How to Clean Toilet Tank

Your toilet bowl will quickly become a health hazard if it’s not cleaned often. While the toilet bowl receives ample attention, the toilet tank is easy to overlook.

When the toilet water tank is dirty, the fresh water that enters the bowl each time you flush isn’t actually fresh at all. Often, rust and mildew build up in the tank. The result is that the bowl grows stained and dirty faster than it otherwise would.

If you notice a pinkish residue in the toilet bowl that quickly returns after cleaning it, bacteria may be growing in the toilet tank. The solution is to clean the toilet tank periodically.

How Often Should You Clean the Inside of Your Toilet Tank?

Your toilet bowl requires weekly cleaning, and it may even require more frequent attention if it’s heavily used.

Cleaning a toilet bowl is relatively easy, but tackling the mildew and rust in the toilet tank takes more time and effort. However, the tank only needs to be cleaned every six to 12 months.

What Is the Best Product to Clean the Inside of a Toilet Tank?

Bleach is a go-to cleaning product when it comes to disinfecting toilets. However, it shouldn’t be used to clean the toilet tank. Bleach has strong chemicals, and these chemicals can corrode the toilet’s interior components.

A natural and effective disinfectant that tackles rust and mildew is distilled white vinegar. Vinegar will not cause the toilet tank components to corrode.

How to Clean the Inside of a Toilet Tank

Cleaning the inside of a toilet tank is important for maintaining good hygiene and preventing buildup of dirt and bacteria. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean the inside of a toilet tank:

• Before you start cleaning your toilet tank, pull together the necessary supplies. These include white vinegar, a bleach-free bathroom disinfectant and a scrub brush.
• Remove the toilet tank lid. If you notice an accumulation of mineral buildup or general grime, add four cups of white vinegar to the tank. Let the tank sit undisturbed for at least an hour.
• Then, turn off the main water supply to the toilet. This is usually done by turning a knob behind the toilet. Once the water supply is off, flush the tank several times until the tank is empty. If a small amount of water remains in the tank, soak it up with an old towel or sponge.
• Using the non-bleach cleaner and scrub brush, clean all of the grime off of the toilet tank’s floor and walls. If the residue is tough to remove, use a wet pumice stone.
• If the tank’s metal parts are rusty, wipe them down.
• Refill the tank with four cups of vinegar and fresh water. Let this sit in the tank for 12 hours. Do not use the toilet during this time period.
• After the time has passed, flush the toilet several times to clear the vinegar from the toilet tank.
• If the toilet tank continues to look and smell bad, drain the tank of water. Fill the entire tank with undiluted vinegar, and let it sit overnight before flushing the toilet.

Here’s another way to clear and clean your toilet tank of gunk without scrubbing!

Tips for Maintaining Your Toilet Tank

After scrubbing your toilet tank, you can take a few additional steps to keep it cleaner longer.

Monthly, add a cup of vinegar to the tank before going to sleep at night, and do not flush the toilet until morning. At that time, inspect the tank for signs of hard water buildup or grime. Removing the accumulation sooner will prevent a more significant cleaning task a few months from now.

In addition, don’t use cleaner tabs in your tank. These may contain bleach, which leads to corrosion.

FAQs

What Is the Easiest Way to Clean a Toilet Tank?

If you haven’t deep cleaned your toilet tank in months, this requires your attention first.

Drain the water from the tank. Scrub the tank with a non-bleach cleaner. Then, fill the tank with water and vinegar. Let this solution sit in the tank overnight before flushing the toilet.

After deep cleaning the tank, your task shifts to maintenance. You can pour a cup of white vinegar into the tank monthly and allow it to sit overnight. This step will extend the time between tank cleanings.

Here’s another fast and easy way to clean your toilet tank from rust and mold!

What Do Plumbers Recommend to Clean Toilet Tanks?

Professional plumbers know that using the wrong products to clean a tank can damage the inner components. Typically, they use distilled white vinegar to clean a toilet tank. This is the same way professional housecleaners clean toilet bowls and tanks.

Is It Safe to Clean Toilet Tank with Bleach?

Bleach has harsh chemicals that have whitening and disinfecting properties. While these properties make bleach a popular choice for cleaning a toilet bowl, bleach emits harmful odors. It can also cause skin, eye and respiratory issues. More than that, bleach is harmful to the environment.

In your toilet tank, bleach can corrode the important functional components. This can lead to the premature need for repairs. Because of these factors, bleach and bleach tablets aren’t safe to use in a toilet tank.

Are you looking for cleaning services near me? Toilets are just one of many grimy areas that require your regular attention, but you don’t have to deal with the mess yourself. Our professional cleaners at Cleanzen are available to visit your home soon, so contact us today to schedule an appointment.