What to clean head/toilet with?

[sailak]

The Admiral is wondering if she could use Polident or Alka-Seltzer to clean the toilet bowl.

What do ya'll use?

[Tempest]

soft scrub...

[ToppDogg]

I agree on the soft scub, off topic question for you Sailak, I checked out your photo gallery and love your Dog, is that a Border Aussie?

[billyruffn]

What are you trying to remove? What’s down stream of the toilet bowl?

If you’re trying to remove the yellow/brown-ish stain/build-up on the head and hoses caused by the combination of urine and sea water, acids work well.

Dilute muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) is very effective, but must be used with great care and due consideration for the environment you’re pumping it into once it leaves the bowl. Dilute = 4 or 5 parts water to 1 part acid, very carefully pouring the acid into the water. As soon as you pour the mixed solution into the head and pump it into the hoses you’ll notice the chemical reaction -- bubbles, gurgles, etc. In addition to the necessary care in mixing and pouring the acid mixture, you should be aware that muriatic acid has been known to mess up the polymer structure of plastic parts of the head. Multiple cleanings with muriatic acid can cause plastic to become brittle and eventually crack / break. That said, it does work well in getting rid of the build up.

Another much more benign (but less effective) option is white vinegar. Pour a gallon or so into the bowl, let it sit for an hour or so, brush vigorously and pump it out. If the head and hoses have heavy build up the vinegar option may not be up to the task and you may need to clean the head with muriatic acid and replace the hoses.

[deniseO30]

the Admirable should use the Captain to clean the head (no that was not a typo )

[Minnewaska]

Raritan CP only

[ToppDogg]

Soft Scrub works good for me, we have terrible iron stains and it does the trick with a little bit of elbow grease.

[sailak]

Thanks folks.

ToppDogg - Katie is a Miniature Australian Shepherd. Wonderful dog.

Denise - The Admiral likes you're idea. Gee thanks.

[SlowButSteady]

I pour in a half-cup or so of vinegar whenever I leave the boat for more than a day or two (if I remember). I give the pump a 2 or 3 strokes so that there's a bit of vinegar left in the bowl and the hose to work on whatever build-ups are present. Usually, when I open the boat back up, a few quick swipes with the toilet brush and a flush takes care of any residual stains.

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by billyruffn

What are you trying to remove? What’s down stream of the toilet bowl?

If you’re trying to remove the yellow/brown-ish stain/build-up on the head and hoses caused by the combination of urine and sea water, acids work well.

Dilute muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) is very effective, but must be used with great care and due consideration for the environment you’re pumping it into once it leaves the bowl. Dilute = 4 or 5 parts water to 1 part acid, very carefully pouring the acid into the water. As soon as you pour the mixed solution into the head and pump it into the hoses you’ll notice the chemical reaction -- bubbles, gurgles, etc. In addition to the necessary care in mixing and pouring the acid mixture, you should be aware that muriatic acid has been known to mess up the polymer structure of plastic parts of the head. Multiple cleanings with muriatic acid can cause plastic to become brittle and eventually crack / break. That said, it does work well in getting rid of the build up.

Another much more benign (but less effective) option is white vinegar. Pour a gallon or so into the bowl, let it sit for an hour or so, brush vigorously and pump it out. If the head and hoses have heavy build up the vinegar option may not be up to the task and you may need to clean the head with muriatic acid and replace the hoses.

No doubt muriatic acid will do the job at 5 to 1 (5 parts water to 1 part muriatic), but 10 to 1 would be safer. 10 to 1 is the highest concentration recommended in the ceramic tile trade for acid washing glazed tiles, because higher concentrations can etch the glaze which enables crud to stick better. The porcelain bowl is made much like a porcelain tile, just different in thickness. Brand name vinegar is usually at a 5% strength, which would be about 10 to 1 for muriatic, but even at 5% muriatic is more tenacious than vinegar.