Clean Your Toilet Tank/No Scrubbing- I Didn't Know I Needed to do This!
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- Did you know you should be cleaning your toilet tank? I did not. It is so simple with citric acid and NO scrubbing involved. How to clean your toilet by using this tip and trick. What comes out of your toilet tank, goes straight into your toilet bowl. So, we should all be cleaning out our toilet tank! Who knew?
I have used both of these types of citric acid before:
Citric Acid: amzn.to/3jHGA3j
Citric Acid: amzn.to/3M0bPUN
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This works great. I just did 5 toilets! One tip. You do not need hot water and you do not need to turn off the water. Just pour the powder into the tank and wait an hour or so before flushing. It may take a bit longer than using hot water but it works just fine.
I am so glad you shared this tip!! I will do it your way next time. Thank you.
That’s good because my shut off doesn’t move ! I’ll give it a try
@@kimdagnillo8246you may need to shut off that valve urgently one day; get that valve unstuck asap and if you can't have it replaced.
@@parecearabe I know , don’t curse me ! 😬
@@kimdagnillo8246 yes, if it is a valve that you just turn and turn like an outdoor faucet, replace it with a modern quarter-turn valve.
CAUTION: I cracked the tank pouring hot water into it. Use lukewarm water instead. Lesson learned the hard way $$$.
Thank you for sharing.
👍
I have poured boiling water from a tea kettle into the toilet bowl (to unclog it) with no damage.
BTW: If there is a Restore (Habitat for Humanity) store near you, you can often find toilets or tanks cheap.
So did I. It was the time of year when our water is incredibly cold. I cleaned the bowl and flushed which refilled the tank with cold water. By the time I had put the supplies away, got the citric acid out and drained the tank water the tank was quite cold. As soon as the hot water went in, there was a loud crack and the sound of water dripping out of the bottom. Make sure there isn't too much of a difference in temperature between the tank and the water.
My tank cracked once in the winter when the tank was room temperature and the water filling it was very cold (I am guessing around 35 degrees). Some tanks just cannot take very much temperature change.
I am beyond amazed!!! Almost ten years ago I moved into the rental apartment where I still live. When I moved in, the bottom of the toilet bowl had a bad stain and some kind of build up that I have never been able to get rid of, no matter what I tried-bleach, baking soda with and without white vinegar and other cleaners. After watching your video I ordered some citric acid online. It arrived yesterday. I poured some of it into the toilet bowl with water still in it. I let it sit a couple hours, then flushed it. It looked faded. I repeated the process, but for several hours. After I flushed it, the bowl was almost completely white! So I repeated it but overnight. All of it is gone, except two small spots near the water line that are barely noticeable. I am beyond thrilled! Thank you!!!
I am so glad you took the time to share your results! May people have asked in the comments if it would work for the toilet bowl too. You answered that question. Thank you! I am so glad you happened upon watching this video and it was able to work for your situation!
Being a professional plumber and pretty good at high-school chemistry.
The tank sediments are mostly oxides and carbonates.
ANY weak acid will work on them.
The speed of the reaction will depend on concentration and water temperature.
Even though the vinegar is more acidic than citric acid why it did not work so well?
Vinegar is sold in the aqueous form so when it was added to the tank the resulting solution was very weak.
Since the lady added the citric acid as an anhydride ( crystals ) in a large scoop the concentration was way higher than the concentration of vinegar in the tank.
All in all: anything acidic in larger concentration will work on the oxides in the tank.
Very good advice! Thank you for sharing you expertise with us in the comments. We all learn so much from reading the comments.
@@sandysteinbrook Thank you so much, young lady!
Keep making the videos - do not stop!
The active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid, which is a liquid in itself. However, vinegar has at most 5% acetic acid. So you're right, it's dilute. Citric acid is better in the it offers 3 acidic sites of action vs one for acetic acid, and it's a whole lot safer.
@@liza3337 It doesn't matter which weak acid you use.
The "active ingredient" in ANY acid is a hydronium ion which is positive hydrogen ion.
Grade 12 chemistry.
@@marcelnowakowski945 Am with @liza3337 snd @sandysteinbrook here, because citric acid has an additional "strength“ in that it, or rather Citrate, is a perfect "complexing agent“ for Calcium ions in addition to the (weak acid) H+ ions neutralizing the Carbonate in the caulking. The latter ultimately releasing CO2 to the air (fizzing). So Citric Acid is better!
Warning! In the winter water that fills the tank can be extremely cold making the tank walls cold as well. Pouring hot water into a tank that is cold can result in a shock that can fracture the vitreous material the tank is made of.
True! I should have said in the videos that my bathrooms are warm and the water is out of the tap, not boiling hot. Thank you for pointing this out and I hope others read your comment.
Add the citric acid to the warm water before you pour it into the toilet and stir it up while it’s in the bucket.👍
That makes so much more sense! Lol.
Yes please, so then you don't have to use the spoon from the kitchen in the bathroom
@@priscillarangel2444 I would have used a paint stir. Women tend to look to the kitchen for implements instead of the garage.
