Toilet seat stains will vanish like magic if cleaned with 3 simple household items

Toilets seats are easy to clean as long as you use the right cleaning product (Image: Getty)

Toilets can be annoying to clean at the best of times, but it is particularly frustrating trying to clean the stains lurking on toilet seats as they can be tough to remove.

If you have any yellow or brown stains on your toilet seat, it is likely the result of urine, which is unpleasant but easy to clean if you use the right products. 

However, another common culprit is limescale, which is made up of minerals left behind when water evaporates. If left alone, it will build up into a scaly deposit that will not budge, no matter how much you scrub it. 

It may seem like common sense to use bleach to banish these horrible marks on your toilet, but due to its harshness, bleach can react with the plastic on your toilet seat and cause it to have an unsightly yellow hue. 

Instead, the cleaning experts at Villeroy Boch have recommended ditching bleach and using natural products as many items around your home can be very effective for removing toilet stains.

Common household items like dishwasher tablets are very effective at getting rid of toilet stains (Image: Getty)

They said: “You can buy special urine scale removers, but household remedies also work very well. They are often better for your health and the environment than chemical cleaners, and many are things you probably already have at home.” 

The key to removing limescale and urine stains is acidic ingredients as not only will it be able to dissolve limescale but bacteria thrive in the slightly alkaline environment of a toilet. 

Using acidic cleaners will break down stains and kill germs while also not damaging the surface of your toilet, and many of these natural cleaners can be found in your kitchen.

What can be used to remove stains from toilet seats? 

Dishwasher tablets 

It may seem bizarre, but dishwasher tablets contain surfactants and enzymes which have been designed to remove grease, but will also work great at breaking down organic stains from urine. 

Dishwasher tablets also usually contain citric acid, a natural component found in lemons that can dissolve limescale without any effort. 

White vinegar is one of the most popular natural cleaners due to how effective it is (Image: Getty)

The expert said: “If you have a dishwasher, put two dishwasher tablets in the toilet bowl and leave them to work for a few hours. Then, scrub the toilet with a brush and rinse it with clear water.” 

One drawback to using dishwasher tablets is that they sometimes contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment, so make sure to use an eco-friendly dishwasher tablet. 

White vinegar

Simple white vinegar that you put on chips is one of the most popular natural cleaning agents as it contains acetic acid, which is very effective at breaking down the residues that cause staining. 

White vinegar will also react to the minerals in limescale to dissolve them, so you will have a sparkling, clean toilet without having to scrub for ages. 

The expert said: “Pour half a bottle of vinegar essence into the toilet bowl in the evening and leave it to work overnight. The next morning, you will be able to easily clean off any urine scale, thanks to the acetic acid it contains.” 

Using Coca-Cola may seem strange but it can help remove stains, especially when combined with baking soda (Image: Getty)

Coca-Cola 

Using Coca-Cola to clean the toilet is an old-school method that works. This fizzy drink contains phosphoric acid, which helps break down limescale and remove stains. 

They said: “Cola contains phosphates, which are also effective against urine scale. Especially in combination with baking soda, cola is a proven method for removing urine stains in toilet bowls. However, you should bear in mind that cola is primarily a foodstuff and this is not its intended use.”

All you need to do is pour a small amount of Coca-Cola onto the stained area of the toilet seat, and for particularly tough stains also add a little baking soda. Baking soda is mildly abrasive and will help enhance the effectiveness of cocoa cola to remove the stains. 

Allow the solution to sit for 10 minutes, then use a disposable sponge to wipe the seat and your toilet should now be completely clean.