How To Clean Mold From Inside Toilet Tank

Remove Mold In Toilet And Prevent It From Coming Back

Bathroom Repair : How to Remove Mold From a Toilet Tank

That annoying black ring in the toilet bowl, usually lurking right at the water line, is more common than you think. Mold in toilets comes in other colors too green or grey. Read on to find out what mold in toilet is and why it keeps showing up as well as how to clean it and prevent it from coming back!

Clean With Disinfectant Cleaner

After the soaking period, empty the tank by flushing away the vinegar. Follow the same steps as with the disinfectant cleaner. Use a long-handled brush to scrub the loosened grime. Clean the working components with a sponge and a disinfectant bathroom cleaner. Turn on the water control valve and fill the tank with water to flush all the grime away.

How To Clean Toilet Tank Mold

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If you find that you are struggling to get your toilet clean of mold, rust, other substances, and are still greeted with a foul odor after scrubbing the bathroom to a shine, then your work may not be done. You shouldnt put yourself down for missing a spot because this is one that always gets overlooked: the toilet tank.

Its lid traps any bacterial contaminants, dirt, and mineral accumulation out of your sight until you are forced to lift it up to prevent the toilet from running or look for any parts that need to be repaired. These less-than-ideal conditions can also result in your toilets metal components corroding and staining the bowl.

Lets take a look at how to clean your toilet tank of mold and how to keep it mold-free for longer. So read on to find out how to clean toilet tank mold.

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How To Clean A Badly Stained Toilet Using Baking Soda & Vinegar

Baking soda is a popular natural cleaning agent that eliminates a wide range of stains, and when mixed with vinegar, it produces a carbonic acid that works perfectly in wearing away stains from toilet bowls.

To get rid of stains using baking soda and vinegar, follow the following steps:

Pour one cup of vinegar into your toilet bowl. Swish the solution around using a toilet brush and leave it to sit for about a minute.

Add approximately one cup of baking soda plus another one to two cups of vinegar. Let the solution fizz and create a bubbly concoction.
Next, leave the solution to sit for about five minutes. Scrub the toilet bowl, making sure the solution touches all stains.
The final step is to flush the toilet and observe if the stain is gone.

If the stain still remains even after trying this natural method, repeat the method, or try an alternative option of artificial bleach-based solutions to achieve a sparkling clean toilet.

How To Clean The Inside Of A Toilet Tank

Wear rubber gloves.

Remove the tank cover and place it gently on a towel on the floor.

Without draining out the water, pour white vinegar into the tank, stopping at least an inch below the top rim.

Let the vinegar-water solution sit for 12 hours to dissolve mineral deposits, rust, and mildew.

Flush the toilet a couple of times to remove the vinegar from the tank.

Turn off the toilets water valve, usually located near the floor.

Flush the toilet again to completely drain the water from the tank.

Using a scrub brush, clean the inside of the tanks walls to eliminate gunk and buildup. Wipe down the metal parts with a sponge to remove any rust.

If the toilet tank walls still look dirty, spray an all-purpose cleaner onto the inside walls. Let it sit for the manufacturers suggested time, usually 5-10 minutes. Scrub the walls with a scrub brush.

Repeat as needed.

Turn the water back on, flush the toilet again, and confirm the water is clear in both the tank and the bowl.

Replace the tank cover.

For particularly stained or foul tanks, turn the water valve off, flush the toilet until the tank is empty, and fill the tank with just vinegar , letting it sit overnight. Continue with step 5.

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How To Remove Black Mold In A Toilet Tank And Bowl

Before you get your hands on the removing task, you need to equip yourself with some gears. To prevent mold spores from getting into your eyes, mouth, and nose, you should wear an N95 mask, long gloves, and goggles.

You should also prepare a toilet brush, a handle brush, and a spray bottle.

No matter which method you use, there are 3 steps you need to follow in advance.

1. Open the door and windows of the bathroom and turn off the ventilation fan if available.

2. Wear a mask, goggles, and gloves.

3. Turn off the shutoff valve and flush the toilet to remove excess water.

Cleaning Inside The Tank

You can easily clean mold that collects above the water line inside the toilet tank and underneath the lid with a chlorine bleach solution. Wear rubber gloves while working with chlorine bleach and avoid inhaling the fumes. After shutting off the toilet supply and flushing, fill the tank about halfway with the bleach solution and scrub the sides of the tank above the water line and the underside of the lid with a kitchen scrubby. After rinsing the sides and the lid with clear water, turn on the water and flush several times to clear the tank of residual bleach.

