if you’ve noticed a pink or red slimy
substance forming in your toilet bowl,
you’re not alone.
It is bacteria known as Serratia
marcescens, according to Roxanne
Johnson, North Dakota State University
Extension Service water quality
associate.
You may find this bacterium in moist
areas such as toilet bowls, sinks,
tiles, shower stalls, bathtub
enclosures and even your pet’s water
dish. The bacteria will grow in places
with materials containing phosphorus
or fatty substances such as feces
residues in your toilet or soap
residue in a pet’s dish or the
bathtub, shower and sink.
Occasionally the pinkish film appears
during and after new construction or
remodeling activities. You see it more
commonly when you have your windows
open during the summer months.
“I have observed this phenomenon form
in the toilet bowl along the water
line and at the openings where the
water enters the toilet bowl, usually
when I’m gone for a few days, or in my
guest bathroom that isn’t used often,”
Johnson says.
“The bacteria survive there because
the water sits for a period of time,
with the chlorine dissipating as it
stands,” she adds. “If you have an
activated carbon filter on your water
line, you are removing the chlorine
and may be supporting the growth of
the bacteria.”
While the genus Serratia is not known
to be a water-borne disease, it has
been known to be pathogenic to some
people, causing pneumonia, wound
infections and urinary tract
infections in some hospital settings.
The bacteria are difficult to remove
completely from your home, although
the stains are removed easily with a
general-purpose cleanser containing
chlorine bleach. You also may add ¼
cup of bleach to the toilet tank, let
it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then
flush the tank a few times to remove
all of the bleach. Do not leave bleach
sitting in your tank because it will
damage rubber valves and seals.
Johnson recommends you scrub with a
brush and household cleaner to clean
pet bowls, kitchen surfaces and
bathroom sinks, bathtubs and showers.
Follow this up with a strong chlorine
bleach solution, leaving the bleach in
contact with the surfaces for 10 to 20
minutes to disinfect the area. Then
rinse well with water.
To prevent the bacteria from
developing, wipe down and dry all
sinks and bathtubs after using them,
and use a cleaning solution that
contains bleach.
Best Answer
TSP stands for tri sodium phosphate . Anything not containing a lot of phosphate is not TSP ,so it can be anything. I would guess some kind of detergent. Detergents formerly contained significant amounts of TSP but now it is politically incorrect . So I get TSP and add a spoonful to the dishwasher for each load . It is also very useful as fertilizer in the yard but watch your pH level. My soil happens to be very acidic so TSP is a win-win fertilizer in my yard.