All you need to remove rust stains from a toilet tank is the right cleaning product. CLR is my favorite choice for removing toilet rust stains with almost no effort.
It works quick and is super easy to use.
However, if you don’t want to buy a specialized rust remover, you can use cleaning supplies you probably already have at home! Vinegar, a multi-purpose bathroom cleaner, baking soda, and even lemon juice can all remove toilet rust stains quickly and easily.
What Causes Rust Stains in a Toilet Tank?
Don’t worry, your toilet isn’t rusting! Rust stains in toilets are typically caused by one of two factors. One, the water supply running to your home has a high mineral content (especially iron). Two, your home has iron pipes and rusty plumbing is leaching rust into your water.
- Iron and other minerals in your water supply.
- Detached rust flakes from iron plumbing.
- In rare cases, a rusting component in the toilet tank can cause rust stains.
Rust stains in your toilet tank are rarely caused by rusting parts inside the tank. In fact, rust stains in toilets are mostly superficial and cause little to no harm. However, they don’t look great. I personally can’t stand for my toilet to look dirty or rusty, so I make it my mission to remove and prevent rust stains, starting with the toilet tank.
5 Methods to Clean a Rusty Toilet Tank
It’s easy to remove unsightly rust stains from your toilet tank with these methods. Just follow along and you’ll get excellent results.
Before You Begin
Before you can remove rust stains from your toilet tank, first you need to drain the water out of the tank. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this (with photos), check out my article on how to change a toilet flapper. The steps are:
- Turn off the water flow to the toilet tank. This can be done by closing the valve on the toilet’s water supply line.
- Remove the toilet tank lid so you can see into the tank.
- Flush the toilet until the tank is empty. This can take two to three flushes.
Once your toilet tank is mostly empty, you can begin. Don’t worry if there’s still a little water at the bottom of the toilet tank.
1. CLR
The easiest and best solution I’ve found for rust stains in your toilet tank is to use CLR. This strong cleaner is designed to remove rust stains—that’s what the ‘R’ in CLR stands for. In fact, this process requires no scrubbing. Simply follow these steps:
- Drain your toilet tank.
- Pour this gallon of CLR into the tank.
- Turn on the water supply to the toilet so water flows in and mixes with the CLR.
- DO NOT flush the toilet for at least 3 hours.
- After the waiting period, flush the toilet a few times and re-check your toilet tank.
I’ve had great results with this method. The CLR does the hard work for you and can often totally remove rust stains. If there are any stains remaining after this, use one of the other methods on this list to get rid of the rust residue.
2. Vinegar Scrub
Spray the interior of an empty toilet tank with a generous amount of vinegar. Then, use a scrub brush, brillo pad, or scrubbing sponge to remove the rust stains. Just make sure to wear gloves to avoid vinegar contact with your skin.
Spray vinegar rust stains inside your drained toilet tank.
Scrub the interior of the tank with a scrubber or brush to remove rust stains.
You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this job.
Some folks use a vinegar soak inside the toilet tank for several hours, similar to the CLR method. If you prefer, you can give this a try. I’ve personally had better results scrubbing away rust stains with vinegar after I’ve already mostly removed them with a CLR soak.
3. Multipurpose Cleaner
Most good, all-purpose cleaning solutions are capable of removing most toilet rust stains. Here’s how to do it:
- Drain the toilet tank.
- Spray all rust stains with your cleaner of choice.
- Allow the cleaner to sit for 5 minutes.
- Scrub away the rush stains.
If you’re not seeing good results from this method, I recommend pouring CLR or vinegar into the tank and allowing it to sit for several hours first. This will make rust stains a lot less stubborn. Then, your bathroom cleaner can finish the job.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great stain remover. It also absorbs odors and is gritty enough to help scrub away stubborn rust stains on the uneven porcelain inside your toilet tank. For this method:
- Spread ½ cup of baking soda onto the rust stains in your drained toilet tank.
- Scrub the stains with a sponge or brush.
- Fill the tank with water, then flush.
If you want, add a cup of vinegar to the toilet tank along with the baking soda. This will result in a foaming cleaner that you can use to scrub away rust stains. This way, you get the power of baking soda and vinegar at the same time!
5. Lemon Juice and Salt
That’s right—you can remove toilet rust stains with just two ingredients from your kitchen. The lemon-and-salt method is one of my favorite life hacks! Here’s how to use it:
- Juice 2 lemons into a disposable container.
- Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the lemon juice and mix the ingredients.
- Pour the salt-and-lemon mixture into your empty toilet tank.
- Use a scrubbing sponge to scrub away stains with the mixture.
The gritty salt and acidic lemon juice work together to destroy rust stains. Just make sure to wear gloves while using this method. The simple cleaning solution we cooked up here is powerful enough to harm your skin.
How Do You Prevent Rust Buildup in Your Toilet Tank?
The best way to stop rust stains from appearing is to clean your toilet tank twice yearly. So, even if the tank looks spotless, drain the water out of it. Then use one of the cleaning methods on our list to thoroughly scrub the walls, floor, and internal components of your toilet tank. This will prevent rust buildup. For a hands-off approach, you can drop cleaning tablets into your toilet tank periodically. These products are designed to keep toilet tanks rust-free with zero effort.
- Clean your toilet tank thoroughly twice per year.
- Put these cleaning tablets into your toilet tank to prevent rust buildup.
- Invest in a water-softening system.
If your toilet has constant issues with rust and buildup, it may be due to hard water. Installing a water-softening system in your home can help prevent rust stains and extend the life of all your appliances and plumbing fixtures.
How to Remove Rust Stains from a Toilet Tank
The best ways to remove rust stains from the inside of your toilet tank are:
- Pour CLR into the toilet tank and let it sit for several hours before flushing.
- Scrub the inside of the tank with vinegar.
- Use a bathroom cleaner to scrub rust stains off the inside of the toilet tank.
- Scour the interior of the tank with baking soda and a scrub brush.
- Mix lemon juice and salt together to create a rust-removing scrub.
For each of these methods, it’s essential to shut off the water to your toilet tank so you can drain the tank and clean it effectively. This is a simple process, but if you’re not sure how it’s done check out some of our detailed toilet repair guides. They have photos to help familiarize you with all the necessary processes for draining and cleaning a toilet tank.