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Stop Mold From Growing In Toilet Tank

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While cleaning your toilet is a necessary part of life, there are several hacks that can help eliminate a few of the common causes of mold.

Before you do anything, clean your bowl like usual. I try to avoid chemicals as much as I can so I like to use natural cleaners, like Lemi Shine or this one.

Be sure to thoroughly flush the cleaner out of the toilet since you dont want it to react with the next product.

Next, check to see if there is black mold in the toilet tank, the area behind the toilet bowl. If you notice mold in there you will need to treat it first since that is probably what is causing your chronic moldy toilet.

Ive had a few friends tell me theyve had success using Lime-A-Way Toilet Bowl Cleaner to your toilet tank in order to eliminate any mold buildup within the hidden recesses of your toilet. This way every time you flush a little Lime-A-Away is sent swirling through your toilet bowl to keep black mold from growing in the toilet. But keep in mind, it is a toxic chemical product and should be used as a last result to stop moldy toilets.

If you dont see any mold buildup in the toilet tank, try using a Fluidmaster automatic toilet bowl cleaner. Its made for the toilet tank .

Is Toilet Mold Bad

EASY: Clean Your Toilet Tank Without Scrubbing – TightwadDIY

Mold anywhere in your house is not good for your health. If left untreated, mold can lead to many different health issues. So mold should be taken seriously and removed properly from any surfaces in your home.

If mold continues to reoccur in your toilet tank right after you have cleaned it, this means you have a more serious mold problem and may need to get professional help or get a new toilet.

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Pour A Bucket Of Water

Take a bucket and fill it with hot water. Pour it into the tank to clean debris, but dont use boiling water as it may soften and harm the plastic. When the tank is full, flush the toilet to see the stains disappearing.

If you still see mold in the tank, repeat the cleaning process to eliminate the strongest stains.

What Does Mold In The Toilet Look Like

Have you ever noticed a black ring in your toilet bowl? That is exactly what mold in the toilet looks like. Whether its black, pink, red, brown, white, or green, mold usually forms a ring in the toilet. Sometimes, it appears grayish-black or black around the upper rim of the toilet bowl.

Look at the images below for more understanding of what could happen with the whole bathroom if mold growth keeps growing around the toilet:

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Effects Of Mold On Your Health

Different people react differently to different molds. But one thing that remains constant is that continued exposure to molds gives rise to various health effects.

Some of them, according to the CDC, include:

Asthma attacks
Eyes, nose, throat, skin, and lungs irritation

Nausea

Exposure to these molds mostly happens either through physical contact or inhalation of their airborne spores.

Among the most vulnerable are people with an existing health problem, the extremely young/old, and a compromised immune system.

That is why mold gets considered as a dangerous intruder that needs swift handling.

What Causes Mold In Toilet

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow on many kinds of surfaces, and most often appears when the surface is allowed to become damp. Any room of the house can develop a mold problem as long as there has been some contact with moisture, whether that moisture comes from the outside, from plumbing problems, or through high levels of air humidity. Bathrooms are particularly susceptible to the growth of mold because there are so many ways and places for moisture to collect.

Toilets are by definition, moist environments: both the bowl and tank are partly full of water at all times except during the act of flushing. Theyre also dark areas, especially when the lid is closed, and are naturally at room temperature. These conditions are perfect for mold to thrive.

Toilets that are used infrequently and not flushed often are more likely to develop a mold problem than those that are flushed many times a day. All toilets need to be cleaned regularly to prevent mold spores from growing and expanding into a larger problem.

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How To Clean Black Mold From Toilet Tank Without Bleach

If youd prefer not to use bleach, you can remove black mold from your toilet tank using white vinegar instead.

Bear in mind that white vinegar will take longer to remove mold than bleach, and you may need to use a little more elbow grease.

If you choose to use white vinegar, repeat steps 1 and 2 above.

Step 3 Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar.

Step 4Spray the white vinegar all over the toilet tank lid and inside the toilet tank. Spray directly onto the visible black mold and all over the inner tank and lid, as there may be small mold spores growing that youre unable to see.

Step 5 Leave the vinegar for one hour, then scrub the area to remove any remaining mold.

Step 6 Rinse the inside of your toilet tank and lid with water. Return the lid to the tank and flush the toilet to drain the tank.

Cleaning Toilet Tank With Coke Is It Possible

You may take it as a joke but coke does work for this purpose! The only thing you must be aware of is that this procedure is not safe for the tanks insides as cola has acid that corrodes the metal pieces inside the tank. So, even if it survives one or two cleanings, it will hardly be usable after the regular coke cleaning.