*Change out your shut off valve to a 1/4 turn valve and then it's easier to shut off. Or simply make a reminder in your phone to at least once a year turn On and Off Any shut off valve in your home (bathrooms, sinks, laundry room) so they don't freeze up from not being used. So that when you Do Need them, they will actually shut off the water supply. You’re Welcome.
@@genxx2724 At least she was stirring in relatively clean water and a compound used in canning food, so much better than pulling a clog out of the toilet bowl using the salad tongs.
This is a good tip Sandy. The only thing it be cautious of is how corrosive citric acid can be so it can break down the rubber gaskets, etc in the tank. Leaving it in no more than an hour is wise. That is another reason why putting bleach tablets in the tank, such as the ones they sell, is risky because it does gradually corrode the parts in the tank.
Yes that's true as vinegar is corrosive also to the rubber parts. The citric acid may be also.
I agree! This has never hurt my toilets because the treatment is only needed every few years, and it doesn't sit in the tank for long. I have found that it can actually work in 20 minutes. But, you are so right that if it sits for a long amount of time it will eat away at the rubber parts! I hope others read your comment to know not to leave it for long periods of time. Thank you for taking the time to share this.
When I moved into my apartment, the seals at the bottom of the tank were disgusting and slimy/fuzzy and little black bits were constantly coming off and staining the bowl. I’m pretty sure the previous tenants used bleach tablets or something else corrosive.
@@Sashazur, you should be able to replace those pretty easily. Anything that sits for a long period will corrode the rubber. Even the citric acid will if it is left to sit...or if the treatment is done often. Because this sits for a short period of time and is only done every few years, the citric acid should not hurt the rubber.
@@Sashazur I've never used any tablets or products in the tank for as long as I've had this commode-10yrs? , and the rubber parts inside my tank were covered with slime or jelly like substance. I did empty the tank and try to clean it off, but i think citric acid would likely clean it up more. It probably consists of a build up of flouride and other water treatment chemicals.
I just got my 13yo toilet tank restored to almost 99% like brand new! That was so easy and effective!
Small tip for turning back on your water if you have issues with water hammer as I have in the past. Try turning the water back on only a quarter turn at a time and have the nearest faucet lightly turned on so the air which causes such a "water hammer" in the pipe is able to escape!
Great tip!! Thank you for sharing this.
It is not air that causes water hammer. Water hammer would be eliminated by an air pocket absorbing the energy of the water movement. Water hammer arrestors are exactly that. Water hammer is the kinetic energy of the water moving faster than the piping system can handle. This causes a reverse energy wave when the energy "bounces" of the end runs in your house. Reducing how fast you turn the water on and opening a tap reduces the energy generated by the water and gives the energy a place to escape. Has nothing to do with air.
What is a "water hammer?"
@@jime6739 - water hammer is a loud noise produced when water is allowed to flow too rapidly or shut off too abruptly. If you have it, you will hear it.
@@stevebabiak6997 Water hammer is usually associated with metal pipes, not plastic.
Sandy, you just saved me a bill from the plumber who was going to charge me for this. My 15 year old toilet tank had never been cleaned. I thought there was no way this would work because the tank was in such bad shape. The toilet tank looks new! I gave you a like and thanks for your help!!!
I am so glad to hear this was helpful and that it worked for you too!
A lot of people are going to learn how finicky those stop valves are lol.
If you haven’t turned it on or off like ever, it’s very likely to start leaking once you move it. It’s an easy fix (replacing packing), but going to be a nasty surprise when you get a stream of water coming out of the valve stem in both the open and closed positions.
Be sure to know where your main water valve is before touching this one in case you need to shut things off. But then again, same principle applies. 40 year old main valve never turned is a dangerous thing to touch lol
So true about replacing the valves. That is maintenance that we need to do.
Your suggestion works, brilliantly! I moved in a condo with the original crane rear flush toilet, the plumber said I need a new toilet. Not so. It took two applications to remove 37 years of rust colour residue, in the tank. I rebuilt the tank and it looks and flushes like a new toilet. The citric acid cleaned the jets/ports in the bowl.
Awesome. Thank you for the tip! @@sandysteinbrook
Another friendly suggestion: get a wire coat hanger & bend it so it passes under the float arm & atop the tank edges. This will prevent the water flowing into the bowl & you won't have to turn the supply valve handle at all. Best longterm solution is replace that valve with a 1/4 turn ball valve, but that will necessitate a trip to the hardware store or a call to a plumber, if you're not comfortable with DIY.
@@sanseijedi , I am glad you shared this about the valve. I am going to have those changed for maintenance. They hardly never get used but when we need them, I dont want it to break from lack of replacing it. Thanks.
@@sandysteinbrook You bet. I speak from experience😐, and as you so astutely said,
one thing leads to another in quick & annoying succession right when you just want to be done. The 1/4 turn guys are what you want and they're long term sturdy.
Have one on my main turn-off as well no our 84-yr old house. Cheers, Luv!
Some tips
- If you put the powder in first, then the water... the mixing process starts with pouring the water, meaning less stirring later.
