As folk wisdom says, the owner of the apartment is judged by the cleanliness of the kitchen utensils and the bathroom. If cleaning is carried out regularly, then the latter will not cause discomfort to guests and residents of the apartment. However, how to remove rust from the toilet if the cleaning has not been carried out for a long time (months, and possibly years)?
People often encounter similar situations when purchasing housing on the secondary market, when moving into a hostel or a communal apartment. In addition to rust, limescale deposits and urinary stone in the toilet bowl create big problems. How to deal with all this? And is it even worth cleaning up? Would it be easier to spend money on a new toilet? The reader will find answers to all these questions in this article.
Types of toilet sink pollution
The most common types of soiling are limescale in the toilet, as well as urinary stone and rust streaks. There are other types of pollution. But they are usually artificial.
For example, potassium permanganate stains that are almost impossible to remove (especially if the enamel on the surface is missing or damaged). It would not be superfluous to give a more detailed description and description of each of the listed pollution.
Urinary stone
It is a plaque of minerals that are excreted from the human body along with urine. Imperceptibly to the naked eye, these substances are deposited on the surface of the toilet with each visit. If you do not periodically clean, then over time, these deposits become noticeable. The plaque has a dark yellow (in some cases gray) color. Removing this type of contaminant is not an easy task. To do this, you will need a special toilet cleaner.
The most intensively these substances are deposited on a rough surface. Thus, most often deposits form on surfaces with damaged enamel. The appearance of such growths occurs on a smooth enameled surface. This happens if the toilet is often not flushed after a visit. Most often, this problem occurs in public restrooms. In some cases, the situation is so neglected that no toilet cleaner can help. When the thickness of deposits reaches a certain critical minimum, they begin to exude an extremely unpleasant odor, which is greatly enhanced by breeding and multiplying bacteria.
Limescale
This type of pollution is in many respects similar (first of all, by the nature and principle of formation) to urinary stone. After all, this is also a plaque of minerals. The difference lies in the fact that these substances are contained in tap water and settle on the inner surface of the toilet bowl when the tank is drained. It is quite clear that the worse the quality of the water in the water supply, the more intensive the growth of deposits will be. Also, the frequency of draining the tank also affects the rate of stone formation.
Lime deposits in the toilet are dark yellow, in some cases even orange. The build-up occurs and grows in areas of the toilet bowl that are difficult to reach for cleaning products, through which water flows when draining. If the quality of tap water is very low, a stone can clog the drain holes. In such advanced cases, even very active and potent powders and gels for cleaning the toilet are powerless. Holes can be punched mechanically. But this measure is temporary. It is best to change the toilet with a cistern.
Streaks of rust
Rust is very difficult, almost impossible to confuse with stone deposits. Formed in the place where water flows out of the tank. Moreover, the less often the toilet bowl is flushed, the more likely it is that rust stains will form. This is due to the fact that standing water is saturated with dissolved iron oxide (in fact, this is rust), which settles on the surface of the tank when flushed. There are a lot of toilet rust removers on the market. But not all of them are effective. This article focuses onis given to the means and methods of dealing with rust on the surface of the toilet bowl, as with the most common problem
How to remove rust from the toilet using folk remedies?
Earlier, in the years of the Soviet past, not to mention tsarist times, the choice of household chemicals was very poor. People resorted to improvised means. And it should be noted that sometimes these methods turned out to be very effective in combating pollution of various nature. It would be fundamentally wrong to reject the experience of previous generations. In addition to cheapness and availability, folk remedies have another important advantage - manufacturability. What is meant by this? First of all, the ability to work without fear of damaging the plastic pipeline. But in most houses at present (during construction or major repairs) water and sewer pipes made of polyvinyl chloride are being installed.
The most famous remedy is, of course, citric acid. How to remove rust from the toilet with this powder? Everything is very simple. All you need is 100-150 grams of citric acid, protective gloves and a hard-bristled brush (a ruff will do).
All water is scooped out of the toilet bowl, problem surfaces are sprinkled with citric acid. It will take at least four hours for the acid to react with the dirt and soften the stones. Next, clean the surface with a sponge or brush. After that, the remnants of citric acid and dirt are washed off with water. This procedure must be repeated several times to achievemaximum effect. That, in general, is all.
The surface cleaning process will be greatly accelerated if citric acid is mixed with vinegar. More precisely, if vinegar is applied to a layer of acid powder with a sprayer. Many people recommend using just vinegar. This method is also quite effective.
In general, a variety of combinations are possible: vinegar plus soda, baking soda with the addition of soda ash in different proportions, and even Coca-Cola and other drinks that include orthophosphoric acid.
Cleaning with Domestos for toilets and other household chemicals
The classic detergent disinfectant in the countries of the former Soviet Union is the so-called whiteness. It has a very pungent odor and is quite effective not only in cleaning stains from linen, but also in washing the bathroom. It is necessary to apply whiteness to the contaminated surface with a sprayer and wait only 15-20 minutes. During this time, plaque and rust should lag behind the surface, after which the dirt is washed off with water. It is a rather caustic substance. When working, do not allow it to get into the eyes and on bare skin. So be sure to wear gloves.
"Domestos" for the toilet (and other special chemistry) operates on a similar principle. However, it is, as a rule, much more expensive than ordinary whiteness. The difference in cost is compensated by a pleasant aroma and the absence of irritation of the mucous membrane.nose.
Using harsh chemicals to clean the toilet
This method is used only in special cases, when neither conventional chemistry nor folk remedies help. All work should be carried out with extreme caution. After all, you can not only damage the enameled surface, but also harm your own he alth.
To clean heavily soiled surfaces of the toilet, you can use hydrochloric, phosphoric, and oxalic acid. Of course, all work must be carried out with precautions and with the use of personal protective equipment.
Acid should not come into contact with rubber products and plastics, as parts made of these materials will instantly become unusable.
Using battery electrolyte as detergent and cleaner
It is quite difficult for an ordinary person to get acids without having acquaintances in chemical laboratories and research institutes. In here, the battery electrolyte can be easily obtained. It should be said that this is a very effective tool in the fight against rust streaks and stone deposits.
How to remove rust from the toilet using electrolyte? Yes, very easy! It is necessary to very carefully apply the substance in an even layer on the surface of the toilet bowl and leave for no more than 10 minutes. After that, you have to work a little with a brush or brush - and you're done! It remains only to wash off the reaction products with water. Toilet like new!
Electrolyte is a hazardous substance. Skin contact and eye contact should be avoided. The consequences can be very severe.
Professional help
If there is no desire or necessary experience, then you can contact a specialized cleaning agency. There are a lot of such organizations in recent years. Specialists are ready to come to the customer's house at any time convenient for him and carry out cleaning. These employees have a large arsenal of detergents at their disposal, allowing them to easily cope with even years of dirt and deposits. The only drawback of such a solution to the problem is the rather high price tag for the services of such agencies.
