Banish Toilet Seat Stains With A Handy Ingredient From Your Kitchen
Stains on the toilet seat can be very frustrating. Although you may clean the toilet regularly to try to get the surface sparkling, persistent stains may still exist. However, baking soda could be the one ingredient that gets to the root of the problem and helps lift the stain.
Bleach and other cleaners specifically made to clean the toilet can do a good job of removing new surface stains. The problem is that stains from hard water and urine can set into the deeper areas of the toilet seat. When you use a cleaner or bleach, it will wipe out the color temporarily, but eventually, the underlying residue will make its way to the surface and the stain will still be visible.
To obliterate the stain, you must get to the deeper layers. Baking soda will do this. It is both a bleaching agent and will also help absorb and lift the stain.
Disinfect and clean the toilet seat first
Before you attack the stain, you will want to first disinfect and clean germs and bacteria from the surface of the toilet seat. A toilet seat typically carries about 50 bacteria per square inch, as per BBC. Once there, the bacteria can stay for a while. A study in the Oxford University Press found that salmonella can survive for up to nine days on a toilet seat, while E. coli can live up to nine days.
Consequently, the first line of defense when cleaning the seat is to clean the bacteria and germs. Baking soda can deep clean stains very well and works to help remove foul odors. However, it does not kill bacteria. So start with a quick clean with a disinfectant wipe or spray to do the job. Be sure to wear rubber gloves before cleaning the seat. This will guard against bacteria and germs coming into contact with your skin.
How to use baking soda on toilet seats
To remove stains from a toilet seat using baking soda, you'll need baking soda, a sponge, and a pair of rubber gloves. Gloves will protect your hands from the baking soda as well as any germs and grime on the toilet seat that may have been missed. Next, combine a half cup of water with a quarter cup of baking soda.
Mix until it forms a thick, paste-like consistency. Apply the baking soda paste to the stain and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. This will give the baking soda time to break down the stain.
Then, use the sponge to rub the paste into the stain in a circular motion. Pay special attention to any areas where the stain is particularly stubborn. Finally, rinse the baking soda paste off the toilet seat with warm water and dry the toilet seat with a clean towel. If your toilet seat is badly stained or the stain is still visible after following these steps, you can repeat the process.