What Causes Rust Stains on Toilets?

The first step in preventing rust stains on toilets is understanding what causes them. There are two potential sources that we can think of. First, the pipes in your system may be rusting. Rust stains on toilet bowls can also indicate that your water supply contains high levels of iron. Those iron particles can oxidize and turn into that distinct red-brown rust color.

How to Clean Rust Stains?

There are plenty of chemical solutions on the market which are designed to combat rust, but we are going to mention some household cleaning solutions that can work on porcelain as well as stainless steel:

• Douse the rust stains with white vinegar and sprinkle them with baking soda. Let this sit for a minute and scrub with a ball of crinkled up aluminum foil. 
• You can also use baking soda alone. Sprinkle baking soda over the rust stain and scrub the stain with a toothbrush dipped in water. Scrub in the direction of the grain when working on a stainless-steel bowl.
• Sprinkle a bit of salt over the stain and soak the stain by squeezing a lime over the area. Let this mixture stay for about two to three hours before using the rind of the lime to remove the mixture and rinse.
• Cut a potato in half and dip the expose part in dish soap or baking soda. Scrub the stain with the potato. Periodically slice a layer of the potato off and re-dip into dish soap or baking soda and continue scrubbing until the stain is removed.

Preventing Rust Stains

An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. Why exhaust so much energy on removing stains when you can prevent them from happening in the first place?
If you want to prevent rust stains, then consider an iron filter or water softener for your water source. Reducing the iron content in your water source is going to reduce the risk of rusting.
It is also a good idea to have a local plumber inspect your pipes and determine whether iron pipes are corroding and rusting. Replace old iron pipes with pipes that are resistant to rusting.

Call Rooter Hero Plumbing

Do you need an experienced plumber’s assistance? Call Rooter Hero Plumbing any time to get in touch with a live representative and request an emergency dispatch.