The unsightly sight of urine on your bathroom floor is an occurrence nobody wants to see, so it can be pretty annoying when you see urine around base of toilet. Many reasons can explain why urine accumulates on your toilet base, ranging from simple to more complex ones.
Urine around base of toilet problem occurs because of loose bolts, damaged or cracked toilet bowl, a plumbing system issue, and urine backsplash. A clogged sewer line or drain, loose tee bolts, or a deteriorated wax ring seal can also cause this problem.
Understanding what’s causing the urine to accumulate around your toilet base helps you find the appropriate solution. Due to this, keep reading for the cause and recommended fixes for each issue.
Urine Around Base of Toilet (Causes & Fixes)
| Problem | Causes | Recommended Fix | |
| 1. | Urine Backsplash | Poor aiming | Get a splash guard shield Provide a target for your children Encourage your household members to aim correctly, lift the seat, and sit properly |
| 2. | Faulty Tee Bolts | Loose tee bolts Worn-out tee bolts | Tighten the bolts Replace the bolts |
| 3. | Worn-out Wax Ring | Wear and tear due to prolonged us | Install a new wax ring |
| 4. | Cracked Toilet Bowl | Wear and tear Dropping heavy objects on it Poor repairs | Seal the cracks with a plumber’s epoxy Replace the bowl |
1. Urine Backsplash
We would like to think grownups can urinate without spraying the bathroom floor and toilet seat with urine, but urine backsplash happens often. Men who pee while standing can easily cause a backsplash when they do not aim well.
Also, you can miss the toilet bowl if you pee without lifting the seat. As for women, your pee can leak beneath your toilet seat and trickle to the toilet base if your urine comes out at high pressure and your seating angle is sharp.
In addition, kids who haven’t been completely potty trained can easily miss the aim.
Fix
- Aim the toilet bowl inside the sidewall when peeing while standing to avoid splattering.
- Provide your kids with toilet targets like the 75 Pack Toilet Targets for Boys (View on Amazon) that is sewage safe, 100% biodegradable, and dissolves in water. Alternatively, color the toilet water.
- Avoid urine splashing using a splash guard shield.
2. Loose Tee Bolts
Tee bolts connect a toilet to the bathroom floor and must be in great condition and tightened well. A gap between your bathroom floor and toilet may develop if the bolts loosen, causing urine leaks and accumulation.
Fix
- Tighten the bolts using a wrench, ensuring you make them snug. Use the right size wrench to keep the bolts from stripping, and do not tighten too hard to prevent the porcelain from cracking.
- If tightening the tee bolts doesn’t fix the problem, replace them.
3. Worn-Out Wax Ring
If you see urine around your toilet base, chances are the wax ring is worn out, thus not creating a proper seal.
Fix
Install a new wax ring. Here’s how to do so:
- Flush your toilet, then empty the bowl by fetching the water with a cup or absorbing it using a sponge.
- Open the tee bolts.
- Disconnect the toilet bowl from the flange and set it aside.
- Replace the damaged wax ring.
- Reinstall the toilet.
4. Cracked Toilet Bowl
You may also see urine around your toilet base if your bowl is cracked. Cracks can occur on your toilet due to old age, accidents, or from doing repairs.
When making repairs, you can accidentally drop a tool on your toilet bowl or overtighten the bolts. Also, the bowl can crack if a toilet paper holder, a vase, or anything else heavy falls on it.
Fix
Seal the cracks using a plumber’s epoxy or replace the toilet bowl.
How To Remove Urine Stains Around Toilet Base
After fixing the cause of the urine accumulation around your toilet base, you still need to get rid of the urine and its stains. It’s best to remove the urine around your toilet before it causes stubborn stains, getting rid of the odors in the process and keeping your bathroom germ-free and hygienic.
Here’s a look at different ways of cleaning urine stains around the toilet base.
1. Baking Soda and White Vinegar Solution
The baking soda’s excellent cleaning properties and white vinegar’s acidic nature and disinfecting qualities make this solution perfect for cleaning different surfaces. It helps removes stains, clean, and disinfect various floor types, including tiles, laminate, stones, vinyl, and porcelain.
- Collect the Materials
You’ll need white vinegar, a scrubbing brush, baking soda, towels, a mop, a bucket, and rubber gloves.
- Create the Solution
Mix equal amounts of baking soda and white vinegar in a container to form a paste.
- Apply the Paste
Put on rubber gloves, then apply the baking soda and white vinegar paste around your toilet base. Let the paste sit for a while; it could be 5 to 10 minutes or even overnight.
- Scrub The Toilet Base
Scrub around your toilet base using a scrubbing brush or a disposable toothbrush for 2 to 3 minutes until you get out all the stains.