- If you spill (or use) citric acid on cement/concrete, clean it up quick. If you leave it for long, it will start eating away at the cement/concrete. Learned that the costly way. (This likely also applies to other materials as well, just generally don't leave active citric acid for long.)
- Not a good idea to do this often... for the septic. If you have a septic tank, getting the acid too high can kill off the beneficial bacteria in the tank/system. City septic does mean it will get diluted more... but if everyone switched from bleach to citric acid, it would become a problem fast. So for now, those on city lines should be generally okay, but it could become an issue later.
Agree with everything you said. Good tips!
I was going to ask if this would hurt the septic system.
This works so well, I am very impressed and so pleased that the toilet tank in my new flat that probably hasn’t been cleaned in 30 years is sparkly and clean again! Thank you so much! Simplicity at its best!
It was so easy to clean and when it is this easy, why not do it! Now it is clean for a few years to come.
Same. The inside of the toilet tank in my apartment was rustoleum dark red-brown. I would bet money it has Never been cleaned. In an hour it was back to original condition.
Lots of comments below about finicky/leaking water valves after turning it off and on. Please add this to your annual maintenance list: Turn off and on MAIN water supply to house as well as water supplies to toilets and sinks (if you have them). It will be enough action to keep them working for years to come. My dad taught me about the main that comes into the house in the basement -- crazy thing opens up to relieve pressure onto the floor and adjacent floor drain. ALWAYS have a bucket near by! And, as always, if you don't feel confident in doing it yourself, a few dollars spent having someone do it is CHEAP insurance.
By the way, the citric acid thing works great :)
That is actually a really great tip about the main water valve as well! Turning off and on water valves is something most people never think about, which could be a huge problem when they break. Thank you for taking the time to share this tip!
Just did this tonight with both of my bathrooms. Didn't use hot water, but let it sit for 2 hours. I was pleased with the results. I have hard water, but finally added a water softener earlier this year. 4+ years of mineral build-up is gone! Thanks for the video.
I am so glad it worked for you too and that you shared your way of doing it and the results. That is really helpful for others reading the comments. I am going to try it next time without the hot water. Now you won't have to do this again for quite a few years.
We moved hound the entire tank was stained copper colored. I put a handful of vitamin c tablets in overnight. Cleaned it right up.
That is a great tip to know. Thank you for sharing!
Now, _that's_ a good idea!
A quick tip to save you from any water damage….*Change out your shut off valve to a 1/4 turn valve and then it's easier to shut off. Or simply make a reminder in your phone to at least once a year turn On and Off Any shut off valve in your home (bathrooms, sinks, laundry room) so they don't freeze up from not being used. So that when you Do Need them, they will actually shut off the water supply. You’re Welcome.
That is a very good tip that I hope others see your comment. I did not know about doing this kind of maintenance and I am sure many others do not know this either. A cheap fix to keep from more expensive repairs later. Thank you for sharing.
Or don't do any of that, just add the citric acid to the cistern (tank) leave it for as long as possible, flush once and done.
Thank you soooo much, I followed your directions and it did an amazing job cleaning out our toilets. We’re in the process of “downsizing” and are making settlement in a few weeks. After 30 years we take pride in our home and to doing everything we can for the young couple with children taking over. Thank you.
Nice cleaning tips. A few words of caution; Don't use hot water. There is a good chance the temperature shock will crack your porcelain tank. Also, the acid may damage plastic components including your flapper and fill valves. Be prepared to replace this as needed. All those components should be replaced minimally every five years.
Wow. It amazes me how people make assumptions without actually knowing anything, but share mis-information like they are professionals. How do you create porcelain? By firing it at extremely high temperatures. How do you store acid? The clue is the plastic bag. LOL.
@@ya472 Physics much? Glass is also made from 'firing at extremely high temperature' however, it will shatter quickly when going from a cool surface temperature to hot. The EXACT same as porcelain.
Stop being ignorant.
@ya472 You obviously have some ability to read. Do a Google search for "thermal shock" and read about it.
@ya472 Thermal shock is not used in the process of firing porcelain.
@ya472 Wow. It amazes me how you love showing off your ignorance. Is this your hobby?
I can’t thank you enough for this video. The inside of my tank was so dark with black rust color, sediment from the hard water here in North Jersey and after we had a Watermain break, it was disgusting. I left the solution of citric acid in there for just a little under two hours my tank looks brand new. I am totally blown away, thank you thank you thank you!!!
You are welcome! I am glad to hear this worked well for you too, like it did for me!
I've been so frustrated with my stained toilet bowl and looking for ways to clean it properly. I'm glad to see your video! Thanks Sandy for your amazing demonstration.
Just put citric acid in and wait till it whitens the tank. Worked so great for me! Thank you for saving me constant scrubbing the rust coming thru to the bowl. Only clear water now😊
I am so glad this worked for you too! I do know that citric acid can eat at the rubber components within the tank if it sits too long. How long did it take for your tank to whiten without warm water? Others have said that cold water worked just fine for them to do this treatment.
