle, drain the toilet bowl and spray the vinegar directly onto the stains.BleachBleach is a very strong cleaning agent. Place half a cup of dry bleach powder into the toilet bowl and let it sit there for a couple of hours. When you see the stains have disappeared flush away the bleach.Borax powderBorax powder is a very powerful cleaning agent that has unfortunately not found its way into many homes, perhaps because it is to be found in hardware stores, not supermarkets and retail shops. To use Borax, shut the water supply to the toilet tank and empty the bowl by flushing it once. Sprinkle the powder directly on the stains and rub them with a toilet brush. After scrubbing, let the powder sit for thirty minutes. Then reconnect the water supply to the tank and flush the toilet.I’m told Coca Cola is just as effective a cleaner. Pour the soda around the rim so it flows over the stains around the inside of the bowl. The acids in the Coke will break down the stains. For extra cleaning power, let the Coke sit in the toilet overnight.
