Step 2. Reach for a professional strength acid gel cleaner like Zep Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner (Buy from Home Depot, $5.98).The gel is often strong enough to cut through even the toughest of stains.

Photo: James Austin. A toilet brush that’s not past its prime: A good toilet brush lets you get under the lip of the bowl to scrub out grime that you can’t see and covers a wide enough area ...