Download Article
Rinse away mineral deposits and rust with a simple bottle of Coke
Download Article
- Regular Cleaning |
- Persistent Stains |
- Video |
- Q&A |
- Tips
Coca-Cola isn't just a sweet, refreshing beverage—its signature fizz and mild acidity make it a powerful, non-toxic toilet cleaner. If you’re curious about using Coke to rinse away unsightly rings and spots of rust in your toilet, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll show you how easy it is to clean your toilet with Coke and how to use it to remove tough, persistent stains. Read on to learn more!
Things You Should Know
- Pour 1-2 cups (237-473 mL) of Coke around the upper rim of the toilet bowl.
- Let the Coke sit for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Then, flush the toilet to rinse away the stains.
- If you’re dealing with tough stains, scrub them with a toilet brush and heat the Coke in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before pouring it in the toilet bowl.
Steps
-
Pour 1 to 2 cups (237-473 mL) of Coke into the toilet bowl. Open a bottle or can of Coca-Cola and pour it around the upper rim of the toilet bowl. Just pour in enough Coke for it to flow over all the stains in the bowl, or about 1 to 2 cups (237-473 mL). [1] X Research source
- Coke is great for dissolving mineral buildup, like limescale, and rust stains. Its cleaning power comes from the carbonic and phosphoric acid present in Coke’s carbonation.
- Diet Coke works just as well as regular Coke. Other fizzy sodas and drinks like club soda also work well in place of Coke.
- For hard-to-reach stains high in the bowl, soak an old rag in Coke and place it around the rim. Or, fill a spray bottle with Coke and spray it directly on the stains.
-
Let the Coke sit overnight. Simply wait and let the Coca-Cola work its magic in your toilet bowl. Just leave it in the toilet for at least 2 hours, though overnight is better. This gives the Coke more time to eat away at the unsightly stains in the toilet bowl. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
-
Flush the toilet to rinse away the Coke and the stains. While you let the Coke sit, its acids were busy loosening up the mineral and rust stains in the toilet bowl. To clean off the Coca-Cola and the stains, simply flush the toilet once. The loosened stains will simply rinse away with the help of the toilet water. [3] X Research source -
Apply the Coke again as needed. If there are still stains in the toilet bowl after flushing away the Coke, pour 1 to 2 cups (237-473 ml) of Coke in the bowl again. Just let the Coke sit for longer this time to give the Coke more time to lift up the stains. While Coca-Cola works well for rings of limescale or rust stains in toilets, it may not completely eliminate every stain.
- If a second application of Coke doesn’t remove your stains, move on to using a cleaning option in the section below.
- While Coke dissolves tough stains, it’s not recommended to use it in place of your regular toilet cleaner. If used repeatedly, Coke can stain or darken the color of your toilet bowl.
Advertisement
-
Scrub the stains with a toilet brush. If simply flushing away the Coke doesn’t remove the stains, get out your tried and true toilet brush. Just give the stains a quick scrubbing, pour in the Coke, let it sit for at least 2 hours, and scrub the stains again. Then, flush the toilet to wash away the Coke and the stains. [4] X Research source
- The mechanical action of a brush or an abrasive pad loosens built-up stains and removes them from the toilet bowl.
- After you clean your toilet , wash your hands to disinfect them. Or, wear gloves.
-
Heat the Coke in the microwave before pouring it into the toilet. The acids in Coca-Cola typically dissolve stains faster when the Coke is hot. This is because chemical reactions happen quicker at high temperatures. Just pour your Coke into a microwave-safe cup and heat it up for 30 to 60 seconds, or until it’s hot to the touch. Then, pour it into the toilet bowl. [5] X Research source
- Never microwave soda (or any liquid) in a sealed container or a container made of metal. This can cause a dangerous explosion of hot liquid. Instead, pour the soda into a microwave-safe cup, like one made of glass or ceramic.
- Wear oven mitts or gloves when heating the Coke. It usually fizzes more than normal, so this protects you from getting splashed by tiny soda drops.
