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How can I get rid of a scratch in my toilet bowl?

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Quickstart: The most recommended product, and readily available, is Barkeepers Friend ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . Several other products were found effective as well. And next time use a toilet auger ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (a snake where the first several inches is within a protective tube, not a regular snake or coat hanger :-)

Q. We have a badly scratched up toilet bowl due to a snake. Awhile back, my husband drained and painted it. I'm not sure what kind of paint he used but the areas he painted have since turned a yellowish color - YUCK! It is a Toto bowl - and runs about 300. I'm about to replace unless there is an alternative. Not sure if I should bother trying barkeeper since it was already painted?

Any advice is appreciated.

Jill Logan
- San Diego, California, USA
January 1, 2013

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Q. Thanks, the Barkeepers Friend ⇨
worked wonderfully. A different issue I have is that we had rust in another toilet tank, trying to get rid of it, I wiped the sediment, stirring it up, and when I flushed, the bowl became rusty. I tried to clean the rust with bleach and now have a pale blue tint where the water is. I can't find anything to get rid of this. Any ideas? thanks in advance. debbie

Debbie Giannuzzi
- Tampa, Florida, USA
January 3, 2013

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Q. I found this site while looking for a way to re-glaze the inside of my OLD toilet bowl.

My toilet is a "Standard" which came with the house in 1956. At some point I realized that there was a build up of calcium at the bottom of the bowl that was hindering a complete and smooth flush. After attempts to clean it with Comet failed, I emptied and dried the bowl. I got a pumice stone ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and worked on it... far too long... so I got a knife and scraped it, having more success.

Now, the larger problem I'm having is with the sides of the bowl, where I also used the pumice. They will not come clean. It's as though I have a permanent stain which gets really bad between weekly cleanings with Comet. I believe the pumice put hair-line scratches in the finish that were not apparent until time allowed for the stain to develop.

So I don't believe any of the remedies will help my situation, because I don't have surface scratches from an auger or a coat hanger.

I don't like the new toilets, how can I salvage/restore this old one? I know someone with a kiln, is there some way to patch this problem? Or would the whole bowl need to be re-glazed with a specific process?

Thanks for any advise to restore it.

Diane Mack
- Houston, Texas, USA
January 4, 2013

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Q. I was scrubbing my toilet bowl in my apartment and evidently overdid it and scrubbed too much in one area. This area near the waterline is now grayed rather than white. There are no scratches, though.

Will this much mentioned Barkeepers Friend solve this issue for me? I hope so.

Thanks.

J Gaines
- Burbank, California
October 18, 2013

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Scratched the toilet with pumice stone

Q. While using a pumice stone to clean a toilet in the basement apt my brother-in-law has kindly let us stay in for free while remodeling our new home we bought on auction. I have scratched it. Can someone give me advice? We can't afford a new toilet, but can't leave this either. It's an expensive one!

Kim Grantham
- Lillington North Carolina us
December 21, 2014

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Q. Husband blocked the toilet, as they do and used a coat hanger to clear it. When I next went to the loo I noticed all these black scratches on the toilet bowl, could have literally killed him, bathroom is 2 years old and cost £5000. So I've ordered some of the Barkeepers Friend ... do I have to drain the toilet or can I just pour some in?
Also he poured a cheap drain cleaner down the bathroom sink and lifted the chrome of the plug hole and it is now rusted -- stupid stupid man.

Rosemary A [surname deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- United kingdom
May 22, 2017

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Well, as they say, there's one in every crowd. I scratched my Black toilet up pretty badly scrubbing the bowl quite briskly, and when I got done I rinsed it out and let it dry and then the scratches all appeared, and the whole bowl was scratched considerably. I tried BKF and it didn't touch it. So I tried it again, maybe just slightly better. I did a lot of reading on the internet first before I did anything, and several sites said to use a pumice stone, so that is what put all the scratches in it. Unless someone can come up with something new that hasn't been posted yet I think I'm looking at a new toilet, and it won't be cheap since it's a one piece toilet.
As they say, you live and learn. Unless I can find a paint that is specifically used to paint the toilet bowl, I have learned a very expensive lesson: don't believe everything you read. Thanks so very much.

Robert Riegert
- Southampton New Jersey USA
June 28, 2017

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Easy way to empty toilet bowl of water

A. To a regular full bowl (after flushing), add enough water to make the water flush without using the handle (about 2-3 cups, more as needed). The bowl will then be almost empty because it doesn't fill back up unless you have depressed the handle. The small amount of water left probably is insignificant, but you could easily remove it with a large sponge. Then proceed with your treatment of the mineral buildup. Good luck!

Candace Allert
Just something I've learned. By D-I-Y - Wimberley, Texas, USA
October 11, 2017

A. I just had this problem (black scratches in a white toilet from a snake). I put Lysol toilet bowl cleaner (blue stuff) ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] in there and let it just sink to the bottom and sit there for an hour. Then I brushed, and the marks are gone. Too easy!

Annie Neroda
- PHOENIX, Arizona USA

A. After the plumber used both a snake and auger to clear a soft blockage, the toilet was metal marked in 5 places below the water line. Drained bowl completely and applied Barkeepers Friend ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] on a damp cloth. It all came off after vigorous scrubbing. Bowl must be dry. Wear rubber gloves ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . Thanks all.

Patricia Strang
- Cambria, California, USA

  Being in the UK couldn't find BKF here, so skimmed through the rest of the posts and was first of all pleased to find white vinegar in my cupboard (way out of date I'm sure, I've had it since brewing champagne back in '09 haha) and copious amounts of salt. Made myself a stinky paste and set to work on the rim of my toilet bowl which got scratched up sawing a stubborn bolt off (replacing toilet seat due to slamming my old one in a rage ... don't ask, I clearly have issues haha) wasn't convinced it was working at first, ended up ditching the sponge and really laying into it with my thumb instead and it slowly but surely faded away. The scratches are still there, but now only I will know rather than an obvious large grey smudge greeting anyone that lifts the toilet seat up

Thank you internet, was genuinely thinking I would need a new toilet as just knowing that mark was there was annoying me.

My eyes are slightly sting-y but it was worth it.

Kelly Owen
- Greater Manchester, UK
February 21, 2019

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Q. I found some Barkeeper's Friend powder in a gold tin here on Amazon. I've got some scratches under the water line of my toilet and I'm hoping it helps as I don't feel comfortable trying to drain it so I can get scrubbing directly on it. My plan is to leave it in there for an hour or so and then give it a light scrub with the toilet brush.

I've read through these comments but I have struggled to understand what procedure exactly I should do. Hopefully I've read things right though perhaps I don't even have the right version of BKF so who knows!

I had a huge limescale buildup and while removing it gradually over a couple of days I got a little impatient and used a knife to chip some away. Obviously now I know that this has left these grey scratches at the bottom of my porcelain toilet bowl. I can live with them but figured it would be good to give this a go to see if they can't be removed.

Any further tips and tricks with this powder would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Michael Coates
- United Kingdom
August 2, 2020

Thanks for the advice! OK so I found squeeze cup and was able to get all the water out. I put some powder in and let it settle for 5 minutes and then used a dish sponge with a very slight abrasive side and got scrubbing. Took a few minutes of work but if there's any scratch marks left then I can't see them. Absolutely magic.

This thread saved my toilet. I was close to getting a new one fitted as there were so many unsightly scratches (the picture doesn't really do it justice because of the lighting in my bathroom but trust me, there were plenty and now I can't see any!). Thrilled with BKM.

Michael Coates [returning]
- United Kingdom





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