Use grapefruit oil & white vinegar to get rid of the urine stains around the base of the toilet. Spray the solution on the affected area, wait for 30 minutes, and scrub thoroughly. Rinse with water and your toilet base will be sparkling clean again!
We all take care of our homes, and keep them tidy, warm, and welcoming. Whether you have pets at your place who like to mark their territory or kids who you are trying to potty train, getting rid of urine stains around the base of your toilet may seem like a herculean task at times.
However, it is not as hard as you think. With the help of the right tools and technique and a little bit of elbow grease, you can get your toilet sparkling clean again!
Let’s see you can remove urine stains around the base of the toilet with easy homemade solutions.
7 DIY Solutions to Remove Urine Stains
The toilet seat and its base are often exposed to urine. Quick and immediate clean-up helps in preventing stains and smell, but if urine lingers on the seat and base for some time, it leads to stinky, yellowish stains.
Here’s how you can remove urine stains easily.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar is the most effective and safest option for removing the urine scale from the base of your toilet.
Things You Will Need
- Vinegar
- Sponge
Method
- Take 1 cup of white vinegar.
- Dip a sponge in the vinegar.
- Using the sponge, coat the affected area with vinegar thoroughly.
- Leave it overnight.
- Rinse with clean water in the morning.
- Repeat, if required.
Use Citric Acid
The acidic properties of Citric acid work wonders for the urine stain around the toilet.
Things You Will Need
- Citric Acid
- Mop
- Scrubbing Brush
- Towels
- Bucket
- Protective Gloves
Method
- Wear a protective mask and gloves before you get started.
- Take 1 cup citric acid and mix it with 2 cups of warm water.
- Apply this mixture around the toilet base and on the urine stains.
- Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
- With the help of a scrubbing brush, scrub the toilet base thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes. If you don’t have a scrubbing brush, you can use an old toothbrush.
- Rinse the floor thoroughly with warm water.
- Wipe the toilet floor with a mop and thoroughly dry the floor.
- Repeat, if necessary.
Use Ammonia
If baking soda doesn’t work, you can always go with ammonia.
Things You Will Need
- Ammonia
- Water
- Detergent
- Small Brush
Method
- Clean the toilet base thoroughly with water and detergent.
- Let it dry.
- Take 2 tbsp. ammonia and mix it with water.
- Pour this mixture over the stained area.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Scrub with a small toilet brush.
- Rinse with clean water.
- If the stains still persist, repeat.
Use Bleach
You can use bleach to clean the urine stains around the toilet base as well. However, you have to be very careful and ensure that you follow the instructions carefully, lest you end up damaging your toilet base even more.
Things You Will Need
- Protective Masks
- Gloves
- Paper Towels
- Hot Water
- Bleach
- Liquid Dishwashing Soap
- Bucket
Method
- Wear protective gloves and masks.
- Soak up the urine around the toilet base using paper towels.
- Through the paper towels in the trash can.
- Take two cups of hot water.
- Add ¼ cup of bleach to it.
- Pour this mixture on the stains. Ensure that you don’t apply the bleach solution anywhere else.
- Wait for the stipulated amount of time given on the bleach’s package.
- Use clean water to rinse the toilet base.
- Check if the stain is gone. If it is still there, repeat the process. Otherwise, rinse the area and dry it.
Use Grapefruit Oil & White Vinegar
Many people have no idea that grapefruit oil is a very potent and effective stain remover. What’s more, it has antibacterial properties as well which makes it a good choice for urine stain removal.
Things You Will Need
- Protective Masks
- Gloves
- Paper Towels
- Hot Water
- Grapefruit Oil
- Bucket
- Vinegar
- Mop
Method
- Wear your protective mask and gloves.
- Start with soaking the urine off the floor with the help of paper towels.
- Throw the used paper towels in the garbage.
- Take a bucket and fill it with hot, boiling water.
- Add 15 drops of grapefruit oil to the water.
- Add one cup of vinegar to this mixture.
- Apply this mixture to the affected area.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- With the help of a scrubbing brush, scrub the stain thoroughly until it is gone.
- Use a mop to wipe it off.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Repeat, if needed.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda
This method is not only effective for removing urine stains from the toilet base but also helps you remove other stubborn stains from the bathroom floor.
Things You Will Need
- Baking Soda
- Gloves
- Mask
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Water
- Scrubbing Brush
Method
- Wear gloves and a mask.
