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Cleanliness is of prime importance in human life and household. The cleanliness of the kitchen and toilet has a lot to do with the hygiene in any house since both are the places visited more often by all the members of the family.
Here we will focus on the toilet which is used very often by residents of the house as well as the guests that are visiting even for some time.
Keeping the toilet neat, clean, and in a very high hygienic condition was always essential for the health care of any family.
The toilet is the most favorable place for all types of germs and bacteria. It is because the level of humidity is high in the toilet, and also the reservoir/cistern contains more quantity of water in them.
Basic tips that we usually follow to keep a toilet clean are; sweeping and cleaning the floor, walls, toilet seat, taps, and doorknobs.
Another item of the toilet that requires regular cleaning and maintenance whereas most people are unaware of it, is the “Toilet Tank” that stores water for flushing after use. People usually see the toilet tank, when there is an issue.
In this article, the information related to toilet tank cleaner will be provided and guidance for the best products that are available in your home and market for toilet tank cleaning.
Why Clean a Toilet Tank?
A toilet tank is a space that stores and carries more water in it and flushes down the water to drive away all the waste in the sewerage pipe.
This is a place where water stays for longer times, even for hours when nobody needs to use the toilet. This place is likable by the bacteria and microbes, and its cleaning is required regularly.
Here are a few reasons why a toilet tank should be cleaned:-
- Stagnant water is the home of germs and dirt. It creates a bad smell if left un-cleaned. Therefore, to avoid the bad odor and dirt residue, toilet tanks must be cleaned properly.
- The dirty and rusty toilet tank can never become long-lasting. The life span of the toilet seat can be reduced due to negligence in the cleaning of the toilet tank.
- The black-brown slime can be usually seen on the walls and base of the toilet tank. This is because of iron and manganese content in the water, and when bacteria form in that water, it makes the iron and manganese look like slime. Therefore, to get rid of this, the toilet tank must be cleaned regularly.
How to Clean a Toilet Tank?
To clean the toilet tank you first have to empty the tank. For this, you have to find a small water valve at the base of the tank (its placement varies in different toilet tanks) and shut it properly to stop the supply of water.
After that, open the toilet tank cover and rinse all the walls with water from the toilet tank or you can use any disinfectant like Lysol to spray on the walls.
It will help reduce the buildups on the walls of the tank. Then drain the water/disinfectant from the tank if there is any. It’s time to start your actual cleaning work.
Either natural toilet tank cleaner or commercial toilet tank cleaner can be used for cleaning the toilet tank. We will discuss both in this article.
Natural Ways to Clean a Toilet Tank
Your toilet is a good holder for breeding bacteria, mold, and slime. With every time you flush mold spores fill the air while the nasty mess slowly stains your toilet bowl and makes you put the effort in scrubbing that dirty toilet. You can easily cleanse your toilet tank with all-natural ingredients easily available in your home. These are:-
- Baking soda
- Dishwasher liquid
- White vinegar
- Borax
Baking Soda Toilet Tank Cleaner
Baking soda also called sodium bicarbonate has many uses apart from cooking and baking.
It can be used as a strong cleaning agent as it cleanses any surfaces by loosening the residues and dissolving the dirt and residue in the water.
It works more effectively when mixed with various other natural cleaning substances.
When your toilet tank stinks, bothering you a lot while using the toilet, and you have less time to clean, this way of cleaning the toilet tank works quickly. The procedure you have to follow is:-
- Empty the toilet tank from the present water and open the cover.
- Now, mix 2 tablespoons of dishwasher liquid, 1 cup of vinegar, and a half cup of baking soda in any container.
- Brush the prepared solution all inside the toilet tank.
- Leave it for about 1-2 hours, so that ingredients could perform the cleaning work properly.
- Now, scrub the tank interior with a hard brush to take off any algae, and dirt residues.
- Fill the tank with water and flush it twice.
- The toilet tank is fully cleansed now and the cover can be closed properly.
White Vinegar Toilet Tank Cleaner
For decades, white vinegar is not only used in cooking but is also used for effective cleaning of different household items. White vinegar is known for its killing properties against bacteria and germs.
It is composed of acetic acid and contains a 5% acidity level when it is mixed with water.
It is purely a natural and non-toxic substance to be used for cleaning many spaces in any kitchen or washroom.
Due to its properties, vinegar can naturally disinfect the surfaces without any harmful effects.
White vinegar can also be used to clean toilet tanks. The procedure you need to follow for cleaning the toilet tank with the help of white vinegar is:-
- Empty the toilet tank from the present water and open the cover.
- The quantity of white vinegar you need is 3-7 gallons. Isn’t it too much?
- Look for the overflow mark on the tube and fill the tank till that mark with white vinegar.
- Let it sit for about 12-13 hours to perform cleaning work properly.
- Then, drain the liquid by flushing out, and scrub to remove any remaining dirt in the tank.
- You can also add a little baking soda while scrubbing for additional cleaning power.
- Rinse the tank with water and flush out the water once again.
- Toilet tank cleaning is complete.
Borax Toilet Tank Cleaner
Borax which is also called sodium tetraborate is used by most people around the world as a cleaning agent, especially for home cleaning. It acts best on dirt, mildew, and molds and can also be used to effectively clean the toilet tank. Here is the procedure:-
- Empty the toilet tank, and leave a small quantity of water.
- Make a mixture of 1 cup of borax and 4 cups of vinegar in any bowl or container.
- Now, pour this mixture into the tank to mix with the water in the tank.
- By using a hard brush, scrub all the area inside the toilet tank.
- Leave the ingredients for about 2-3 hours, to act against the dirt and mold and clean it.
- Now, focus on the water stains and scrub them strongly.