WARNING: if you have never turned the water off to your toilet (or faucets) there is a good chance that the valve will be hard to turn due to mineral build up inside the valve. If this is the case there is a good chance the valve will break if you try to force it to turn. Save yourself some trouble and buy a spare 1/4 Turn Compression Valve (or a Sharkbite valve) to have on hand, and if possible have someone standing by to shut off the water to the house if the valve breaks. In my experience replacing faucets and toilets, valves that are at least 10 years old break about 70% of the time. When I say break I mean the handle breaks off or the won’t fully close because of blockage inside.
If you have a tight valve. Try doing small twists back and forth to try and break the sediment loose and have the water running at the same time to flush the deposits out of the way of the valve as you turn it off.
This is really good information. Thank you for sharing this! I always learn practical knowledge from people in the comments.
This is really good information!Often we don't think about the consequences of fiddling with water valves. Now I understand what my plumber meant when he said turning these valves can cause water means, etc.
I got the popular brand of citric acid on amazon. It’s amazing how good this works. My directions said to just leave the cold water in the tank and pour it in. I used about 8 ounces of it. I left in a few hours and gave it a flush. It works great.
I actually cleaned a 3rd toilet in our house and only left the citric acid for 25 minutes and it worked just as well!! Please let me know if you try this!
I just got my 13yo toilet tank restored to almost 99% like brand new! That was so easy and effective!
@@allcopop, wonderful!! Thank you for letting me know your results.
Any issues with Citric aside if you have a septic?
@@gregz1235, it could have an effect if you were doing this a lot. But, you won't have to do this often. Even if you just did this yearly, it would not effect the septic at all!
@@gregz1235depending on the concentration yes it is septic safe
I made a Vacuum Bucket, for my Shop Vac. It has a fitting for the 2” hose and a 5/8” fitting for the smaller hose. We get a Grit in the Tank that causes the Toilet to leak, and refill. Vacuum the Grit out clean around the seal, and I’m good for 8 to 12 months.
Yes. Citric Acid dissolves the calcium. Vinegar only loosens it, if your lucky. By the way, flushing to rinse needs to be done tree times.
Thank you for sharing. I never had any luck trying just vinegar, but I also wasn't sure if I diluted it too much. The citric acid works great though.
I use Iron Out. Works wonders! You can buy it at Menards, or probably any big chain store
A good tip to know! Thank you for sharing this so others can read the comments and see other options.
Hi. Friendly suggestion. Citric acid is weak acid, nevertheless if you're using it THAT much, it will destroy things. Try to neutralize it first using baking soda at the same amount. To avoid damage piping and septic tank
Thank you for sharing this. Baking soda is a great idea and a really good cleaning agent too.
I talked to the guy who pumped our septic tank and he said for the small amount used and that it is only done every few years it wouldn't hurt our septic tank. I can't speak to everyone's though.l
First of all homes built in the past 40 years or so probably have PVC piping instead of cast iron or soil pipe. None of the mild acids or even stronger ones like diluted muriatic acid for cleaning masonry will damage the PVC pipe. Secondly I grew up in a house with iron and magnesium laden well water. The house is still on the same well today and the house was built in 1962 with iron sewer pipe. We used muriatic acid to clean toilets, sinks, showers and anything else that got stained with iron and the pipes and septic is still sound today. Most people will never use muriatic acid or the amount we had to so I can't believe they will hurt anything with citric or vinegar acid. By the way, we had a green sand iron filter and still had iron stain problems and even when a softener was added along with the iron filter there was still an iron stain problem however not near as bad as without them.
If you neutralize it with baking soda, it will no longer be effective, because it will no longer be acidic. It's cleaning power comes from it's acidity.
@@buckmclean8391exactly.
Baking soda will neutralize the acid, which means it will no longer be effective as a cleaner.
I tried this and it worked! I have a toilet that only gets hard water feed to it. Our area has manganese in the water ( black slime residue) my tank was black with this residue. I've tried many things to remove with no great results. Until! I tried this! It worked!! Used 1 container, about a cup, mixed it with warm tap water, stirred. Emptied the tank, poured the solution in and waited 1 hour. The results were amazing! All the black had disappeared leaving behind a nice, white, clean tank ! It even cleaned the hardware inside ! Thank you for this great video and tutorial !
I am so glad to hear it worked as great for you as it did for me!
Works great! I saw this somewhere else before, tried it on 4 toilets from 2005 that had NEVER had the tank cleaned, they were BAD and it most certainly was streaking the bowl with all kinds of deposits. Definitely a helpful trick to know.
It really does work!
in case of emergency, when SHTF, you can actually drink the tank water. Cleaning this way will protect the water from contamination by other methods such as bleaching, etc.
Any leaks from tuning the valve are probably coming from the stem nut, just below the handle. No need for a plumber. Just tighten it , a little at a time, with an adjustable wrench until it stops dripping. If the valve is hard to open, just loosen that nut a little, and tighten again when the job is done.
Thank you. I always learn a lot from the comments.
Not only was I happy this worked but totally thrilled that my shut off valve worked after not using it for years!!!
Great! I am glad it worked well for you too!
What do you think the inside of the pipes coming to and running through your house look like?
The build up in tanks and pipes stays put. No need to waste time cleaning it.
