I Cleaned Mold Around My Toilet Base Without Making a Paste and I Didn’t Expect This to Work
Mold around the toilet base tends to show up quietly. At first it’s just a darker line near the floor or a faint musty smell that keeps coming back. I didn’t want to jump straight to harsh cleaners, so I kept the process simple and worked with baking soda, vinegar, light scrubbing, and time.
No paste. No pre-mixing. Just direct contact and patience.
What I used
- Baking soda
- White distilled vinegar
- A scrub brush
- A clean cloth
That was it.
How I cleaned the toilet base
I sprinkled baking soda directly around the base of the toilet, focusing on the areas where the discoloration was most visible. Then I sprayed white vinegar over the baking soda until it started fizzing. I let everything sit for about 10 to 15 minutes.
I didn’t scrub right away. Letting the mixture sit gave it time to loosen buildup and absorb moisture around the base.
After that, I scrubbed gently with a brush and wiped the area dry with a clean cloth.
What happened after cleaning
The mold lifted more easily than I expected. The darker patches faded first, then came off completely with light scrubbing. The smell disappeared right away and didn’t come back later in the day.
Drying the area made the biggest difference. Once the base was fully dry, it stayed clean instead of feeling damp again a few hours later.
Why I didn’t make a paste
A paste is usually helpful on vertical surfaces where cleaners slide off. Around a toilet base, that wasn’t necessary. The area already holds moisture, and sprinkling baking soda followed by vinegar created enough contact without adding an extra step.
This method relies more on time and drying than on thickness or strength.
When this method works best
This approach works well for surface mold caused by humidity, condensation, or minor moisture around the toilet base. It won’t solve deeper issues like mold under caulk, leaks beneath the toilet, or persistent water problems.
If mold returns quickly, the issue isn’t the cleaner. It’s moisture.
What I do now
I clean the toilet base regularly and pay more attention to airflow in the bathroom. Keeping the area dry has done more to prevent mold than switching to stronger products.
For early-stage mold around a toilet base, this simple approach was enough — and I’d use it again.