First, stop flushing with the lid up. Serratia sprays fine mist everywhere. You’re basically marinating your bathroom in red bacteria each time you flush. Close the lid, you animal.
Second, ditch your fancy cleaner. Use white vinegar and baking soda. Pour a cup of vinegar in the bowl, let it sit overnight. Then scrub with a pumice stone—the bacteria’s kryptonite. Scrub like you’re mad at it.
The Ultimate Weapon: Bleach Bombs
If that fails, make a bleach bomb. Pour a cup of bleach into the bowl, close the lid, and wait three hours. Then flush. Do not do this if you have a septic tank, or you’ll kill your yard’s ecosystem. You’re not saving the planet, but don’t go full villain.
What causes the toilet bowl ring? (Yellow, Black, Red, & Pink Rings)
Still red? Check your tank. The ring might be feeding on an old, rusted metal part. That ring is just a symptom of a deeper problem. Replace the tank’s fill valve with a plastic one. Expensive? Yes. But no more vampire lipstick.
