I'm in BIG trouble!

[RangeMaggotBob]

A couple of weeks ago I put a little RV anti-freeze in the all the traps in the trailer, and thought I would put just a little in the toilet. Checked it the other day, and it had leaked past the seal, which doesn't bother me, but now the toilet is stained bad! Pink or orange or whatever that color is. Any ideas on how to get that cleaned out? Do I dare use a little bleach in some water, or is that a no no? The toilet is porcelain; I'm wondering if that is going to be any easier as compared to some of the plastic ones. I'm very very lucky- my wife doesn't read the forums. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[emm-dee]

Porcelain is good in this case. I have problems with staining in the four toilets in my house due to well water. When they get stained, I put about 2-3 oz of bleach, let it sit for a couple of hours and then stain is gone. Occasionally I need to run a brush on the porcelain if the stain gets heavy. I don't know if that will work on anti-freeze solution stains but it shouldn't hurt anything.

I read in other threads some suggestions to occasionally add a little bleach to the black tank. If you're not comfortable doing that then use a big sponge to soak up the bleached water after it has done it's job.

Pretty sure there are other products which the next posters will introduce us to. But, bleach is cheap and I'm pretty thrifty (except when it comes to modding the trailer or Harley).

[RangeMaggotBob]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I was just a little concerned about bleach going into the black tank. And I know all too well about well water staining the toilets, sinks, and showers. After we spent 2K buying an iron filter, we had to replace all the galvanised pipe with sched. 80 PVC. Why wouldn't they use that in the first place?!? Again, thanks.

[Dwilcox]

If it is the RV antifreeze the pink should just wash off with use. DW freaked out the first time I pored it into the traps and got some on the shower pan, kitchen sink, & lav. all plastic fixtures in the Jayco. A little scrubbing or just use them and it goes away quick.
Nice that the lacrosse's only plastic fixture is the lav.
If it was a permanent stain, the manufacturer would be replacing a bunch of fixtures, I would think.
Just my experience, YMMV

[RangeMaggotBob]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

[Witch Doctor]

I don't think Bleach would hurt your tank at all, it is plastic, I think that I would be more concerned with the toilet bowl seal, that is rubber. What you might do is shut your water off, put some gloves on and depress that flapper and then scrub the area with some CRC. You are lucky that it is porcelain. That should take the discoloration out. I had some on my shower pan and it cleaned right up. So porcelain shouldn't be a problem to clean up.

[heavynlori]

Some Bar Keepers Friend or Soft Scrub will work too - that is what I use for the hard water on ours

[Pipeman]

We use dawn dish soap to wash ours after the antifreeze leaves a stain. Always washes off right away.

[A32Deuce]

Valterra bowl cleaner removes any stain from RV af.

[Flybob]

Standard RV antifreeze should not stain. If you need to use bleach, dampen a cloth and carefully apply to the stain, Do not pour bleach water solution into the bowl. Although it will not hurt the bowl, it will damage the bowl seal.

[AquaMan]

Have never had the antifreeze stain anything. The toilet and shower "stains" are usually gone by the time I'm done flushing the system out.


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[DTraband]

Try Mr. Clean Eraser.

[grangalo1812]

Originally Posted by tdst51

A couple of weeks ago I put a little RV anti-freeze in the all the traps in the trailer, and thought I would put just a little in the toilet. Checked it the other day, and it had leaked past the seal, which doesn't bother me, but now the toilet is stained bad! Pink or orange or whatever that color is. Any ideas on how to get that cleaned out? Do I dare use a little bleach in some water, or is that a no no? The toilet is porcelain; I'm wondering if that is going to be any easier as compared to some of the plastic ones. I'm very very lucky- my wife doesn't read the forums. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

If I was you, I would be more concerned about the interaction between antifreeze and bleach in the tank.

Don't worry! We have a porcelain toilet and the antifreeze stains goes out every spring, when we flush the system with water!

[NWT Rick]

We have a porcelain unit in our travel trailer and we only use a powdered cleaner that we get from the RV dealer and it works real well. I would not mix the bleach with the anti-freeze just in case of some kind of nasty chemical reaction.

2008 GMC Sierra 2500 Heavy Duty
2015 Flagstaff 34' Lite

[nodrawers]

Just curious. What brand of anti-freeze did you use?

[j free]

One plus with porcelain is on bad stains or build up you can use 1000 or 2000 grit wet/dry paper and can sand it. Will take built up items like hard water calcium off and polish the porcelain at same time. Cant do this on fiberglass or plastic for obvious reasons. I got this info from American Standard.

[Gee Whiz]

tell me why would u leave antifreeze in the toilet bowl?????/

[TURBS]

To keep the seal soft and pliable.
Also to help form a better seal.

Same reason you leave water in the bowl.


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[silverback 35ts]

Originally Posted by tdst51

A couple of weeks ago I put a little RV anti-freeze in the all the traps in the trailer, and thought I would put just a little in the toilet. Checked it the other day, and it had leaked past the seal, which doesn't bother me, but now the toilet is stained bad! Pink or orange or whatever that color is. Any ideas on how to get that cleaned out? Do I dare use a little bleach in some water, or is that a no no? The toilet is porcelain; I'm wondering if that is going to be any easier as compared to some of the plastic ones. I'm very very lucky- my wife doesn't read the forums. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

You have two things going on here;
1) the stain, and since you said the bowl is porcelain you will have no problem, i would stay away from "bleach" as that has a chance of making you situation with the bowl seal worse (bleach can damage the rubber plumbing parts) so just use a bowl cleaner (if it does not just flush away) and in most cases it will.
2) having a panic attack over something you did "correctly" you were suppose to add the antifreeze to your water system but you and all others need to stop and take a deep breath, as if you are suppose to use a product every year to protect your water system, "why" would it be made and stain all it touches? It will not leave a permanent stain in most cases and in something as hard as porcelain you should always be ok.

Hope this help and in the end Happy Camping

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by tdst51

A couple of weeks ago I put a little RV anti-freeze in the all the traps in the trailer, and thought I would put just a little in the toilet. Checked it the other day, and it had leaked past the seal, which doesn't bother me, but now the toilet is stained bad! Pink or orange or whatever that color is. Any ideas on how to get that cleaned out? Do I dare use a little bleach in some water, or is that a no no? The toilet is porcelain; I'm wondering if that is going to be any easier as compared to some of the plastic ones. I'm very very lucky- my wife doesn't read the forums. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

What's your number.....I'll call her & let her know...

Seriously......NO BLEACH....as mentioned in will damage the bowl seal & once in the tank could damage your dump valve seals.

A little cleanser on a sponge should get it right off.