Most people refuse to remove stained toilet seats where they sit or replace them once the discoloration is removed. Cleaning expert and Instagram creator Nancy Birtwhistle uses a different approach. Instead of reaching for the chlorine bleach, she removes the toilet seat and lets it soak in very hot water with washing soda crystals before any scrubbing begins.
The biggest surprise is where the cleaning takes place. Instead of working around the toilet bowl, Nancy turns the bathtub into a soaking tub big enough to submerge the entire seat. After several hours, stains and built-up grime loosen across the entire surface, making the final cleanup much easier.
The toilet seat comes first
The process begins by removing the toilet seat from its hinges. Removing the seat allows full access to the top, bottom, hinge area and mounting points instead of cleaning one exposed surface at a time.
This step also gets to the places that collect the most but receive the least attention during regular bathroom cleaning.
Very hot water does most of the work
Nancy fills a bathtub with very hot water and adds about 100 grams of washing soda crystals before placing the toilet seat in the solution.
The entire seat stays in water for about four hours. During that time, the washing soda begins to remove body oils, soap residue, and stains that regular surface cleaning often leaves behind.
The hinge area receives special attention
After soaking, Nancy sprays the seat with antibacterial cleaner and uses an old toothbrush around hinges, mounting points and other tight spots.
These areas trap dirt because they are hard to reach when the seat is attached to the toilet. The soak softens most of the buildup before the brush touches the surface.
No need for chlorine bleach
Once the seat is scrubbed, a clean cloth removes any remaining residue before the seat goes back into the toilet.
Nancy skips the chlorine bleach for this method. Washing soda and warm water often do the heavy lifting, reducing the need for harsh chemicals while helping to preserve the finish on many toilet seats.
The method won’t reverse damage from cracked plastic or permanent discoloration from age, but it does provide one more option before replacing the seat. Sometimes changing where you clean makes a bigger difference than changing the cleaner.
Image credits go to the Instagram creator @nancy.birtwhistle