Hi, saw your video although it is 2 years old. I tried your method and it works very well. Thank you. Frankie from Singapore
I so enjoy hearing from people around the world. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and I am glad this worked well for you too!
I was told by Rooter Rooter certified plumbers not to put any chemicals in the tank because they can quickly destroy things that are made of rubber or plastic. Gaskets and washers are usually the first to get destroyed.
Citric acid can definitely eat away at the gaskets if it sits very long. I have never had an issue since it only needs done every few years and sits for a short period of time, but others may have a different experience.
Thanks I will check that out.
We are on the same wavelength. My well water has rust particles in it, not only is the tank and tank water brown but there is this sediment at the bottom. I shut water, empty tank then there is about 1/4" water left. I use a turkey baster to remove the final water which sucks up most of the particles and then use rag for the rest. Baster is most useful around the connectors at bottom where you cannot get your hands to swish the rag around. I have also used a gas suction pump, more powerful along with baster. Sometimes I have to add some more water to dislodge resistant rust build up. Sometimes I have to do this at least once a month. I have a brand new tank I just bought 6 months ago because of the ugly brown stain in bowl indelible and could not be removed. any which way, and I tried EVERYTHING!!! I open tank often and check because my well sometimes kicks up minerals despite a whole house attached filter they make their way. Thanx to all commenters I do not need a cracked tank on my brand new toilet so no hot water. Home Depot has inexpensive toilets for $89 total with innards if you don't mind plain jane setup, good for guest baths but mine is main. I love how it sparkles. Thanx for this and all commenters!
I always learn so much from the comments!
Hi Sandy. This works great to clean the toilet tank. Unfortunately, it doesn't clean the toilet bowl ring. The water sitting in the toilet bowl is a very diluted version of the water that flushes down from the tank.When the tank empties, the water in the bowl flushes out quickly. Then water comes out of the small hose on top of the bypass tube. This new fresh water refills the toilet bowl back to the bowl's water line. For the Citric Acid method to work, one needs to empty the toilet bowl then add citric acid & hot water in the bowl.
Thank you, Sam! I hope others read your comment as well so they know how to best clean the toilet bowl. I appreciate you taking the time to share.
The ring in the toilet bowl. I use baking soda and sand paper. Scrub it manually. Brand new and doesn't come back. Will try to clean my toilet tank this method now.
Looking forward to trying this trick in both the tank and bowl. Just need to research how Citric Acid might affect Styrofoam as one of my Tanks uses it as Liner.
After almost 30 years use I'll suspect it'll be fine with the various cleaning tabs, etc. I've used, and it still looking as good as it does, but hate to have it "melted" after one experiment...
Yeah I'm nervous about using hot water in the toilet bowl so I stick to baking soda and Bar Keepers Friend as a scrub.
@@m.taylorDon’t use hot water in the toilet. Your gut instinct is right. I would bet money she is causing a few broken toilets with that advice. Terrible advice. Acid around plastic and rubber parts is also a bad idea.
I live in a rural area and get my water from a well. There is some sediment that comes in despite filtration. Every year or so, I just use a 1" paint brush and swish it around with no chemicals or solutions (after the water turned-off and a flush to empty most the water). I have no idea what citric acid does for a septic tank but we use cleaners very sparingly.
It must be a different kind of sediment than what we have from public water because a paint brush doesn't even move the sediment. But, I am so glad you shared this because what you do will also work for others and they can now try using a paint brush. We can learn a lot from the comments. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Haha, I don’t hear commode unless I’m down south. My step mother and I were in Home Depot and she asked where the commodes were and the young guy didn’t know what she was talking about. This was in a nyc suburb but she was raised in Virginia. You don’t lose your southern colloquialisms. Sandy, I do thank you for the great tip. Keep it going!
That is very interesting. That is the difference between pop and soda. The Northland the south say that different ways. Vaccuming and sweeping also. When we need to clean the carpets we sweep, but in the north they call it vacuuming. Lol
One of the three great roman emperors. Caesar , Nero, & Commodius!
That's amazing!! It even dissolved all the sand in the bottom of the tank!!! With NO scrubbing!!!!
Tip: mix the citric acid into the hot water and mix it in the bucket before you pout it in the tank. That way you don't have to stir around the toilet parts.
That seriously makes so much more sense than the way I did it. Lol. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I will be doing it your suggestion next time.
Definitely works! I waited several hours, but I think you could check to see when the tank is white again😊
Thanks for the tip!
Thank you, just purchased the citric acid a couple hours ago, & it'll be delivered today! Appreciate it 😊
You're going to be like, "that's crazy!", when you see the results! :)
@@sandysteinbrook thankful I stumbled upon your channel as it came up in top results for this issue. Appreciate your help, & I subbed your channel 😊
The citric acid from sliced lemons in the lemon water I make, refrigerate and drink does the same for my liver and kidneys. Post cancer maintenance.
So I guess it makes sense with a rusted tank as well.
Thank you for sharing the analogy. It makes sense. Lemon water is very good for cleaning toxins out of our bodies. I am glad to hear that you are post cancer.
