The toilet tanks must be cleaned periodically to avoid the accumulation of bacteria and unwanted odors. You can generally clean the toilet tank using commercial cleaners with light cleaning. However, beware that bleach may be needed for very dirty tanks. You must regularly clean your toilet tank to keep your toilet clean and so that the bad odors stay away.
1. Empty water in the toilet tank
The valve to turn off the water supply to the toilet is normally found behind the toilet on the wall. Simple turn the valve the opposite direction of its tightened position. After you’ve turned the valve we can now flush the toilet to get rid of the water remaining in the tank.
2. Figure out which cleaners to use
If you haven’t cleaned the tank in a long time, or ever, then it is likely going to be very dirty and the accumulation of debris in the tank and along the walls would signify that we need a stronger cleaner. If the tank and interior walls are clean then we can use a lighter cleaner like an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant. However, if there is debris built up then we will need to use a stronger cleaner.
Use white vinegar when the debris or minerals have hardened and are hard to get off. Furthermore, if there is a very noticeable accumulation of mold and dirt in the toilet tank then you should clean it using bleach instead of a commercial cleaner.
3. Apply the cleaning solution
After you’ve determined which cleaner to use it is now time to apply them to the toilet tank. Either pour or spray the cleaner into the toilet tank while mainly targeting the sides and areas where there is a buildup of dirt or minerals. Remember to wear gloves if you are using bleach or other harsher cleaning solutions.
4. Let the vinegar or cleaning solution do its work
In order to get the best results, we must let the vinegar or cleaning solution sit for a little bit so that it can work its magic on the dirt. If there is a mineral buildup then we must treat it differently so, in this case, pour the white vinegar into the tank all the way to the top of the overflow tube. Let the vinegar sit for around 12 hours and ensure that nobody in the house flushes the toilet or turns on the valve for the water. After the 12 hours you can flush and clean the tank as you normally would. You don’t have to follow this step of pouring white vinegar all the way to the top of the overflow tube if there isn’t a buildup of minerals.
5. Scrub or wipe the tank
Using a scrubbing pad and begin wiping down the interior of the toilet tank. Take your time and hit all the spots like the corners at the bottom and be gentle not to hit other parts to avoid damage to them. Lightly wipe down or scrub the parts too so that we eliminate all the dirt and source of bad odors.
6. Rinse and flush
Now that we have everything cleaned we can flush to get rid of any remaining liquid in the tank. If you used bleach you will need to use cold water and manually fill the bowl to get rid of the bleach. Also, make sure to protect yourself from splashes by covering your hands and eyes along with other exposed parts of your body while pouring the water and flushing. Otherwise, turn the water valve back on so that the toilet bowl fills up then flush to remove the remnants of any cleaning product used.
7. Keep your toilet tank clean
The best way to avoid odors and heavy cleaning of the toilet tank is to clean it at least once a month. This will ensure that your toilet doesn’t emit any bad odors and so that you don’t have to do heavy cleaning in the future.