How to Clean Toilet Siphon Jet Hole: 3 Effective Solutions

Siphon jet holes should stay cleaned to enjoy a powerful flushing mechanism in your toilet each time. However, these holes can get clogged with bacteria and mineral deposits over time. So, how to clean toilet siphon jet hole when it’s clogged?

You can use the natural combination of vinegar and baking soda to remove mineral deposits from hard water or a simple bleach solution to clean the bowl from bacteria stains.

Please continue reading to learn the steps of each method below, but first, let’s determine the signs that tell you when to clean the siphon jet hole.

Signs That Your Toilet Siphon Jet Hole Need to Be Cleaned

A toilet has two types of holes- jet and rim holes.

1. The rim holes are small openings under the rim that allow the water from the tank to flow down to the bowl.
2. Meanwhile, the toilet jet hole location is near the bottom of the toilet bowl, which propels the water from the rim to flush more strongly down the drain.

However, the jet hole can get discolored and clogged over time due to bacteria and mineral deposits. Start cleaning when you see these signs. 

1. Dark or orange spots
2. Chalky white and rust stains
3. Won’t flush properly (e.g. water drains slowly in the bowl, water doesn’t swirl anymore)

Here’s a diagram showing where the siphon jet hole and rim holes are located.

Ways to Clean Toilet Siphon Jet Hole

Fortunately, it’s easy to unclog a siphon jet in the toilet from any bacteria and debris. Here are the easy methods below.

Method 1: Vinegar + Baking Soda Solution

If your toilet siphon jet hole looks scaly white with rust stains, then mineral deposits might have built up over time.

What To Prepare

1. Vinegar
2. Baking soda
3. Sponge
4. Cup or any small container
5. Toilet brush

Step-By-Step Instruction

1. Shut the water supply valve off to stop the water from filling the toilet tank.
2. Flush the toilet to empty the toilet tank. You can wait for the bowl to empty itself or scoop out the water with a cup to speed up the drying process. Soak up the remaining water with a sponge.
3. Pour vinegar and baking soda to clean the hole in the bottom of the toilet.
4. Let the mixture sit for an hour. You might see a fizz, which is normal due to a chemical reaction.
5. After the time has elapsed, scrub the mineral deposits away with a toilet brush. The mineral deposits should easily get loose at this point.
6. Open the water supply valve and flush to check whether the mineral deposits are gone. If stubborn dirt remains, apply a paste of equal amounts of vinegar and baking soda, then repeat the same process.

TIP: Avoid using an abrasive cleaning tool to prevent damaging the porcelain surface.

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Method 2: Duct Tape Method

When the flushing mechanism is not working properly, then you’ll need to clean the rim jets for a total overhaul. Like the other methods, you’ll need to close the water supply valve and empty the tank and bowl first. 

What To Prepare

1. Duct tape, preferably painter’s tape
2. Vinegar
3. Baking soda
4. Toilet brush
5. Small brush

Step-By-Step Instruction

1. Clean the rim and jet holes with a toilet brush to remove any loose dirt. Next, cover every rim hole with double layers of duct tape.
2. In a 1-gallon container, mix three parts vinegar and one part baking soda. Pour the mixture into the overflow tube inside the tank. It’s that vertical plastic tube that moves from the tank to the jets and holes of the toilet bowl.
3. Let the mixture sit in the jets for an hour. After the time has passed, remove the duct tape.
4. Open the water supply valve and flush the toilet. Your jets should be cleaned. If not, scrub the siphon jet hole with a toilet brush and the rim holes with a small brush.
5. Apply equal parts of baking soda and vinegar to stubborn spots, then repeat the same process until spotless clean.

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Method 3: Antibacterial Solution

A toilet siphon jet hole can also get clogged with bacteria, especially when rarely used. That type of stain usually looks dark or orange. When this happens, you want the siphon jets cleaned inside and outside.

What To Prepare

1. Bleach
2. Water
3. Wire brush
4. Chemical bowl cleaner
5. Scrubbing pad
6. Mirror

Step-By-Step Instruction

1. First, close the water supply valve and empty the bowl.
2. Combine bleach with water in a 1:10 proportion in a container, then pour into the overflow tube. Let the bleach solution sit for five minutes, then flush.
3. Grab a mirror and inspect each hole around the rim. Remove any dirt traces inside each hole with a wire brush.
4. Now, let’s clean the outer surface of the jets. Wet the scrubbing pad with a chemical cleaner and scrub each hole. Don’t forget the larger siphon jet hole at the bottom.
5. To finish up, pour another bleach solution into the overflow tube and flush after five minutes. The jets should be cleaned from bacteria at this point.

Tip: Wear a pair of gloves when scrubbing the jets to protect your hands from irritation.

Conclusion

I hope that you know how to clean toilet siphon jet hole after reading this article. The steps are easy if you can determine the cause of the stains. A bacteria stain usually looks orange or dark, while mineral deposits look rusty or chalky white.

Use a vinegar-baking soda mixture for mineral deposit buildup and a bleach solution for bacteria stains.

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