Help us save our toilets from our epic cleaning fail!
June 13, 2015 3:37 AM Subscribe
Ugh. We tried to clean the calcified bits of our toilets and STUPIDLY used a scouring pad. Now its left weird gray stains that just don't seem to budge all that much. Google reveals lots of options but we just don't know which would work for this so we are turning to you! We are in continental Europe so any products need to be available on amazon.co.uk.... Please HELP US!
Are you sure they're stains? It sounds like you may have actually scratched the enamel off.
posted by Jubey at 5:08 AM on June 13, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Jubey at 5:08 AM on June 13, 2015 [4 favorites]
I've made the same mistake.
Just run to your local supermarket, and pick up some abrasive liquid cleaner and a microfiber cloth. I can't name a brand because you're not telling us where you are, but I can assure you that European supermarkets carry cleaning products.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:15 AM on June 13, 2015
Just run to your local supermarket, and pick up some abrasive liquid cleaner and a microfiber cloth. I can't name a brand because you're not telling us where you are, but I can assure you that European supermarkets carry cleaning products.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:15 AM on June 13, 2015
I believe that a "Magic Eraser" will remove these types of marks, too. The generic version is melamine foam.
posted by kimdog at 5:38 AM on June 13, 2015
posted by kimdog at 5:38 AM on June 13, 2015
Assuming the enamel isn't damaged I'd use Magic Erasers on something like this. They may take longer than something stronger but are less likely to do any damage. They are available on amazon.co.uk, I'd buy pretty much any of them because it's all the same stuff.
Vim is the abrasive cleaner I'm familiar with from the UK, but I don't think it will be strong enough for this.
Then I'd use CLR Calcium, Rust & Lime Remover to get rid of the calcium buildup, also available on amazon.co.uk. If the grey was on top of the calcium I'd probably even try this first, since then you might get rid of both at once.
posted by shelleycat at 6:11 AM on June 13, 2015
Vim is the abrasive cleaner I'm familiar with from the UK, but I don't think it will be strong enough for this.
Then I'd use CLR Calcium, Rust & Lime Remover to get rid of the calcium buildup, also available on amazon.co.uk. If the grey was on top of the calcium I'd probably even try this first, since then you might get rid of both at once.
posted by shelleycat at 6:11 AM on June 13, 2015
Oh and the abrasive cleaner I use here in Germany is called Viss, as another comparison (it was Jif in NZ). It all seems to be the same stuff.
But I still think Magic Erasers would work better
posted by shelleycat at 6:15 AM on June 13, 2015
But I still think Magic Erasers would work better
posted by shelleycat at 6:15 AM on June 13, 2015
Magic erasers DO the damage to enamel, if I understand things correctly. I wouldn't scrub my toilet with them.
posted by fancyoats at 6:39 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by fancyoats at 6:39 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
So, first of all, is there any calcification still on the toilet? Is there any chance you just stained the lime build up?
Because if so, buy two bottles of plain vinegar, and pour them in, leave to soak, and that'll get the scale off (yay chemistry!).
People suggest cocacola for the same thing, but I've found it less effective, and more likely to stain scale brown.
Finally, this seems like a comprehensive article: Clean metal marks off a porcelain toilet
(Non-metal scourer obviously)
posted by Elysum at 7:20 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Because if so, buy two bottles of plain vinegar, and pour them in, leave to soak, and that'll get the scale off (yay chemistry!).
People suggest cocacola for the same thing, but I've found it less effective, and more likely to stain scale brown.
Finally, this seems like a comprehensive article: Clean metal marks off a porcelain toilet
(Non-metal scourer obviously)
posted by Elysum at 7:20 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Like D.C. I've cleaned grey marks from my sink with Bon Ami or Comet.
For the toilet bowl, turn off the water that fills the tank (there should be a local valve). Then flush until the bowl is empty. Sprinkle Bon Ami or Comet (or the UK equivalent) and scrub with a cloth rag. You want the powder to get wet enough to be pasty, but not as diluted as it'd be with the bowl still full of water.
Turn the water back on and let the tank fill, then flush a few times. If it doesn't rinse off with a couple flushes, you can leave water in the bowl and it will loosen.
posted by whoiam at 7:41 AM on June 13, 2015
For the toilet bowl, turn off the water that fills the tank (there should be a local valve). Then flush until the bowl is empty. Sprinkle Bon Ami or Comet (or the UK equivalent) and scrub with a cloth rag. You want the powder to get wet enough to be pasty, but not as diluted as it'd be with the bowl still full of water.
Turn the water back on and let the tank fill, then flush a few times. If it doesn't rinse off with a couple flushes, you can leave water in the bowl and it will loosen.
posted by whoiam at 7:41 AM on June 13, 2015
Then flush until the bowl is empty.
Your loo is a different shape to mine, or something. If there's no water coming in the top, there's no flushing. The bowl will not empty.
posted by pompomtom at 8:45 AM on June 13, 2015
Your loo is a different shape to mine, or something. If there's no water coming in the top, there's no flushing. The bowl will not empty.
posted by pompomtom at 8:45 AM on June 13, 2015
We had a very scratched toilet and Bar Keeper's Friend cleared it right up.
posted by cali59 at 11:34 AM on June 13, 2015
posted by cali59 at 11:34 AM on June 13, 2015
Thank you everyone! We have some vizz and can get barkeepers friend... We'll be giving these things a try. I'll update what works!
Also, the gray seemed more like a stain than a scratch, it looked like gray watercolor if that makes sense?
posted by catspajammies at 12:23 PM on June 13, 2015
Also, the gray seemed more like a stain than a scratch, it looked like gray watercolor if that makes sense?
posted by catspajammies at 12:23 PM on June 13, 2015
By the way if you happened to be the UK the answer to this question is always Cillit Bang, and here is a page full of their products. Bang and the dirt is gone.
posted by glasseyes at 2:59 PM on June 13, 2015
posted by glasseyes at 2:59 PM on June 13, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by D.C. at 3:47 AM on June 13, 2015 [1 favorite]