Q&A for How to Clean a Toilet with Coke

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Does Pepsi do the same thing?

Community Answer

No. Pepsi has a lower acidity than Coke due to the higher sugar content.

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Question

Can I use baking soda in the tank?

Community Answer

Yes, you can use baking soda in the tank, but it might not be as effective as bleach.

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Question

How can we get the mess off the top of the stove?

Community Answer

I've heard to use lemon juice and baking soda. Let it sit for about a half hour and the grime comes off like butter.

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Question

How do I remove the urine smell from inside the toilet bowel?

Community Answer

Mix one part baking soda and one part vinegar and rub the paste on the inner toilet walls and bottom of the bowl (turn off the water valve behind the toilet and flush to remove most of the water for best results). Let it sit for an hour, then scrub it off and flush. Repeat if necessary. Baking soda absorbs odors and vinegar is a great cleaner, so it's very effective. If for some reason there's still a problem, try a commercial cleaner, like Kaboom or Soft Scrub with bleach, and let it sit on the stains one hour, then scrub with a toilet brush. I prefer the baking soda/vinegar mixture over store bought cleaners because it's effective, safe, and it usually works well.

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Question

Is this Coke cleaning method safe for septic tanks?

engineergreg

Community Answer

Yes. It's a very small amount of liquid relative to the volume of water in your septic tank.

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Question

Will Diet Coke also be effective?

Community Answer

Yes. Coke works as a cleaner because of the gentle carbonic and phosphoric acid it contains. These chemicals come from the carbonation, not from the flavorings in the soda, so Diet Coke works just as well as regular Coke.

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Question

Is there a way to remove scratches from a toilet bowl if the standard cleaning methods don't work?

Community Answer

Reglaze the toilet. Scratches are caused by removing surface material. It will be cheaper to buy a new toilet.

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Question

How do I empty the water from the bowl before I add the Coke?

Community Answer

Turn off the fill valve (behind or beneath the toilet) and flush. Allow the cola drink to sit, then turn valve back on. Allow tank to fill. Flush. It should have done the work.

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Question

Do I need to drain any water from the bowl before I pour in the Coke?

Community Answer

No, but it'll work better if you do. Easiest way is to flush, then put on a rubber glove. Push your hand down as far as possible and it'll displace some of the water.

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Question

Can I use Coke on a blockage in a septic tank?

Community Answer

No. septic tanks are different. A backed up septic tank means either the tank is at its solids limit and it needs to be pumped, or the septic disbursement field has collapsed and a new field distributing system needs to be installed. On rare occasions the flushing of feminine napkins/tampons and/or condoms has been known to swell up enough to block piping/areas of critical flow.

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Question

Does Coke clean calcium off of the shower glass?

Community Answer

No, but you can use rubbing alcohol instead.

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Question

Does Coke Zero work just as well?

Community Answer

Yes, Coke Zero should also be effective.

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Question

How do I clean a dark ring stain in my toilet that was left by the Coke?

Community Answer

Spray or dab hydrogen peroxide on any stained areas. Turn off the valve behind the toilet and flush to remove the water. Then, wait for at least an hour before scrubbing with your toilet brush and flushing again. Repeat if necessary. You can also try mixing equal parts vinegar and baking soda before applying on the stained areas (after removing the water). Let it sit for an hour, scrub it off, and flush.

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Question

What is soda water?

Community Answer

Soda water is water that is carbonated.

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Question

Can I use Coke in my toilet bowl if I have a septic tank?

Community Answer

Yes. It's a very small amount of liquid relative to the volume of water in your septic tank.

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Question

If I put a plastic bag with vinegar over my bathroom spigot, will it harm the finish on the spigot?

Community Answer

Unfortunately, yes, it will harm the finish on your faucet. I tried this to get rid of mineral buildup around the water spout. The vinegar helped loosen the minerals but it is very difficult to do this without getting some vinegar on your faucet too. I wish I hadn’t done this because I now need to replace the faucet. So it's not recommended.

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Question

Can sparkling water be used to clean a toilet?

Community Answer

No. The Coke contains phosphorus, the water does not. The carbonation in Coke assists the reaction that phosphorus has with mineral stains but the carbonation itself will not break down minerals.

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Question

Will generic cola work when cleaning a toilet?

Community Answer

Any soda that contains phosphorus will work. Check the label. Be aware that it might not contain as much as Coke and if so, it wouldn’t work as well.

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Question

How do I get rid of the smell of Coke after cleaning my toilet with it?

Community Answer

Add 1/4 cup of bleach to the water, swish let sit 15 minutes then flush. Repeat if necessary.

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Question

Can I use Coke to clean mold from a plastic shower mat?

Community Answer

Yes. It's far better if you place the bath mat in a large plastic bag with the Coke. Tie it securely and wait about 3 hours.

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