The toilet seat is the toilet part that you get into contact with when using the facilities. So it’s important to keep it fresh and clean. Since any dirt or stains on the seat makes the experience of using the toilet extremely uncomfortable, you always want to know what caused it. So why is my toilet seat turning blue?
A toilet typically turns blue due to one of the following reasons;
- Bacterial growth
- Presence of dissolved copper in water
- Chromhidrosis
- Dye from blue jeans
While blue stains caused by dye are easy to wipe off, you must use special products to eliminate the other kinds of blue stains.
Keep reading to learn more about what turns a toilet seat blue, a popular myth associated with this phenomenon, and what products you should use to clean.
What Causes Toilet Seats To Turn Blue?
The occurrence of blue coloring on your toilet seat can be a result of several factors, including;
1. Bacteria
Some species of bacteria can interact with water and cleaning reagents and turn the toilet seat blue. One such species of bacteria is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which feeds on detergents, producing a blue residue called pyocyanin.
You can tell the blue coloring on your toilet is caused by bacteria when streaks are visible on the seat. However, the likelihood of having these bacteria on your toilet seat is low, especially when you observe proper hygiene.
2. Dye from clothes
New clothes often come with deep dyes that can stick to your skin, hair, and any surface with which the cloth comes into contact. Most jeans, especially new blue, navy blue, and black have been reported to leave stains on skin and chairs.
Hence, a toilet seat can turn blue due to the dye from your new blue jeans. This can happen when you sit on the seat with your jeans on or when the dye sticks to your thighs before later transferring to the toilet when you sit.
3. Chromhidrosis
Chromhidrosis is a disorder that causes the infected person to secrete colored sweat. The sweat produced by chromhidrosis patients can be blue, yellow, black, brown, and green. If you or someone who also uses your toilet has this disorder, there’s a chance of the toilet seat turning blue.
If you notice your toilet seat turning blue and suspect you’re suffering from chromhidrosis, you don’t need to worry because the condition is benign. You also don’t need to be worried about getting infected by someone else because chromhidrosis is not communicable.
Though chromhidrosis can affect anyone regardless of age, it is most likely to affect teenagers. Since the illness is relatively uncommon, there’s only a slim chance that it’s the reason your toilet seat turned blue.
4. Presence of dissolved copper in water
Using copper pipes opens up the possibility of having discolored water in your toilet. The continued usage of the copper pipes eventually causes corrosion, increasing the amount of dissolved copper in the water.
Dissolved copper typically gives tap water a greenish-blue tint. If this water comes into contact with your toilet seat or any white surface, it’s likely to leave a blue-green stain.
How To Clean A Stained Toilet Seat?
Cleaning your toilet seat properly can help prevent it from turning blue. Here’s the proper way to clean the seat;
- Find gloves, toilet detergents, a clean cloth or towel, a toilet brush, and a bucket of water.
- Put on gloves and raise the toilet lid.
- Apply any toilet detergent of your choice to the entire toilet seat surface.
- Let the detergent sit for as long as specified by the manufacturer to kill any bacteria present.
- Scrub the seat thoroughly using the toilet brush. Make sure you scrub everywhere, including the hard-to-reach parts of the toilet seat. Clean the hinges too.
- Rinse the toilet seat with clean water.
- Use a towel or cloth to dry the toilet seat.
What Can You Use To Clean A Blue Toilet Seat?
Cleaning a blue toilet seat can be challenging, but the following products can make it easy.
Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is effective in removing color stains from various surfaces because of its ability to dissolve a wide range of materials. Here’s how to use rubbing alcohol to clear the blue stain on your toilet seat;
- Dip a towel or soft cloth in rubbing alcohol solution
- Dub it all over the stain on the toilet seat
- Let the towel sit on the stain for about a quarter of an hour
- Rub the stain gently to remove it
- Rinse the toilet thoroughly after you finish rubbing
Diluted bleach
Bleach is one of the best whiteners available in the market that also kills any present bacteria. Follow the step below to clean a blue toilet seat using diluted bleach;
- Step 1: Dilute the bleach according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, a 1 to 10 ratio of bleach to water works well.
- Step 2: Place a protective covering, such as plastic, on the toilet floor to prevent discoloration.
- Step 3: Use a sponge to apply the solution to the stained area of the toilet seat. Be sure to cover the stain completely.
- Step 4: Let the bleach sit for about 15 minutes.
- Step 5: Use a toilet brush or sponge to gently scrub the stain off the toilet seat.
- Step 6: Now, thoroughly rinse the toilet seat with water.
Vinegar and baking soda
The combination of vinegar and baking soda is incredibly effective at removing stains. Since vinegar is acidic and baking soda is alkaline, mixing the two chemicals results in bubbling and fizzing as the carbon dioxide tries to escape. This fizzing and bubbling remove the stain from the toilet seat.
Here’s how to use vinegar and baking soda on your toilet seat;
- Make a vinegar solution by mixing equal amounts of water and vinegar in a container
- Spray the vinegar onto the stain on the toilet seat or apply it with a sponge
- Let the applied vinegar sit for around 15 minutes
- Sprinkle baking soda onto the stained areas and cover them completely
- Gently scrub the toilet seat as the vinegar and baking soda mixture fizzes
- Rinse the toilet seat with clean water
Blue Toilet Seat Myths
Some of the most prevalent myths regarding blue toilet seats relate to illness and pregnancy. The most common of these myths is the blue toilet pregnancy myth.
The blue toilet seat pregnancy myth says that a toilet seat turns blue when a pregnant woman uses it. However, even though many people think this is true for various reasons, there is no scientific proof.
Hence, though women undergo a lot of change when they get pregnant, there is no indication that any of the hormones or changes associated with pregnancy turns toilet seats blue.
Another myth says that a blue toilet seat indicates that the user has diabetes. However, this myth also has no scientific basis.
FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about blue toilet seats.
No, a detergent can’t make a toilet seat turn blue. Even if the detergent is blue, it rinses off once you wash it away. However, the detergent can act as a substrate for certain bacteria that will turn the toilet seat blue.
A blue toilet seat doesn’t always mean you should see a doctor, but you should go to one if you notice that your sweat is colored.
You can prevent your toilet seat from turning blue by cleaning it regularly to avoid any build-up of dirt. If you live in an area with hard water or suspect your pipes are corroding, use a water softener to prevent stains.
Conclusion
Common reasons for blue toilet seats include bacterial growth, new blue jeans, dissolved copper in the water supply, and chromhidrosis. Despite most people reporting that their toilet seats turned blue after they got pregnant, there is no direct scientific proof that pregnancy can do that.
Since using normal toilet cleaners won’t work on blue toilet seats, you should use products like bleach, rubbing alcohol, and a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Whichever product you choose, allow it to sit on the stain for at least 15 minutes to ensure the best results.