How do I remove marks left by a metal drain snake inside a toilet bowl, below the waterline?

January 2, 2004 5:59 PM

How do I remove marks left by a metal drain snake inside a toilet bowl, below the waterline?
posted by NortonDC to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

I don't know its real name, but "porcelain white out" can be purchased at hardware stores. Porcelain touch up paint.
posted by mecran01 at 6:23 PM on January 2, 2004

If by marks you mean those dark grey scratchy-looking lines, Comet or Ajax or any scouring agent with bleach will take them out.
posted by iconomy at 6:38 PM on January 2, 2004

Response by poster: If by marks you mean those dark grey scratchy-looking lines

Yes!

Comet or Ajax or any scouring agent with bleach will take them out.

No! Tried Comet already, to no effect. :-(
posted by NortonDC at 7:35 PM on January 2, 2004

Suggestion : First, turn off the water supply to the toilet. Then flush. Then take about a gallon of water and chase that down. That should empty the bowl out fairly well.

Then I'd use a gentle cleanser to clean... a paste made of a little water and baking soda will get it nice and clean. The question is then whether the marks are more than skin deep.

If they are, then you may want to look into that porcelain touch-up paint.

... and in the future, use a snake with a rubber collar.
posted by silusGROK at 8:50 PM on January 2, 2004

Response by poster: use a snake with a rubber collar.

That sounds dirty. I like it.
posted by NortonDC at 9:45 PM on January 2, 2004

NortonDC, did the Comet have bleach in it? It's always worked for me. Hmpf. I hope you didn't scratch through the veneer of the porcelain, but if you did, try mecan01's solution.
posted by iconomy at 6:00 AM on January 3, 2004

i did a google search to find out what a metal toilet snake was, and the first hit had some advice.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:46 AM on January 3, 2004

I was going to suggest CLR, but andrew cooke's link already did.
posted by terrapin at 12:18 PM on January 9, 2004