Black Stuff In Bottom Of Toilet Bowl (Causes,  Solutions & Preventive Tips)

Have you discovered some black stuff in the bottom of your toilet bowl? 

Does it become your headache as it looks disgusting while using the toilet?

So, I want to know what causes black stuff in the bottom of the toilet bowl and how to get rid of them. 

Black Stuff can be caused by many reasons, including mold, bacteria, or due to hard water mineral deposits. Whatever the reason, you can remove the black stuff using a commercial cleaner or simple DIY hacks.

In this article, we’ll discuss the black stuff in your toilet bowl, what causes it, and how to clean it. You’ll also learn to prevent the black stuff from further forming. 

So let’s get started!

What Are The Black Stuff In The Bottom Of The Toilet Bowl?

The black spots or stuff in your toilet bowl are likely to mold and mildew, bacteria, or mineral deposits due to hard water in your toilet.

If the black spots are in the toilet bowl above the waterline, it might be black mold. Or if the black spots are seen below the bowl’s waterline level, then the manganese deposits can be the culprit.

What Causes Black Residue In Toilet Bowl?

Several things can cause black stuff in your toilet bowl. Here we discuss some of the possible reasons.

• Mold & Mildew

One of the key reasons for black stuff in your toilet bowl is due to mold & mildew. These both are a type of fungus that loves to grow in dark and damp areas like the bottom of your toilet bowl. When mold & mildew grows there, it looks like black stuff. However, it can also be brown, green, or orange. 

Toilet bowls have a set of nozzles that dispense water every time you flush. With time, sands (read about toilet sands) which is known as sediments from the water accumulate around the nozzles. Also, the mineral deposits from hard water and small pieces of dirt accumulate there, creating a perfect place for thriving mold and mildew.

However, this one kind of spore is dangerous for health if inhaled. So once you discover, removing them would help prevent stains from spreading and threatening health risks.

• Bacteria 

Bacteria can also cause black stuff in your toilet bowl, as toilet bowl bottoms are ideal for thriving bacteria due to its damp and dark condition.

Bacterias are toxic to human health. It causes several infections, such as wound infections, urinary tract infections, and even pneumonia. 

The worst thing is these bacterias have antibiotic-resistant properties, making the treatment difficult if they infect you. So bacteria should be removed as soon as you discover the black stuff.  

• Mineral Deposits By Hard Water

If your bathroom water is hard, then it can cause black stuff. Hard water contains tiny minerals collected in areas with a high flow rate. It mostly happens when the stream is heaviest.

These minerals appear in black and sometimes in gray (read for 7 Grey stains on toilet bowl) or brown lines. It creates a ring in your toilet bowl with a water line where the water flow is strongest. 

Though mineral deposits don’t threaten your health, it makes your toilet bowl look disgusting. So before the mineral deposit occurs larger buildup, remove it soon.

How To Clean Black Stuff In Toilet Bowl

Cleaning black stuff from your toilet bowl requires some items and a little elbow grease. There are various ways to remove the black residues from your toilet bowl. Here we discuss the 6 easy methods for cleaning your toilet bowl bottom. 

We care about your pocket. So our first 4 methods are about homemade remedies. If the black stains are not that deep, hopefully you can successfully remove them by following these methods. But, if they are stubborn and deep, it’s better to use a commercial cleaner. 

Tips For Preparation To Clean The Black Stuff From Toilet Bowl

To clean the black spot in the toilet bowl, prepare before you start any cleaning method. 

• Shut off the main water valve in the wall behind your toilet. Turn the valve clockwise until it stops.

• Now drain the toilet bowl water. You can flush it until the tank is empty or use a bucket to remove the water.

• If you’re using a brush, pick nylon bristles instead of traditional ones with wire bristles, as they can scratch and damage the porcelain. Otherwise, you can use a pumice stone if the stain is stubborn. 

• If you’re using commercial cleaners, follow the instructions on the packaging label. Otherwise, you can use some natural cleansing solutions already at home.

Method 1: Bleach

Bleach is powerful for killing molds and bacteria and removing stains from your toilet. This method might be a little time-consuming, but a guaranteed way to prevent black stuff from forming in your toilet.

Things You’ll Need

• 1 cup of bleach
• A toilet brush

Cleaning Procedure

1. Flush your toilet. So that the toilet primarily clean itself and bring the fresh flow of water

2. Pour 1 cup of bleach into the bowl.

3. Stir the water bowl using a toilet brush. Once bleach gets mixed with the water, thoroughly scrub to remove the black stuff.

4. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes and kill all the mold and bacteria.

5. Flush several times to clean and remove all the bleach and remainder

Method 2: Vinegar And Baking Soda

If you prefer a homemade solution, you can try vinegar and baking soda, which are easily available in your kitchen.

Things You’ll Need

• 1 Cup of baking soda
• 1 Cup of vinegar
• Nylon-bristle toilet brush

Cleaning Procedure

1. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed by 1 cup vinegar.

2. Let the mixture work for 30 minutes.

3. Lift the lib and use a toilet brush to scrub the toilet bowl. You don’t need to scrub too hard because the vinegar and baking soda mixture already soften the stain.

4. Once thoroughly scrubbed in the toilet bowl, flush it several times until it is clean.

Method 3: Borax Paste

Many of you might have borax which works as a great household cleaner and comes in a liquid form. However, a borax paste is alone enough to eliminate the tough stains. 

