Four Tips to Clean Your Toilet Cistern

At times you could be curious to look into your toilet cistern (tank or closet, whatever term you prefer) and be amazed at its mechanisms of holding water and releasing it to flush the toilet bowl after you fulfil your necessities. If you are concerned about cleanliness, you should be thinking if the interior of your cistern is clean enough to hold water as this will flush and go through your toilet bowl. If you clean the toilet bowl regularly, don’t forget to clean the cistern too. Why should you clean it and how?

The cistern is just another place in your house where certain bacteria could thrive. Bacteria can live in dark cisterns especially if the water used for flushing is hard water. They will feed on the minerals and iron. Along with the other dirt and grime, bacteria can cause odours, discolour the water and corrode the cistern parts. It is not enough to put in tablet cleaners to clean it, but you have to clean it by hands (but don’t forget your cleaning gloves so you won’t touch those slimy blobs and your skin won’t get in contact with things dirty and grungy).

1. Drain before you clean – You cannot clean a full tank right away. First you have to shut off the water by turning the valve at the bottom of the bowl and then flush to drain water from the cistern. That way you do not have to dip your hands into a full tank.
2. Remove bacteria, dirt and grime – You might then start cleaning with a couple of brushing. Get your toilet brush or any brush you can use to clean the inside of your cistern and some cleaners too. You can buy a toilet cleaner from your nearby store or make one out of lime and baking soda. Don’t forget to wear your cleaning gloves.

Brush thoroughly the corners, the walls and the crevices to remove the dirt, grime, odour and bacteria properly. Brushing also helps remove the moulds and mildews that make the cistern look yucky.

3. Remove mineral deposits – Hard water has in it certain dissolved mineral deposits including lime, calcium and magnesium. If you will not remove them, they will form inside your cistern which is not good to look at. To remove them, pour out plain white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray thoroughly over the mineral deposits and let it sit for a few hours if the mineral build-up is not heavy.  After that, take up your brush, scrub and flush.
4. Disinfect – The toilet bowl, sink and tiles are not the only ones that need disinfecting in the bathroom, but the cistern too. Get your chlorine bleach or any other disinfectant, apply them thoroughly and let it sit for a half hour. Then you can use the toilet again.

Do you want to hire an expert plumber Kew to replace your toilet fixtures? Please contact Leading Plumbing Solutions today and we will send over one of our professional plumbers to service you.