Thanks for the tip! I used citric acid inside of the bowl not the back because there was little to no buildup in the back of the toilet. It worked 70% of the way there... which is great! I watched several other videos and used a pumice stone to clean up the rest of it. Its a soft pumice and didn't impact the porcelain. Thanks!
Great! Thank you for sharing what you did so others can see this and try it on their toilet bowl also!
agreed, pumice stones are the best for cleaning mineral deposits off the toilet bowl
Use Iron Out. Does the same thing, but a lot cheaper. Differnt kind of acid. Still need to be cautious of contact time as both are corrosive and will destroy seals and possibly downstream plumbing if its older.
Thank you for sharing this tip....and yes! You are correct about being cautious of the time. The citric acid has never done anything damaging because it sits for a short amount of time and the treatment only needs done every few years. Frequent use or using large amounts of acid will definitely cause damage.
Pouring hot water into the tank is OK, but only if you let it sit for a couple of hours to allow the water to cool. Flushing HOT water or pouring hot water into your toilet bowl is NEVER a good idea. The toilet is sealed to the sewage line with a wax ring. About the size of a big donut. Flushing or pouring hot water can soften or even melt that wax ring either causing your toilet to leak or allow sewer gases to escape into your bathroom. 3:49
Acid does rust metals, the methode is great but you will have to be sure you wash all metal parts after cleaning, especialy the ones that are continiously exposed to air.
Thanks for the video.
Thank you for adding this tip....
I'm wondering if this does any damage to the hardware in the toilet bowl
I suspect it might, but maybe only once a year or two wouldn't hurt. My plumber said not to use those tank things you drop in anymore when he came to replace the seals inside the tank that caused my toilet to "run". I miss them because they really kept my toilet clean so all I had to do was clean once a month or so. I stopped using them because plumbers are very expensive.
Bleach and typical cleaners should never be used in the tank as they can damage the internals such as the seals. That's being said, buildup from well water etc can have the same if not worse effect on your toilet tank internals including keeping the flapper from sealing and causing your toilet to run. Citric acid on occasion should be fine and gets rid of the buildup without harming the seals like bleach
I love it...I just ordered citric acid, Thanks
LemiShine crystals by the dishwasher detergent is also just citric acid.
Good to know! Thank you for sharing.
What a terrific and simple tip. Thank you so much.
You're welcome! Make sure that you have a warm bathroom so you dont put hot water in a cold tank. My bathrooms are warm and also the water is hot out of the tap, not super hot water. others have said they used the citric acid with cold water and it worked well too.
I wonder what that citric acid does to the plastic parts?
I looked it up because I was curious myself. Apparently it won't damage plastic (the scientific explanation being: "Citric acid is a weak organic compounds and plastics are polymers with strong molecular bonds."). It's safe for most metals too except copper and brass. It shouldn't be used on upholstery, marble, wood floors and electronic screens.
Thanks so much for your post, now I won't need to look it up
Thank you so much. I have tried the vinegar soak with not good results. Buying some citric acid tomorrow.
Just a tip....so many people have said not to put hot water in the tank. My water came out of the tap and also cooled down some while I was stirring the citric acid in. Plus my bathrooms are warm, so the tank wasn't freezing cold for me to pour the water into, but others have said hot water in a cold tank will crack the tank, which makes sense. Others have said they just pour the acid straight into the tank and that it works well too.
Thank you for another great video! I can honestly say that your helpful information has made my life better and our house cleaner. I really can’t thank you enough! I also love love love my wallet and food prep containers that I bought through your links!❤️
Susan, this is so nice to hear. Thank you!!
@Sandy Steinbrook hi! Do you have to cover the water hose?
Very Helpful.. THANKS.. 😊 👍
I am glad it was helpful!
Fantastic! I shall certainly be getting this to clean my tanks. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching
I replaced my shutoff valves (with the rubber washers that deteriorate and end up in your tank) with 1/4 turn stainless steel valves, and I run a 1 micron whole house water filter. I replaced all my toilets after this install. My tanks are very clean even after 4 years since I did all that.
Good to know! I appreciate you sharing these maintenance tips.
Hey Sandy, that's a great tip 👍 I use citric acid in my kettle as the water is very hard in the area where I live and it clears all the scale away, your hot drinks taste so much better.
Great tip! I think citric acid can be used for more than I realized. Since it is natural, it is safe to use in so many areas. Thanks for sharing!
I heard about this for Keurigs. The descaling solution that can be bought on Amazon has citrus ingredients so when your done with it your first cup of coffee won't be gross, as vinegar would make it so. I bought a large water purifier container that has the dispenser and I use the water from that for coffee and it's recommended to use purified water while descaling.
Wonderful tip! Can't wait to use. Citric acid is also great for limestone deposits
Great video Sandy, but make that mix in the hot water in the bucket & allow to go cold or you'll definitely crack that tank for sure, but good stuff 😁✌️☘️🇮🇪
What you said makes much more sense! Thank you for sharing this. I hope others see your comment.
