What you need to know about Toilet Cleaning and Maintenance
What is the proper way to clean a toilet? As with any chemical cleaner, read the label and all instructions carefully. Start by spraying the outer surfaces of the toilet with your chosen disinfectant. In order to be effective, disinfectant cleaners need to be left on the surface for ten minutes to kill all germs. I learned something new!
To effectively clean inside the bowl, the water level must be lowered. There are four different ways to accomplish this: 1. Using your toilet brush, push the brush end quickly in and out of the hole. The water level will go down. 2. Fill a bucket with a gallon and a half of water and pour it quickly into the bowl. 3. Turn the water off behind the bowl then flush the toilet. 4. Using a plunger, force the water back through the hole and beyond the trap.
Next spray the inside of the bowl with your disinfectant until all inside surfaces are saturated, taking care to spray under the rim. Leave the cleaner on for 10 minutes unless the label directions instruct otherwise. Using your bowl brush, starting under the rim and working your way down toward the hole. When this is finished, wipe down the outside of the toilet.
After cleaning, the most common maintenance problem encountered by homeowners is the clogged toilet. When confronted with a clog and the water level rises, people often flush the toilet again, causing the bowl to overflow. When the water level in a toilet bowl is higher than normal, do not flush it again. Wait until the water level drops back to normal, then try flushing. If it doesn’t drop back to normal, then it’s time for some toilet detective work.
First, turn off the water under the tank. If there isn’t a turn-off there or you can’t turn it, remove the tank lid and lift up on the float ball or cup. Then have someone else turn the water off at the main shut off valve.
If possible, you need to find out what is gumming up the works. Putting your hand in a large plastic trash sack, reach into the toilet hole and try to get at the object. This won’t always work, but it’s worth a try.
If it doesn’t, it’s time to get out the plunger. Position the plunger over the hole and push downwards, beginning slowly and lightly and working up to a quick and forceful rhythm. If unsuccessful, try a toilet auger. Do not try using a regular plumbing snake in the toilet as it will scratch the delicate porcelain. Still no luck? Take a deep breath…and call the plumber.