Iron Out to remove toilet rust stains

[donajohn]

I have major rust stains in my toilet. I put some Iron Out into the bowl which is half full of water. It began to bubble some around the ball seal. Nowhere else. Just where the ball and bowl meet.
Is the Iron Out reacting with the rubber seal to create the bubbles? Is it damaging my seal? (I don't want to have to replace the seal. Yuk.)

[NJRVer]

If you have a porcelain toilet you can also use a product called "Whink". It's a liguid and you just squirt it in the bowl and the rust will disappear right before your eyes.

[John_Joey]

If you want to have happy thoughts, that bubbling may have been a good thing. You'll get hard water crystals buildup on the rubber seal causing them to leak. From time to time I'll put vinegar into the toilet bowl to keep that from happening.

Your Iron Out may have removed the crystals from the seal saving you the trouble of replacing it later on.

[donajohn]

Rust originated from water in a campground we've left already. So just looking to remove it from toilet.
So I tried it and worked great. Just wet some toilet paper, stuck it to sides of bowl, sprinkled Iron Out on and left it for 10 minutes. GONE! I'll know down the road if any damage to seal, but I don't anticipate it.
Thanks for all your input.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[CA_Traveler]

His post isn't clear as to the source of the rust.

[Old-Biscuit]

CA Traveler wrote:
I'd stop the rust. All hardware should be stainless or brass and not rust.

Sounds like the 'rust' is from his water source (Iron)

RV toilets use plastic inlet/water valve/parts;


OP.....
Iron Out doesn't harm styrofoam liners so it shouldn't affect toilet bowl seal

[CA_Traveler]

I'd stop the rust. All hardware should be stainless or brass and not rust.

[donajohn]

It says you can use it in your toilet tank (which has rubber seals) and your dishwasher (which has rubber seals). I just can't figure out what the bubbling was caused by. Maybe some matter stuck on the edge of the ball was reacting to the Iron Out.

[downtheroad]

My understanding is that Iron Out is very similar to CLR which is very corrosive.
I would be very careful using it around any rubber seals...

What warnings on on the label?