Serratia Marcescens Toilet Cleaning

To clean the bacteria from a toilet, start by disinfecting the bowl. Add ¼ cup of chlorine bleach to the bowl and scrub off all visible infection with the toilet brush. If you need to scrub an area, Bob Vila.com recommends using a mixture of baking soda and dish detergent to scrub away all visible pink mold then rinse it thoroughly with water before washing down the entire surface with a bleach-and-water mixture.

Add an additional ¼ cup of bleach to the tank and allow both tank and bowl to sit for about 20 minutes. After time is up, flush the system a few times to clear out the toilet and run the bleach through the pipes. Be sure to wipe down the toilet rim, seat and lid with a bleach mixture or a disinfectant wipe as well.

This bleach-and-water mixture can also be used in a spray bottle to soak areas outside the toilet like the walls of a shower or grout on the floor. Leave the bleach mixture to react for about 10 minutes then rinse with clean water. Preventative cleaning will help you stay ahead of this bacterial growth. Be sure to use appropriate products on a regular schedule and take action to reduce overall humidity in the bathroom.

Things You Will Need

Disinfect your toilet bowl and tank weekly or at the first signs of pink mold.

Warnings

Do not leave bleach in the tank for longer than 20 minutes. It can damage the rubber valves and seals inside.

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Section 3 Of : Doing An Overnight Vinegar Soak

How to Clean a Toilet Tank

1Pour enough vinegar into the tank to cover the overflow valve. You might need a lot of vinegar for this methodsome tanks hold up to 3 gallons . Fortunately, white vinegar is fairly cheap, so you wont have to break the bank. Fill up your toilet tank with vinegar, and make sure it covers the overflow valve, or the large metal mechanism that sticks up.XResearch source

2Let the vinegar sit for 12 hours without flushing. The acidity in the vinegar will break down any tough stains, making it easier for you to clean. Try to leave the vinegar in the tank for at least 12 hours to give it enough time to work.XResearch source

Unfortunately, this means you wont be able to use your toilet for the time being. Make sure you and your family have somewhere else to go if you use this method.

3Scrub the tank with a sponge. If you notice any marks or stains on the inside of your toilet tank, use a sponge to scrub them until theyre gone. Hopefully, the vinegar will have broken them down enough that theyre easy to clean, so it shouldnt give you much trouble.XResearch source

4Turn the water back on and flush the toilet. Reach down behind your toilet and turn the valve counterclockwise to get the water back on. Give your toilet a flush to remove the vinegar and rinse out the tank.XResearch source

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How To Avoid Future Mold Growth In Your Toilet

To avoid future mold infestation in your toilet, these are some things youll have to do:

Always open your bathroom window when showering.

Always turn on your exhaust fans during a shower and leave them on for 30 minutes when done.

Consider installing a dehumidifier if your bathroom has higher humidity levels. Leave it on for an hour after a shower.

Always flush after using the toilet.

Scrub your toilet at least once a week using a brush and vinegar/bleach/peroxide solution.

Always flush less frequently used toilets at least once a week to prevent mold build-up.

Take care of any bathroom leak as soon as possible.

How Long Do Toilets Last

With regular hygiene, porcelain toilets will remain working for a 14 years. What can really threaten them is a hard strike.

However time after time you will need to check everything and maybe change some parts like the flapper valve.

Remember to have this natural acid as diluted disinfectant or hard-working mean of cleaning.

Wash down the inner toilet construction and repeat all the procedures when necessary.

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What Is Black Mold In Your Toilet

Before we show you how to fend it off, its important to understand what toilet mold really is. Its a discoloration indicating that you have mildew and fungus in your toilet.

Although mainly black, it can also be green or orange. You shouldnt confuse black mold with brown water in the toilet because they dont share the same source.

Dampness in your toilet sets the breeding ground for mold spores and fungi, especially when you pair it with darkness and warmth. Your bathroom is the best place for forming black mold, along with sink drains, showerheads, curtains, etc.

Second Part: Cleaning The Toilet Tank

Pour a cup of bleach into the toilet tank and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. The ratio of bleach to water will depend on the size of your tank. Check the bleach for instructions. I usually go with a cup for every gallon.

Next, scrub the toilet tank . Be mindful of not bumping the parts inside of the tank. You dont want to bump the float or anything like that

Flush the toilet a few times to get rid of everything.

Clean up and dispose of the gloves and any brushes you have used as they could have mold spores on them. Its just best to get rid of everything.

Shower. Look, I could say just wash up, but when you are dealing with toilet mold, its best for you to scrub down and feel like you are squeaky clean again.

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