Cleaning inside toilet tank

[AngelaVA]

Every time we flush there is a blackish sediment that appears in the bottom of our toilet, I think it is coming from the toilet tank. Is there a way I can clean it? Is there away I can clean it with a minimum amount of touching it :shifty ?

[MomtoJGJ]

We occasionally have black stuff come out of the sides of the toilet where the water comes in... it's not actually in the tank (which is clean water btw) but some sort of something in those little pipe things the water comes out of (yeah, might just be holes I have no idea really)

If I wipe around under the rim at least 2-3 times a week we do not have that trouble at all. Just take a damp rag and wipe under the rim.

[AngelaVA]

I am cleaning it multiple times a day including under the rim and it just keeps coming back every time we flush.

[MomtoJGJ]

hmm... no idea then, haha...

[3boysforme]

I used a scrub brush and bleach to clean mine. It was really gross. I put bleach tablets in it now and don't have that problem anymore. :shrug

[AngelaVA]

I used a scrub brush and bleach to clean mine. It was really gross. I put bleach tablets in it now and don't have that problem anymore. :shrug

Is there a way to drain the water out of it in order to do that? I know how to shut the water supply to the toilet off but IDK how to get the water out of the tank.

[GraemesMomma]

Could it be a rubber ring disintegrating from the tank? :think

[knitlove]

Is there a way to drain the water out of it in order to do that? I know how to shut the water supply to the toilet off but IDK how to get the water out of the tank.

once you turnoff the water, if you then flush it there will be hardly any water left in the tank.

[AngelaVA]

Could it be a rubber ring disintegrating from the tank? :think

Maybe, it's the right color to be something like that.

[3boysforme]

once you turnoff the water, if you then flush it there will be hardly any water left in the tank.


Yea that is what I did. I cleaned the tank and then filled it back up to flush everything out. I had to do that process 3 or 4 times because my tank was really bad. I never knew you were supposed to clean the tank too! :bag

[Naked Camper]

You're supposed to clean in the tank too :scratch

[MomtoJGJ]

You're supposed to clean in the tank too :scratch

I never have...

[knitlove]

the only time I have cleaned it was when we were replacing the discengrating flapper.

[3boysforme]

I wonder if it depends on your water? I have never had to clean a tank until I moved into this house, but we have well water here and I have always had city water before.

[Naked Camper]

That would seem to make a difference :yes

[Teacher Mom]

I have well water. I have never cleaned the tank, but it is NASTY looking the few times I have looked in there. But I did't think to clean it :think Probably BECAUSE it is sooooooooooooooooo nasty.

I am thinking I will bleach it today and buy those bleach tablets this Friday (shopping day)

Thanks for the helpful hint!!!!

[librarianjojo]

Could it be a rubber ring disintegrating from the tank? :think

Yep. It sounds like your flapper needs to be replaced, which is a fairly easy job. Is your toilet running at all?

[AngelaVA]

No it's working fine.

[librarianjojo]

Get in there and run your finger over the flapper. (It IS clean water, so don't get grossed out. I do most of the plumbing stuff at our place. You will live to see another day. :smile) If you get black smudges, that's what it is. Are you on well water or do you have hard water? That could be the cause of sediment buildup.

[AngelaVA]

We don't have well water but it is slightly on the hard side.

[librarianjojo]

It could be that you have some sediment deposits in your pipes and the only time you're seeing it is when it gets a chance to settle in the toilet bowl. :shrug3 You might need to consult a plumber to see if it could harm your pipes or toilet.