You Should Clean Your Toilet Tank (and How to Do It Correctly)
If you think of the steps to cleaning a toilet, you probably think of scrubbing the toilet and wiping down the outside. What about the toilet cistern?
Toilet tanks are easy to overlook because if something is wrong (like the toilet won’t stop running), there’s little reason to lift the lid. But even if everything goes smoothly, it is still recommended to clean the inside of the toilet tank once or twice a year. Here’s why it’s important and how to properly clean a toilet tank.
Why you need to clean the toilet tank
The tank behind the toilet contains all of its working and moving parts. If the parts inside the tank are not functioning properly, it jeopardizes the entire job. In other words, keeping your toilet tank clean helps keep things tidy.
The most common problem is scale and other mineral deposits, which can corrode the metal and rubber parts inside the tank and produce an unpleasant odor. However, mineral buildup is much less of a problem if the parts inside the toilet tank are made of plastic, says Roy Barnes, an experienced plumber and co-owner of Service Force Plumbing in Rockville, Maryland.
Given the dampness and darkness inside the toilet tank, there is a possibility of mold and mildew growing. The good news is that this is usually not a problem for toilets that are flushed or cleaned regularly. This is due to the fact that when the toilet is flushed, the tank is completely emptied and then filled with clean water. This means that the same water does not remain stagnant in the tank for an extended period of time, and any organic deposits should be removed, Barnes says.
Do not use built-in cleaning products
Last year, Lifehacker editor Lindsay Ellefson explained why you should ignore the spreading TikTok “hack” that involves pouring a bottle of Fabuloso cleaning product down the toilet tank. One problem with this method, she said, is that the chemicals in the cleaner can destroy the plastic and rubber components of the tank.
According to Mark Collins, a fifth-generation plumber and CEO of 1-800-Plumber + Air , these cleaning discs or tablets in the tank also shorten the life of your toilet’s working parts, especially those made of rubber. In fact, some manufacturers, including Kohler and American Standard , now place stickers on the inside of tanks indicating that the toilet’s warranty will be void if CIP cleaning products are used.
The correct way to clean a toilet tank
Cleaning the toilet tank is not difficult if you do it regularly. First, remove the cover and assess the condition of the interior. If it looks relatively clean, with few deposits or stains, and there are no loose mineral deposits on the bottom, you probably don’t need to drain the tank. Here’s what to do:
How to clean a toilet tank without flushing it
Before going to bed in the evening or at other times when you will not be using the toilet, add about one cup of white vinegar to the toilet tank for every gallon of water it contains. Its capacity will depend on the model and its age, but you don’t have to be so precise: a cup or two is enough. If you prefer to clean with citric acid, you can add two or so tablespoons of it to the water in the reservoir instead.
Either way, leave the water and acid mixture in the tank overnight—or at least a few hours—then put on a pair of gloves and use a long-handled brush to scrub the inside. (If you used vinegar and the reservoir is too full for this, rinse it, add a little more vinegar to the reservoir, and then scrub.) If there are any stains that need to be treated, use an old toothbrush to remove them. Give the toilet a few final flushes to remove any vinegar or citric acid.
How to deep clean a toilet cistern
For severe stains or mineral buildup, you will need to empty the toilet tank. To do this, first turn off the water supply to the toilet, then flush the water to empty the tank (don’t worry if there is still some water in there), and put on a pair of rubber gloves.
Start by scooping out any debris (such as white or gray pieces of minerals) located at the bottom of the tank. Once they’re clean, dip a long-handled brush in a solution of one part warm water and one part white vinegar (or one to two tablespoons of citric acid dissolved in a gallon of warm water) and scrub the inside. tank. Use a toothbrush or rag on areas that need more attention. When you are satisfied with the condition of the tank, turn the toilet water back on and then flush the toilet.
How often should you clean your toilet tank?
Cleaning the toilet tank once a year should be enough to keep mineral buildup under control, Collins says. But just in case, he also recommends periodically looking inside the tank to make sure there is no excessive mineral buildup and that all parts are functioning properly.