By Heloise Cruse
King Features Syndicate
DEAR HELOISE: I have a dark stain inside the toilet bowl at the waterline. Any hints on removing it once and for all? — Barbara, Houston
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It could be mold or mildew that forms, especially in humid conditions like Houston. One hint: Pour several cups of full-strength white or apple-cider vinegar into the bowl. Let stand for five to 10 minutes, then scrub and flush.
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Remove the water from the bowl (turn off the water valve to the tank and flush until the bowl is empty). Place toilet paper around the bowl, saturate with vinegar and let soak for a while, rewetting several times. Then, scrub with a plastic brush — do not use anything that will scratch.
If the stain remains, you may need to use a commercial toilet-bowl cleaner. Some have warnings to use only on white fixtures, since they can etch the colored ones. Be sure to read the labels carefully. — Heloise
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
