How to Remove Rust From Toilet Tank

You’re doing your routine cleaning of your toilet. Then you’re done giving your toilet that sparkling look. But you decide to open your toilet tank, only for you to see an unpleasing rusty look. Don’t fret because these rusty tank looks are often seen in some toilets. We’ll teach you different ways how to remove rust from the toilet tank.

It’s not uncommon for us to forget to clean our tank after doing an overall toilet cleanup. This toilet tank can often harbor rust and other stubborn stains. Rust stains in our toilet tanks are displeasing sights to the eyes.

To top this daunting rusted toilet situation, some homeowners plumbing systems may have hard water issues. A particular mineral found in hard water is iron and when this iron is found in huge quantities, it can stain your porcelain and alter its color to red.

We’ll give you different ways of battling this rust stain. So, are you ready to learn how to remove rust from your toilet tank? Let’s begin.

What is Hard Water? Toilet Tank With Hard Water Issue

When we talk about the hardness of water, we’re referring to water that has high mineral content. The mineral composition can be calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfates, etc. Iron especially can alter watercolor to red and this can stain your tank. Because the water in your tank sits for hours, it causes this hard water to stain the tank.

If you’re suffering from a hard water stain issue in your home, you’ll need to first solve this problem before finding a solution to the rusted tank. You’ll need water treatment. If this hard water deposits issue isn’t resolved, you’ll continue to have this iron rust stain in your toilet tank. Your tank parts including your tank bolts can be affected thereby giving you rusted bolts.

Methods on How to Remove Rust From Toilet Tank

There are different methods of eliminating rust to clean toilet tank. . You can do this steps on your own without the help of a plumbing service.Below we’ve listed the best way to remove this toilet rust stain:

1. White vinegar for eliminating rust in toilet tank

White vinegar is great for dissolving limescale and destroying bacteria, mold, and germs. This vinegar cleaning product is also a great rust remover. Additionally, vinegar eliminates repugnant odors.

Materials required

• White vinegar
• Scrub brush
• Sponge
• Soft cloth
• Rubber gloves

Steps on using white vinegar to eliminate rusted toilet tank

• Put on your gloves and remove the top of the tank lid and get your vinegar.
• Now, pour some vinegar into your tank and allow it to sit for a while. For mild stains, allow the vinegar to stay in the tank for about 10 minutes. However, if it is a stubborn stain, wait for 2 to 4 hours for the rust stain to dissolve.
• Now moisten a soft cloth with vinegar and wipe the cloth around the inside surface of the tank. Alternatively, you can put the vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it around the surface of the tank.
• Proceed to flush the tank a few times to wash out the vinegar.
• Then use the brush to scrub brush the surface of the walls of the tank. Do this to remove any buildup and with the help of a sponge, wipe down the rusted metal parts or mineral deposits.
• Again, flush the tank a few times until you can see that both the toilet tank and the toilet bowl are clear and clean.

2. Remove rust with a multipurpose commercial cleaner

Using multipurpose commercial cleaners is another way to remove toilet stain caused by rust from toilet tank.

Materials required

• Multipurpose cleaner
• Toilet brush

• Toothbrush
• Gloves
• Protective eye glasses

Steps on how to remove rust from tank using multipurpose cleaner

• Empty the toilet tank by turning off the water supply and put on your protective glasses for protection from harsh chemicals and wear your hand gloves.
• Prepare the toilet cleaner and mix using a clean toilet brush and soak the brush.
• Now using this soaked toilet brush to scrub out the rusted stain. Furthermore, use a toothbrush to scrub out tough stains.
• Flush a few times until the tank and bowl are clean and clear.

3. Citric acid to remove toilet rust

Materials required

• Citric acid
• Toilet brush
• Spoon
• Gloves

Steps to remove rust in tank using citric acid

• To begin, put on your gloves. Don’t flush your toilet and open the tank lid and pour citric acid into your tank filled with water.
• Next, mix the tank water with a spoon.
• Let it sit for some minutes.
• Next, flush the tank and use the toilet brush to scrub any rusted area seen.
• Now flush again until the tank and bowl are clean.

4. Oxalic acid cleaner for tank rust

Materials required

• Oxalic acid
• Mask
• Gloves
• Soft cloth
• Warm water
• Fan

Steps for using oxalic acid to remove rust in tank

• First, be cautious of using this chemical and protect yourself by wearing mask and gloves.
• Take out the tank lid and turn on the fan to encourage ventilation.
• Shake and pour the oxalic powder into the tank where the rust stain is.
• Then take the soft cloth and wet it with warm water and use it to spread the oxalic acid onto all the tank sides.
• Leave this for some minutes as oxalic acid will break down and soften the rust. Then you can wash and flush out the rust stain.

Can Water Softener Prevent Rust Stains in Tank?

Certainly! The addition of water softener to your tank can prevent rust from building up in your porcelain toilet. Water softener should be added to your tank every month or every other month.

Ensure you the instructions on your water softener product label to know the appropriate amount of softener to use. Also, from the product’s label, you should know the duration in which the water softener should stay in your tank.

Also, there’s an alternative to this chemical water softener and this is vinegar or lemon juice. Make it a habit to pour some lemon juice or vinegar into your tank. Then allow the mixture to sit in your tank for about 3 to 4 hours and flush your tank. You can do this process every day or every other day just to prevent the buildup of rust stains.

We Recommend You Clean Your Tank Twice Every Year

To further prevent any rust buildup in your tank, we recommend your toilet be washed and scrubbed every 6 months.