- Take one tbsp. of baking soda.
- Add hot water to it and create a thick paste.
- Apply that paste to the stains.
- Add hydrogen peroxide on top of this paste. Hydrogen peroxide will chemically react with the baking soda.
- Let this mixture sit for 30 minutes.
- Take a small scrubbing brush and scrub all the stains thoroughly.
- Rinse with clean water. The stain will no longer be there.
- If there are some remnants of the stain, repeat the process.
Use Citric Acid & Dishwashing Soap
Citric Acid can also be used with dishwashing soap to get rid of those stinky, stubborn urine stains.
Things You Will Need
- Paper Towels
- Gloves
- Mask
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Citric Acid
- Sponge
Method
- Clean the urine using paper towels.
- Ensure that you are wearing gloves and a mask.
- Take 2 tbsps. Dishwashing liquid.
- Mix it thoroughly with 1 cup of citric acid.
- With the help of a sponge, rub this mixture directly on the stains.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Use a clean sponge to wipe the mixture off and lift the stains.
- If the stain is not gone completely, repeat the process.
Alternative Solution – Use an Enzymatic Cleaner
If you have tried all of the above mentioned homemade solutions, and none of them has worked, then you can use an enzymatic cleaner. Urine stains are slightly harder to remove than other stains since they have uric acid crystals that stick to the surface of the toilet base tightly.
Things You Will Need
- Paper Towels
- Enzymatic Cleaner
- Sponge
Method
- Soak the urine stain with paper towels.
- Spray the stain thoroughly with the enzymatic cleaner.
- Follow the instructions given on the back thoroughly.
- With some cleaners, you need to wait for five minutes before wiping it off, while with others you have to wait for half an hour.
- With the help of a wet sponge, wipe off the cleaner.
- If the stain is still there, repeat the process.
Alternative Solution – Use Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid is also effective when it comes to removing urine stains.
Things You Will Need
- Warm Water
- Hydrochloric Acid
- Small Brush
- Sponge
- Protective Gloves
- Protective Mask
Method
- Take 2 cups of warm water and add 1 cup hydrochloric acid to it.
- Dip a sponge in this mixture and clean your toilet base with it. Make sure that you are wearing protective gear while doing this.
- Leave the solution to work overnight.
- Scrub with a small brush the next morning.
- Rinse with clean water.
3 Ways to Prevent Urine Stains in the First Place
It is better to prevent urine stains than to try to clean it afterwards. You can use some bathroom items to cover the toilet base and protect the area from urine splashes. Here are some things that you can use.
Disposable Mats
You can use disposable mats for the protection of your toilet floors. The holes in the plastic mats prevent the urine from reaching the base of the toilet. Most of them have waterproof backing along with a soft top that makes them desirable.
Most of these mats last for around 30 days. After that, you can dispose of it off and use a new one.
Toilet Urine Splash Guard
Until your kid is completely grown up and finishes his/her potty training, it is highly unlikely that they will use the washroom properly and urinate. Till this happens, you can use a splash guard to prevent urine from splashing.
Place it under the front part of the toilet to keep the urine from splashing.
Use Caulk to Fix the Leakage
Even if there is no urine splashing, it is very likely that you will get urine splashes due to leakage in the toilet, etc. Therefore, you can use clear caulk to repair the leakage and prevent urine stains.
Taking Care of Wooden Toilet Seats
When it comes to taking care of them, wooden toilet seats are quite different. Since wood has a porous nature, it is better if you don’t use harsh chemical cleaners. If you use a harsh chemical cleaner, it is very likely that you will damage the wood.
It is better that you use natural, homemade solutions for wooden seats. If not, then you need to use a cleaner that is wood friendly. After cleaning your wooden toilet, ensure that you apply a protective coating on it that will protect it from exposure to chemicals from cleaners for the next time.
It is better that you go with a mild detergent such as dish soap. Use disinfectant to get rid of the germs and bacteria on and around the seat. If the wood is cracked or split from somewhere, repair it.
Open splits and crevices are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria and can’t be easily cleaned.
FAQs On Urine Stains Around Base of Toilet
Can you leave toilet cleaners overnight?
Yes, you can let the cleaner sit overnight. If you leave them overnight, they work more effectively.
Can a toilet be damaged by urine?
Even though urine is a bit acidic, urine doesn’t damage your toilet. It can only cause stinky, smelly stains.