- Fill the tank again with water and give it a flush.
- Your toilet tank is nice and cleansed.
Precautions
It is very convenient to use homemade solutions for the cleaning of the toilet tank but, some precautions should be taken while using the solutions. As they also contain mild chemical properties and may react if used inappropriately. Some of the precautions are as below:-
- Wear gloves while cleaning.
- Wear goggles to protect your eyes from any harmful effects.
- Wear a mask.
- Some people use bleach for toilet tank cleaning. Only bleach is fine but do not use bleach with vinegar because when these two are mixed, they form highly toxic vapors and can be bad for you.
Commercial Toilet Tank Cleaners
Toilet tank cleaner can help in clearing the toilet tank, getting rid of its bad odor, and keep the toilet flush in a healthy condition.
To make your buying decision right, we have reviewed and selected the best toilet tank cleaners which are highly recommended by the field experts.
Here is the list of best available commercial toilet tank cleaners:-
- Green Gobbler Septic Saver Bacteria Enzyme.
- Hurriclean Automatic Toilet Tank Cleaner.
- Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
- Instant Power 1806 Toilet Tank Cleaner.
- Vacplus Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
Now we will discuss the features, pros, and cons of the products mentioned above.
Green Gobbler Septic Saver Bacteria Enzyme
Green gobbler septic saver bacteria enzyme packs six months septic tank supply. It saves you from any septic disasters.
It acts as an effective septic saver and really works well against grease, paper, fats, and oil.
Its fast-acting property works on the water stains in the tank and is recommended by the plumbers to easily clean the toilet tank.
It is available in the market in form of tablets in different quantities.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use. | Mostly recommended for bowl cleaning. |
| Affordable. | |
| Contains active ingredients. |
Hurriclean Automatic Toilet Tank Cleaner
The hurriclean automatic toilet tank cleaner is a double duty toilet cleaner that cleans the tank and bowl in one shot. You just need to open your tank, pour it inside, and nothing else.
Its fast action foaming formula works by scrubbing from the inside out instantly. Hurriclean cleans with great strength releasing a cyclonic fury with so many power-scrubbing bubbles that break down, cleanse, scrub, and remove the odor-causing mold, mildew, and bacteria.
Just flush and hurriclean surges through the water jets eliminating hard water and mineral deposits creating a fuller flow that cleanse and sanitizes the bowl while circulating.
You can get a deep clean as it is chlorine-free, odor-free, and safe on all plumbing and septic systems.
Hurriclean can be used once a month to keep any toilet tank running cleaner, better, and longer.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use. | Contains chemical contents. |
| Works very fast. | |
| The rate of cleaning is much higher. |
Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
With the use of Clorox automatic toilet bowl cleaner, a cleaner and fresher toilet and tank is only a flush away. This easy to use toilet cleaner uses the power of Clorox bleach to help keep the toilet and its tank clean and deodorized.
You just need to drop the tablet in the tank and it will start working on its own without any additional scrubbing and wiping effort.
Its sparkling blue water and fresh scent will make your toilet look cleaner, and fragrant within no time.
The bleach tablets act on the dirt, mildew, slime, and water stains in the tank and remove them in an instant. It will surely save you time and money.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use. | Contains chemical contents. |
| Instant cleaning property. | Works well for bowl cleaning. |
Instant Power 1806 Toilet Tank Cleaner
Instant power 1806 toilet tank cleaner efficiently removes the buildup of calcium, rust, and hard water deposits.
It cleans the toilet tank and also leaves a pleasant fragrance without any need of scrubbing the tank.
You just have to leave it in the tank overnight and let it work properly.
In the morning, just flush it away from the tank and you will get a fresh and clean toilet tank. It is safe for all types of toilet tank systems.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use. | Contains chemical contents. |
| Affordable. | Takes more time to work. |
Vacplus Automatic Toilet Bowl and Tank Cleaner
Vacplus automatic toilet bowl cleaner is a great product to clean the toilet bowl and tank system at the same time.
It is available in the packaging of wrapped tablets that are soluble in the water and act faster than your expectations with its effective decontaminating formula.
Each tablet has a pleasant smell that leaves your toilet tank smelling good like lemon.
After dropping a tablet in the tank, it will start forming bubbles and is to be left for about 10-15 minutes in the tank.
It will take away all the bad smell, slime, mildew, and mold with it down through the bowl with its strong gel formula leaving a pleasant blue color in the bowl.
You just need to follow the instructions on the pack to place it properly in your toilet tank.
It is a great product to spend your money on as its rate of cleaning is much higher than the normal toilet bowl and tank cleaners.
So, invest in buying Vacplus tablets for toilet tank cleaning and have a sparkling toilet system.
| Pros | Cons |
| Suitable for all toilet systems. | Contains chemical contents. |
| Affordable. | Feels sticky to touch because of the gel. |
| Compact packaging. |
Conclusion/Recommendations
From the discussion above, now we are much more aware of the importance of cleaning the toilet tank, with both homemade and commercial products used for this purpose.
The commercial products of the Green gobbler, Hurriclean, and Clorox are worth buying.
The products Instant power 1806, and Vacplus are also a good option if the white vinegar, borax, and baking soda are not effectively removing your toilet tank stains.
You can also use bleach tablets to keep your toilet tank clean once after you have thoroughly cleaned it with any of the chemical or natural products.
Always remember to clean your toilet tank two times a year, but if you are living in an area where hard water is available for use, just clean your toilet tank more than two times a year.
Otherwise, the valves and tubes of the tank system may get clogged and your toilet system would not work properly.
Therefore, if you want your toilet tank sparkling and fresher for a long time, you can select/use one of the best and most effective toilet tank cleaners mentioned above.
