When it comes to chores we all have to face when cleaning our home, cleaning the toilet bowl takes the cake as one of the worst.
If you’re the one who gets assigned the task, it feels like you lost a bet or drew the short straw.
But at the end of the day, keeping your toilet bowl clean is not only essential to making your bathroom look good, but keeping your bathroom sanitary. Bathrooms are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and all of that moisture can lead to mold and mildew.
So while cleaning your toilet bowl will never be a fun task, that doesn’t mean it has to be a struggle.
Finding the right product for cleaning the toilet can be a game changer and make your chores a little easier, especially if you make it a point to clean your toilet regularly.
And since we love the idea of making a gross task a little better, we’ve decided to make a list of the best toilet bowl cleaners.
Natural Cleaners
Vinegar
Chances are, if you’ve ever taken the time to clean anything with a natural product, then you’ve used vinegar.
White vinegar is not only an inexpensive cleaning product, it is extremely versatile. It can be used to clean practically every surface in your home, from the floors to your couch cushions, and even your vegetables. Your toilet bowl is no exception.
One easy way to regularly clean your toilet is to spray it down with white vinegar, let it sit for a little bit while you go about your business, then give it a good scrub with your toilet brush. Voila! Clean toilet. It will disinfect and help remove any odors.
If your toilet in need of a little more cleaning than usual, white vinegar is still a solid option. Empty your bowl of any water, then line it with vinegar-soaked paper towels. Next, fill the bowl with even more vinegar and let it soak for a few hours. From there, you should be able to easily scrub away any hard water stains.
Baking Soda
Baking soda, like white vinegar, is a commonly used cleaning agent throughout the home. Its uses are seemingly endless, and not to mention it’s affordable and environmentally friendly.
Known as a great stain remover, baking soda is a great option for cleaning your toilet bowl. Sprinkling a healthy layer around the toilet bowl and scrubbing is a good way to get rid of stains, without worry about damaging your bowl’s enamel.
Additionally, you can combine baking soda with our favorite friend white vinegar and create a nice little chemical reaction that is a bit tougher on stains. Use 1/2 cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Then give it a good scrub down with your brush and be sure to thoroughly rinse the bowl afterward.
As an extra step, you can even add a dash of tea tree essential oil to your vinegar mixture for some extra antibacterial protection and a nice smell.
Borax
Borax is another fantastic natural, multi-purpose cleaning product that will help you get your toilet bowl looking brand new.
Most commonly used for doing laundry, borax can be used in your bathroom to deodorize and remove stains from your toilet bowl.
Just like with baking powder, mixing borax with white vinegar will make your cleaning easier and more effective.
Sprinkle one cup of borax around the toilet bowl, then spray 1/2 cup of white vinegar around the bowl. Let this soak for a few hours, or even over night if you’re dealing with a seriously stained bowl. Then scrub it down with your toilet brush and rinse thoroughly.
Commercial Products
Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner
If you’d rather not try out any do-it-yourself remedies for a dirty toilet bowl but don’t feel comfortable using harsh chemical, Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner is a solid option.
This cleaner is plant-based and scented using essential oils, but still tackles stains left on your bowl.
It is non-toxic, septic safe, and doesn’t use any harsh chemicals, so you can feel comfortable using this in your home and around your family.
Mrs. Meyer’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Another commercial cleaner you can use without the worry is Mrs. Meyer’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner.
It is plant-based, biodegradable, and the ingredients are 98% naturally derived. With no dyes or harsh solvents, you can use this product safely as often as needed in your bathroom.
Another perk of this product is that it uses essential oils, and you can choose between lavender or lemon verbena. And honestly, who wouldn’t want their bathroom smelling like lavender?
Lysol Clean and Fresh Toilet Bowl Cleaner
While this product isn’t as green as the others, it is a convenient and effective choice for cleaning your toilet.
It has a special cling gel formula, meaning it is very easy to apply the product and let it soak for a bit while you go about your other cleaning duties. Also, the design of the bottle makes it easy to get the product into the hard to reach places, like under the lip of the bowl.
Since it doesn’t use bleach in its formula, you can use it without feeling like you need to open every single window in the house to get rid of the smell. On a side note, if you do use this or any other commercial product, never mix them with bleach, or you could create harmful fumes.
Just be mindful of questionable ingredients and how they could affect your household if you do decide to go with a commercial cleaner.
Keeping Your Toilet Bowl Clean
While cleaning your toilet bowl will never be a fun task, if you regularly use one of these cleaning methods it will never get out of hand again.
The best way to have a sparkling, white toilet bowl is by preventing any stains from popping up. Take a few minutes once a week to clean your bowl, and never again will you find yourself on your knees breaking a sweat trying to scrub off a hard water stain.
And after all, a clean home is a healthy and happy home!
If you have any questions or simply need assistance with a cleaning problem you can’t solve, reach out to us. We’re here to help.