-
Use white vinegar, baking soda, and Coke to remove tough stains. To dissolve mineral buildup, rust, and grime, combine the power of Coke, vinegar, and baking soda. Just mix ½ cup (118 ml) of vinegar and ¼ cup (68 g) of baking soda into a ½ gallon (2 l) jug of water. Pour it into the bowl, scrub the stains, then wait 1 hour before flushing. Then, follow it up with the Coke treatment. [6] X Research source
- Vinegar is also a great disinfectant that cleans away bacteria.
- Or, mix 2 parts borax, 1 part lemon juice, and 1 part Coke. Pour the mix inside the toilet bowl, let it sit for 1 hour, then scrub the stains.
-
Remove mold with hydrogen peroxide and Coca-Cola. If you have spots of mold growing in your toilet, mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the mold, let it sit for at least 1 hour, and then scrub off the mold with a brush. [7] X Research source Then, pour Coke into the bowl to remove any residual stains or scaling around the moldy spot.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionDoes Pepsi do the same thing?Community AnswerNo. Pepsi has a lower acidity than Coke due to the higher sugar content.
-
QuestionCan I use baking soda in the tank?Community AnswerYes, you can use baking soda in the tank, but it might not be as effective as bleach.
-
QuestionHow can we get the mess off the top of the stove?Community AnswerI've heard to use lemon juice and baking soda. Let it sit for about a half hour and the grime comes off like butter.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Coke is a great alternative to harsh cleaners and clears away most mineral deposits and rings that commonly form in toilets. However, it is not an all-purpose cleaner and doesn't kill germs or bacteria.
- Stick to vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, commercial cleaning solutions, soap, or alcohol-based sanitizers to kill bacteria. [8] X Research source
- To clear oil, fat, or grease stains, use dish soap, detergent, or white vinegar. [9] X Research source
- Use rubbing alcohol or detergent to get out ink, dyes, or pigments.<ref> https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/how-to-get-ink-out-of-clothes
Thanks - If you live with other people, tell them you are cleaning the toilet with Coke before you begin. Otherwise, they might flush the toilet before the Coke has time to work.Thanks
- Make Coke’s cleaning power more potent by draining the water in the toilet bowl before you pour in the Coke. Just scoop the water out with a cup or pour a bucket of water into the bowl.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/bathroom-cleaning/how-to-clean-a-toilet.html
- ↑ https://www.cnet.com/pictures/things-you-can-clean-with-coke/2/
- ↑ https://www.cnet.com/pictures/things-you-can-clean-with-coke/2/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/9-things-you-didn-t-know-coca-cola-can-do-48739?slide=4
- ↑ https://toiletseek.com/clean-toilet-bowl-coke/
- ↑ https://toiletseek.com/clean-toilet-bowl-coke/
- ↑ https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/1405/Toxic-Free-Household-Cleaning-Alternatives-PDF
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/home-cleaning-chemicals
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/kitchen-cleaning/how-to-remove-burnt-on-grease-from-ovens-and-pans.html
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To clean a toilet with Coke, pour 1-2 cups of Coke into a glass, and bring the glass into the bathroom. Then, pour the Coke over the stains around the bowl of the toilet, coating the walls while it flows into the water. Let the soda sit in the toilet for at least an hour to break down the stains, and then flush the toilet to wash away the stains with the Coke. Repeat as needed until the stains are eliminated! For more tips on removing persistent stains, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,150,622 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Vinegar is such a great cleaner, but I never knew soda could clean mineral stains. I've found there are few things vinegar and baking soda can't clean well, but mineral stains are tricky. Thanks for the tip." ..." more
Advertisement
98%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Vinegar is such a great cleaner, but I never knew soda could clean mineral stains. I've found there are few things vinegar and baking soda can't clean well, but mineral stains are tricky. Thanks for the tip."
..."
more
"Yep, this helped a lot. I followed the directions. I have very hard water, and had to do it a couple times at first. Now I keep pop under my bathroom sink and once a month I use it."
..."
more
"This is a brilliant! My toilet had a large calcium buildup; scrubbing didn't work. Now completely gone, I did the the bicarbonate soda first. Looking like new now. "
..."
more
"Great article for eco-friendly, natural cleaning options. The best thing about this article is that it gives more options for progressively more stubborn stains. "
..."
more
"It helped me with more info about how to survive the challenges of housekeeping more cheaply. Especially at these times when the price of products keep rising."
..."
more
