Answer: If you are starting to notice a black ring around the base of a toilet under the linoleum, you probably have a leak coming from the wax ring that seals the toilet to the floor. The color comes from a black mold or wastewater bacterium.
Flush the toilet and wipe the seat and rim with a 1:10 bleach-water solution. Scrub any remaining mold stains with a toilet brush or similar non-abrasive material. Add 1 cup of bleach to the tank and flush. For maintenance add 1 cup of bleach to the tank a few times a week or consider a bleach toilet tab.
Because water deposits build up under a toilet's rim, it can take only 24-48 hours for colonies to start breeding. As it grows, you will see what looks like black debris or rings inside the bowl. This can cause respiratory problems for people as the mold and mildew release tiny spores into the air.
The staining on the bottom of the bowl is from the minerals settling, and for the toilet ring problem, the water evaporates, the minerals buildup, and when it dries it picks up dirt particles and creates the ring.
Black mold can be found in your toilet bowl or tank when you have been away for even a few short days on vacation. It can also happen if there has been waste left in the bowl for a while. Since humidity and dark places are where mold thrives, your toilet bowl and tank are prime breeding ground for it.
The mold in your toilet is harmless if you are in good health. But if you're allergic or sensitive to mold, exposure can lead to health problems such as respiratory distress. Exposure can also set off infections in the eyes, lungs, skin, and other organs.
What are the effects of black mold exposure? Black mold does not affect everyone in the same way, but those with an allergy or sensitivity to the spores may experience symptoms such as congestion, red eyes, respiratory problems, skin rashes and so on. In some cases, an infection may occur.
Instead, the best way to clean a bathroom floor is with a small broom. Sweep along the edges of the room and work to collect dust and dirt in the middle. Don't forget to reach around the base of the toilet where dust likes to collect! An easy way to pick up your small dust pile is with a slightly damp paper towel.
The stains that you see at the bottom of a toilet are usually limescale, or calcium carbonate to use the scientific name. Limescale arrives as a result of water travelling through specific rocks, such as chalk and limestone, on the way to reservoirs and then to our water filtration systems.
To remove limescale from the bottom of your toilet you will want to pour vinegar into your toilet bowl and leave that on there for three to four hours. After the vinegar sits, you can scrub those stains with either a toilet brush or a wet pumice stone and flush the toilet.
For simple cleaning, you can use your toilet brush and distilled white vinegar. Let about ½ cup of vinegar sit in your toilet for a few minutes. Then scrub with your toilet brush. You can also clean the rim with vinegar.
When cleaning a toilet bowl, WD-40 works by softening the rust and lime deposits, so they can be easily wiped away. You don't need to use much of it. Simply spray on the affected area, wait a minute or two and brush it away with a regular toilet brush.
Borax and vinegar
Sprinkle 1/4 cup of borax into the toilet bowl and swish it around with a toilet brush. Add 1 cup of vinegar, swish around again, and let the mixture sit in the bowl for about 20 minutes. Finish by scrubbing the bowl with a toilet brush to remove the stains.
Once a week at least.
Tetro says your bathroom is the ultimate bacteria host; E. coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.
The biggest mistake is using TOO MUCH floor cleaner with no rinse. Believe it or not, too much floor detergent causes a build up that actually makes your floors look dirtier. Rinse your floor! Every second or third cleaning, you should clean your floors with pure water.
Black mold, as the name implies, is often dark in color. When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
While there are many types of harmless molds, some varieties can be toxic and harmful to humans. Black mold often falls under the category of potentially toxic fungus. Breathing in its spores has been linked to breathing difficulties, allergic reactions and other serious health issues.
Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots. If you find mold with any of these qualities in your home, don't get too close, and call a professional right away.
Health Risks
Hygroscopic Stains – Pet urine deposits will actually absorb moisture from the air. If left alone long enough, those areas will likely breed mold spores. Over time, this will cause rotted areas to appear.
Toilets are the perfect place for mold to grow because they are often damp, have little ventilation, and are usually located in warm areas of the home (such as near the water heater). In addition, toilets can be a breeding ground for mold if they are not cleaned regularly.
Having mold around the toilet is something relatively common but that doesn't mean it's normal. Although most people don't realize it, you should treat the mold problem as your top priority to get rid of it since it's not good for your health, especially if you have respiratory problems, such as asthma.
You can use straight or a diluted vinegar cleaning solution for the bathroom to clean bacteria, especially around the toilet. Cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the bathroom can work really well. To clean your toilet with vinegar, pour a cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let sit overnight.
For extra-stubborn clogs, you can let the fizz mixture sit overnight or combine this method with plunging. If your toilet remains clogged or continues to get clogged, this may be an indication of plumbing problems such as mineral buildup or pressure issues.