How to Remove Yellow Stains from a Toilet
The yellow ring that will not scrub off is urine scale. It has to be softened with acid before it comes away.
What you need
Supplies
- 2 tbsp citric acid
- 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) warm water
- Toilet cleaner (optional)
Tools
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels
- Toilet brush
- Rubber gloves
- Bucket
How to do it
- 01
Lower the water level
Urine scale forms mostly at the waterline. Pour a bucket of water quickly into the bowl; as it drains, the standing water level drops and exposes the yellow ring.
- 02
Spray with citric acid
Dissolve 2 tbsp of citric acid in 300 ml of warm water in a spray bottle and spray generously over the stains and under the rim. Urine scale is alkaline, so it dissolves in acid.
- 03
Cover with paper towels
Lay paper towels over the stains and spray again to soak them. Leave for about an hour to soften the hardened scale.
- 04
Brush and flush
Remove the paper towels and throw them in the trash (not the toilet), then scrub with the toilet brush and flush. Thick scale will not come off in one go, so repeat 2–3 times.
Be careful
- If you have used bleach or a chlorine toilet cleaner, flush several times before using citric acid. Mixing them releases chlorine gas.
- Steel wool, sandpaper or scraping with a blade removes the glaze and makes stains stick even more.
- Paper towels do not break down like toilet paper and can clog the toilet. Put them in the trash.
Malkkeum tips
- Spraying citric acid and brushing once a week keeps scale from building up.
- Urine splashes on the rim and floor cause most bathroom odor. Sitting down makes cleaning much easier.
- Check inside the cistern once a year. Limescale and rust often collect there.
What the yellow stain really is
Most yellow toilet stains are urine scale: calcium and uric acid from urine hardened together with minerals in tap water. It collects at the waterline and under the rim. Because it is alkaline, alkaline cleaners and bleach do little; it needs an acid such as citric acid to soften.
Black or pink stains, on the other hand, are mold or bacteria. A chlorine cleaner works on those, but never use it on the same day as citric acid.
Do not forget under the rim
The inside of the rim, where the water comes out, is hard to see, so it collects the most scale and mold. Look with a small hand mirror and it is often dirtier than you expect. Spray citric acid all around the underside and scrub with a curved toilet brush.
FAQ
I heard pouring cola works. Cola is mildly acidic, so it helps a little with light stains. But it leaves sticky sugar behind and is weaker than citric acid. Citric acid is cheap and reliable.
