Harpic is a popular toilet bowl cleaner as it’s sustained a longstanding reputation for getting your toilet cleaned quickly and thoroughly. If you get Harpic outside of your toilet bowl, such as on your toilet seat, it can cause a very distinctive blue stain almost immediately.
Harpic stains can occur with overuse since it contain ingredients that are fairly strong. The good news is that plenty of less invasive household products can help remove these types of stains pretty efficiently. As you might know, Harpic can cause blue rings around your toilet bowl that are very unsightly.
Even though Harpic might be good at cleaning a toilet, it might not be the best cleaner to continue using. Instead of continuing to use a product that won’t stop staining your toilet seat, you can use dye-free products that do just as good of a job restoring your toilet’s beauty.
Best Ways To Remove Harpic Stains From Toilet Seat
Harpic stains can’t be cleaned with more Harpic unfortunately. These stains are thankfully not too difficult to remove, although you do want to be careful how you go about cleaning these stains. You want to avoid any kind of reaction by using chemically dense products on top of other chemically dense products.
Before you attempt any of the cleaning methods below, you’ll want to start by giving your toilet a good wash with some water. You want to remove any remnants of the Harpic and any other chemicals that could be lingering on your toilet from a previous clean. This is just to ensure chemical residue doesn’t interact with the products discussed.
The same is true once you’re finished removing Harpic stains; give your toilet a really good rinse. It could be helpful to put some towels down around your toilet so you don’t end up making a mess on your floor as you rinse.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can get rid of those blue Harpic stains with ease and, while the smell is strong, the product itself is pretty easy on your toilet bowl. Rubbing alcohol is able to cut through the bright blue stains that Harpic produces quickly. If you let the rubbing alcohol sit on the stain for some time before scrubbing, you’ll have a better chance of getting rid of the stain.
The easiest way to use it is by putting it into a spray bottle and spraying the rubbing alcohol directly onto the stained area. Once you start rubbing at the stain with a scrub brush, you’ll be blown away at how easily the Harpic will come off. You can also soak a cotton ball or paper towel with some rubbing alcohol if you don’t have a spray bottle nearby.
Magic Erasers
Magic erasers are a fantastic way to get stubborn stains off of toilets without having to use liquid products. A magic eraser just needs to be soaked in some water until the eraser starts to produce foam. This foam is essentially activating the eraser’s ability to clean.
Rub the moist magic eraser over the stains until you watch them wash away. You should give your toilet a thorough rinse with water as well so that no residue from the eraser is left behind.
Bleach (Last Resort)
Bleach is excellent for restoring a toilet’s color, but it’s also strong, hard to use, and can interact with Harpic residue if you don’t use it appropriately. Be sure that Harpic stains are dry before attempting to use bleach. If possible, try the above methods first before using bleach.
Bleach should only be used to clean your bathroom occasionally as it causes wear on your bathroom surfaces. To use bleach, you’ll want to mix it with some water so it’s not as potent. Dip a sponge or brush into the mixture and use it to rub away the stains.
Be sure you’re wearing gloves and a mask while using bleach, and have a window open or a fan blowing clean air. Give your toilet a couple of flushes and rinse your toilet seat off very well with water. If you use bleach to clean your toilet often and don’t thoroughly rinse it off, it can actually start to stain your toilet or discolor it.
Why Does Harpic Stain Your Toilet?
One of the signature components of Harpic is its blue color. This color is achieved by dye which isn’t great for toilets since they’re almost always white. It helps you see where you’re directing the product, but when the color lingers, it can make your toilet look worse than before you cleaned it.
The dye is also a safety mechanism of sorts. Even though your Harpic bottle gives you specific instructions on how to use the product, the color is also meant to help you differentiate between the different chemicals you might be using to clean. This is meant to help you avoid accidentally mixing two products that could cause harmful fumes or a messy reaction.
Alternative Ways To Clean Your Toilet
If you’re tired of constantly having to deal with Harpic stains when you clean your toilet, it might be time to consider an alternative way to keep your toilet clean.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar are by far two of the best products to have in your bathroom for cleaning. Whether you use the two together or alternate between the two, they are both good at breaking down different types of stains and messes that naturally occur in a bathroom. What’s more, these two products don’t leave stains behind.
Disinfectant
One of the benefits of toilet cleaners like Harpic is their ability to clean a toilet while also getting rid of germs and bacteria. If you’re switching to a cleaner product or are going the vinegar route, you might not be efficiently getting rid of those microorganisms.
It’s a good idea to have some disinfectant nearby so you can give your toilet a quick wipe or spray at least once a week so nothing unsavory starts growing in your toilet.