I like the idea of using something other than bleach. But I’m curious as to why white vinegar did not work for you (did you dilute it with water?) Vinegar is generally more acidic than citric acid and should work at least as well (I’ve used vinegar to remove rust from metal parts for years.) Filling the tank with vinegar would seem to be easier/quicker/cleaner than having to mix up the citric acid.
not really. You dont even need to add warm water or mix. Just dump a cup of citric acid, let it sit. Done. It's food safe too. Can be used for recipes and is even used in soda.
I think I did dilute it too much. But after reading many comments I think I could just pour in the bottle and not try to measure it.
Citric Acid (3-6) can be pretty harsh on the rubber gaskets. Vinegar and baking soda is far less abrasive on your tank
Thank your sharing this tip. I tried vinegar before and it didn't do anything. But, I also may have had it too diluted in the water.
Wouldn`t it be easier to dissolve the citric acid in the bucket of hot water before dumping it in the tank ?
Either way will work fine! It dissolves easily, so it can be done in the bucket or in the toilet tank.
Stir citric acid in the warm water in bucket. BEWARE a very cold tank will break if it hits cold porcelain.
You can do citric acid to bowl too.
What does citric ACID do to the rubber parts inside the tank?
Exactly. It's toilet water. No plumber says you need to do this.
If citric acid was used often or it sat in the tank for a long period of time, it would definitely hurt the rubber. But, this treatment only needs done every couple of years and it sits in the tank for 1 hour or less. I have never had an issue. I have also found that it works in as little as 20 minutes.
After cleaning tank flush slowly let CA WATER MIXTURE set in the bowl a couple hours. it might take out some stains there as well. Then turn on the water. I replaced all shutoffs in my home with 1/4 turn ball. Also installed 11 WiFi water alarm sensors under potential leak areas including air handler. Saved $$$$ in repairs due to water damage
When you have guests over, you can take them into the bathroom and show them how clean your cistern is. They will just love it! Also, it gives you something to do with all those bags of Citric Acid you have laying around the house.
😁
Thanks for the tip! I had friends over last weekend for a party and I couldn’t find my punch bowel. My toilet tank was the perfect size! I wish I had known about this life hack in advance.
😂🤣
A cistern is a well not a tank on a toilet.
@@ChristianConservativ I once filled a tankard from a wenches cyst to make her well.
anything you put in tank may damage the rubber of the flapper or seals on the valve and bottom i know chlorine will not sure if citric acid will those things you hang in tank to turn water blue dry and crack the rubber also.
Be careful of old water shut-off valves. If they are older than 10+ years, there is a good chance they will start leaking after you close or open them. The seals inside deteriorate over time and crack after being manipulated, causing leaks. They can also freeze in the open position due to mineral deposits and will no longer close. It would be a good idea in either case to replace the shut-off valve and hose leading to the toilet. I learned the hard way.
Thank you for sharing this, and I can tell from the way you described this that you did learn from experience...the hard way. thanks for trying to save others from the same thing happening to us.
@@sandysteinbrookDam straight I too-learned the hard way,that old valve dripped for two days after I replaced the flapper in the tank and went away for a weekend. Replace it!!
@@Redrocketrob57, yep, after reading these comments, a cheap maintenance fix is what we are going to have to do. Thanks for sharing this. comments like yours is what is making me tell my husband that we better take care of this easy fix now.
Citric acid works in shower cubicles, wash basins, and your kettle as well,.
What a great tip....I hadn't even thought about using it in my stained dutch oven. Th citric acid should clean it nicely. Thanks for sharing.
Great tip Sandy! I'll definitely be trying this! 👍🏼❤️
It totally works. Let me know if you try it!
Great tip. Thank you. Here is one for you. Have all of those shut-off valves replaced in your home w/ 1/4 turn valves. May you never have an emergency, but in the event of one, no struggle will occur to shut off that flow to toilets or sink faucets. Just a 1/4 turn on and off. Now I'm off to Amazon...
Thanks for the tips! I didn't know about maintenance on a toilet, but realize it is so important.
Great video! So helpful!
I am glad it was helpful! This totally works.
One thing you didn't mention was how doing this also can clean the water passages between the reservoir and the bowl. Those passages can become nasty or even have mold in them over time. The same water used to clean the bowl will then be flushed through those passages below. I would wait another hour to let those sit a while before a secondary flush for all.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I dont like the citric acid to sit too long so it doest corrode any of the inner parts in the tank. Short term won't hurt as long as it isn't done often.
I would not do this. You're cutting the lifespan of the rubber flange. It has a cover. You're never going to look at this. Unless you have mold don't worry about it
Vital for survival in severe hurricanes. We are vigilant with toilet tank water. ❤️🌴 From Florida 😁
Wow thanks for the tip! I've been wondering about this myself for years.
I hope it works for you too. Do not use hot water in a cold toilet tank though or it could crack your tank. My bathroom is quite warm and the water is out of the tap. But, I have found out you can use cold water too.
We’re cleaning the inside of toilet tanks now?! Just be careful that the acid you’re using doesn’t destroy the seals and/or gaskets of the fill or flush valves.
Id rather have the dirt and gunk than destroy the seals!
The next video is about cleaning trash cans.
What do you mean now? This has been a standard of hygiene for hundreds of years. Lol.