Things You’ll Need

• Lemon Juice
• Borax

Cleaning Procedure

1. Mix 1 cup of borax with ¼ cup of lemon juice 

2. Stir the borax and lemon juice mixture until it gets into a paste form

3. Take some paste onto your toilet brush and apply it over the black stains or stuff.

4. Rub the borax paste evenly over the spots to completely cover them

5. Leave the paste for 20 minutes to work on the spot.

6. Scrub the black stuff with a toilet brush and rinse the toilet bowl with clean water.

Method 4: Borax And Vinegar

Both are amazing cleaning products. Using their mixture will remove any black hard water stains, molds, and bacteria. They are heavy-duty toilet cleaners that can cut through grime and stains.

Things You’ll Need

• 1 cup of white vinegar 
• ¾ cup of borax
• 10 drops of lavender essential oil
• 5 drops of lemon juice 

Cleaning Procedure

1. Mix all the above ingredients in a bottle or a bowl.

2. Clean the toilet with water and pour the mixture into the toilet bowl

3. Let the solution sit overnight. 

4. In the morning, scrub the toilet with a toilet brush or scrubber.

Method 5: Tartar & 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

Tartar and 3% Hydrogen Peroxide are the commercial products used to remove stains or black molds from the toilet bowl. If you don’t like bleach, these products will work best and are absolutely safe as cleansing agents. 

Things You’ll Need

• 3% Hydrogen Peroxide 
• Tartar
• Nylon bristle brush

Cleaning Procedure

1. Take a bowl and put in Tartar cream. Then gradually add  3% Hydrogen Peroxide into it. Combine the two items by constantly stirring until the mixture forms a paste.

2. Next, using a spatula, take some paste onto the brush.

3. Now apply the paste on the black stuff using the brush. Make sure you evenly cover the whole spot.

4. Leave the paste to work for 15-30 minutes.

5. Wash away the paste with water. If needed, repeat the procedure.

Method 6: Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Use any commercial toilet bowl cleaner if you’re out of time and looking for a quick solution to remove the black stuff from your toilet bowl. It can easily remove any black stuff from your toilet bowl and rust stains. It’s effective against both iron and manganese deposits.

Things You’ll Need

• Automatic toilet bowl cleaner

Cleaning Procedure 

1. Clean your toilet bowl using any commercial cleaners you like.

2. Now, flush the toilet and immediately drop an automatic cleaning tablet in the tank before it fills up again. Make sure you drop the tablet from the fill valve. 

3. Now let the tablet dissolve for 15 minutes.

4. Flush the toilet again, and the tablet gradually removes the black stuff from your toilet bowl.

5. Replace the tablet cleaner for 40-45 days.

How To Prevent Black Stuff In The Bottom Of Your Toilet Bowl

Prevention is always better than curing problems. So if you have already struggled with these black staff in the toilet bowl, make sure you stop them from returning with some precautions.

Tips To Prevent Mold In Toilet Bowl

Molds usually grow in damp and dark areas. Thus the toilet bowl is the ideal place for them. So follow the tips below to prevent mold in your toilet bowl.

• Clean your toilet bowl at least once a week and use anti-fungal sprays regularly 
• Keep the bathroom well-ventilated, so there is no moisture for thriving the molds. Open a window or keep a small dehumidifier in your bathroom.

Tips For Preventing Hard Water Deposits In A Toilet

If the culprit behind the black stuff is hard water supply in your toilet. You should follow the below steps to prevent. 

• Regular cleaning and maintenance is the first condition for preventing stubborn stains from hard water. 
• You can follow any method mentioned above, or if you find this hassle, you can always use a commercial toilet cleaner tablet to keep your toilet sparkle clean with every flush.

Tips To Prevent Bacteria In Your Toilet Bowl

Germs and bacteria may spread disease unless you carefully handle them. Practice these preventive steps in your everyday life to avoid growing them in your toilet. 

• Keep the toilet seat on after every use.
• Use a cleaning liquid to clean the toilet bowl that can kill different bacteria.
• After cleaning the toilet bowl, use a disinfectant spray on your toilet, toilet brush, and other components around your toilet, so no bacteria are left.

Related Questions

Why Is There Black Stuff In Toilet After Flushing?

If you see black stuff after flushing your toilet and you're sure the reason is not the hard water, then probably it would be the mold growing in your toilet tank and around your water supply pipes. The toilet pipe can be leaky or rusty, which makes it a perfect breeding place for mold. And this mold comes from the pipe into your toilet bowl after every flushing.

How To Remove Rust From The Bottom Of The Toilet Bowl? 

Mostly, rust occurs on the metallic parts of the toilet bowl. Here is a simple process to remove them.

• First, drain the water from the toilet bowl
• Sprinkle some baking soda into the toilet bowl
• Next, pour some vinegar into it and let it soak for one hour
• Lastly, flush off the vinegar and baking soda

If you don't have vinegar and baking soda at home, use Coca-Cola to remove rust stains and denture tablets.

Conclusion

Now you know what causes black stuff in the toilet bowl and how you can easily get rid of them. So you don’t have to worry anymore. Hopefully, you won’t face this issue in the future, and even if you have this problem, you can easily tackle it by following our guidelines. However, if the reason has any mysterious issues, you might seek a professional to help you.

Best of luck!