- Wash The Toilet Floor
Pour warm water around the toilet to wash the stains you removed, then use a mop to wipe the floor. After that, dry the floor using a towel.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an affordable, highly effective cleaning product. It’s an excellent choice for cleaning urine stains around your toilet base since it is a powerful bleach and disinfectant.
It removes stubborn stains and kills harmful viruses and bacteria.
- Gather The Supplies
Get hydrogen peroxide, a scrubbing brush, liquid detergent, rubber gloves, microfiber cloths, a bucket, and a mop.
- Prepare the Solution
Take a spray bottle and pour hydrogen peroxide (2 tablespoons) and liquid dishwashing soap (1 tablespoon). Mix them by shaking the bottle.
- Use The Spray
Spray the toilet base with hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap solution, ensuring you target the stains. Apply the mixture to discolored toilet areas and parts with mildew and mold.
Let the solution sit for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- Scrub the Affected Area
Remove the urine stains around your toilet base by thoroughly scrubbing the place using a scrubbing brush. After that, rinse the area with water and wipe to remove the residue, then dry the floor using a dry towel.
3. White Vinegar With Grapefruit Oil
When you are not using grapefruit oil to tighten your pores, heal acne, lighten the skin, or remove makeup, you can use it to clean and remove urine stains on your toilet. The grapefruit oil’s antibacterial properties help remove stains.
Mix grapefruit oil with white vinegar.
- Get Supplies
You require grapefruit oil, white vinegar, rubber gloves, microfiber cloths, a bucket, a mop, and a scrubbing brush to create and use this homemade toilet cleaning recipe.
- Prepare the Solution
Pour white vinegar (1/2 cup) and grapefruit oil (10 to 15 drops) into a bucket, add warm water, and then mix the ingredient to form a solution.
- Use The Solution
Put on hand gloves, pour the solution over the toilet base, and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the mixture’s bleaching agent properties to loosen the urine stains.
- Scrub Your Toilet
Get a scrubbing brush and brush the toilet base gently, then pour water into the area to remove the stain residue. Next, mop the toilet base and then dry it with a towel.
4. Bleach and Water
Mix bleach and water, then apply it on the stained area, making sure you only focus on the affected area to avoid altering the caulk, toilet, and flooring color. Before scrubbing, allow the solution to sit for about 15 minutes.
Pour water around the toilet base to complete the cleaning job.
How To Protect The Bathroom Floor Around the Toilet
Minimize the risk of urine odors and stains around your toilet base using these strategies.
a) Recaulking
Examine the condition of your toilet’s caulk and if damaged, remove it and apply new caulk. Ensure you recaulk your toilet correctly and don’t leave any gaps that could cause urine leaks.
Consider using clear caulk instead of white because it is less susceptible to staining. Loctite 908570 Clear Silicone Waterproof Sealant (View on Amazon) is an excellent choice since it doesn’t shrink, peel, or crack and is suitable for bonding different materials like vinyl tile and marble.
b) Regular Bathroom Cleaning
Urine stains will unlikely form around your toilet base if you regularly inspect and clean your bathroom. Develop a habit of cleaning messes as soon as you make or notice them to prevent stains, odors, and a general unsanitary bathroom environment.
After cleaning your bathroom, neutralize any remaining odors using a deodorizer. These bathroom accessories are available in various forms, including candles, blocks, and sprays.
Use candles or blocks in large spaces like kitchens and living rooms and sprays in small areas such as bathrooms. Besides removing odors, deodorizers also improve the quality of air around your home.
c) Disposable Toilet Mats
These mats are useful, especially if you have children still undergoing potty training. They will prevent urine spills from reaching the floor and absorb the pee, forming a gel and keeping odors at bay.
The mats also stay dry because they have a waterproof backing and a soft top, providing an anti-slip surface. Furthermore, manufacturers create them to fit around your toilet base.
Make sure you dispose of the mats and lay a new one once their lifespan elapses, which can be around 4 to 6 weeks.
d) Splash Guards
These toilet accessories help reduce splashback and messy accidents while using the toilet. They direct the urine into the bowl, keeping your pee from leaking under the toilet seat when you sit to urinate.
Install a splash guard under your toilet seat and regularly disinfect and clean it using your preferred cleaning solution. They fit a majority of toilet seats, including elevated seats.
Final Thoughts on Urine Around Base of Toilet
You would not want urine pooling around your toilet base, but if it does, you must address the problem because urine stains and odors are unpleasant. Fortunately, you can fix this issue through a DIY project. This post offers the common causes of urine around the toilet base and their fixes.
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