@etpelle72 I'd be content with watching a tip on how to clean your bin without having to scrub it. Not everyone is blessed with strong immune systems, and others like having a presentable and cleanly home.
Is that the remnants of a "Upper Decker" in the tank?
Definitely not. Lol
Is the citric acid safe for septic tanks?
Yes, it is, Patty!! It is natural and will not hurt septic tanks.
Put a ball valve in for your toilet water source.
Yes they make them for toilet fittings.
You won't have to worry about valve leaks
I had no idea about valve maintenance, not that a ball valve could be bought to put on instead. If it wasn't for the comments, like yours, to learn from. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Others are reading and learning from the comments too.
Amazing. So this is how my maids do it. I am very impressed.
I am the maid at my house. Lol
@@sandysteinbrook Same here. It was a tongue in cheek comment, lol
This is absolutely amazing! It works so well and is super easy. Thank you for posting!
I am so glad to hear this worked well for you too!
Can I put citric acid in my toilet bowl and let it set? If so, how much? The toilet is in Ann old house that we just bought. The toilet was in terrible condition. I will use the tab idea but I'm wonder about the bottom of the bowl.
You probably can. I had recently rebuilt a toilet tank and I learned that there aren't any seals in the bowl part. The water you see is going directly into the sewer line. It is also keeping sewer gases from entering your house.
I took all the toilet stuff out, placed them all in the tank, then used muriatic acid and water. Eats away at all the lovely crap in the tank. Let it sit 15-20min then flush it down the drain. it will clean out the flush holes, pipes to a degree etc, then put everything back together and flush once or twice to kill off all the acid. Harsh is better, it destroys things faster, and cleans way more effective then less harsh cleaners.
That's awesome!
Thank you! I hope it works for you as well!
Just use IRON OUT. It cleans it very nice. NO need to shut off the water. I have seen turning of the water cause many problems. The valve breaks or starts leaking.
Thanks for the tip!
"Liked & subscribed" looking forward to quick, easy and helpful tutorials, thank you!
Thank you, Janet!
@@sandysteinbrook You're welcome, Sandy!
This also works for the bowl. I had some lime scale on my bowl and tried this and it didn't work very well. The little bit of water left in the bottom of the bowl was enough to dilute the descaler to the point it didn't work very well. When I'd scooped out as much water as I possibly could and then poured in the descaler it worked really well. So the same here. Didn't work? increase the concentration. On my toilet bowelI still used a metal paint scraper, the 1" or 1.5" one. Then the scale came off in big chunks. Just took a couple of minutes.
One reason you want to keep your toilet tank clean is that in an emergency this is your water supply. Even with the scale it's drinkable. It would be good practice that whenever there's an earthquake, someone goes outside and turns off the main. puts tape over the toilet flush handles. Then when you do experience a major event you don't use the bathroom, flush away a week's drinking water and then start thinking about what to do next.
I am so glad you shared this! Many people have asked if it will take stains out of the toilet bowl. Thank you.
Don't use hot water , try using warm water instead, hot water might crack the tank if you just drained cold water out of it.
Very true! thank you for sharing this. I should have said my water was hot, but not boiling hot. Warm water would work just as well.
Thank you for this tip! I had some citric acid laying around so gave it a try. It worked like a charm!
Yay! Thank you for sharing your results!
I wonder if this can be ran through the coffee pot???
Just use vinegar for the coffee pot
Great way to clean a toilet reservoir!!! Thank you Sandy for this fabulous tip
You're welcome!
First thing is to ALWAYS set your toilet lid on the floor, always!!!
Yes, and on a towel or rug.
That's a good point.
Does the citric aid damage any of the interior tank components? Flapper, fill mechanism or plastic tube? Or at least make them less effective from acid deterioration?
Acid definitely can...but it has not in my toilets probably because it is only in the tank for a short amount of time and this treatment is only done every few years. If it was used often or sits for an elongated period, acid will damage the tank components.
@@sandysteinbrook i appreciate the input!
Only downside to this is that citric acid is super pricey. Kinda heartbreaking to flush it down the toilet lol
I don't think it is too bad on price, since this technique doesn't need done very often, so a bag will last for a long time. But someone else mentioned that stye used Vitamin C tablets. That may be a less expensive option to try.
Would you recommend leaving the mix overnight or would that damage the tank components? Thanks community for responding.
Do not leave overnight. It would corrode the rubber parts. I was able to clean a toilet tank in 20 minutes, it worked.
@@sandysteinbrook thank you for responding.
CLR will not like this. This is a way cheaper way to clean things plus you can use it for many more things(including cooking).
Lol. True! I always like the versions that work and saves the most money.
Yup. I just melt my citric acid before i use it in a bit of warm water. Then I add it to the tank with water in it and use the toilet brush to mix it in the tank water. This stays clean for months too. Not to mention, you can use citric acid the same way in your coffee maker, washer, and dishwasher to clean machines. I sprinkle some into my sourdough bread recipe also. Works on stains in clothes etc etc.
Thanks for the tip on extra ways to use it! I have read from other comments that it is great for cleaning the dishwasher.