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Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipes (Formula & Ingredients)

Last updated: Jun 26th, 2022 by Tyler White

Cleaning your toilet bowl can be quite difficult if you don’t have the proper cleaners. To make things worse, many people are grossed out when it comes to cleaning a toilet. Ultimately, the chemicals you can find in most stores are pretty toxic and make the whole act of cleaning a bowl much worse.

Therefore, we are going to show you some of the best homemade recipes that will help you clean your toilet’s tank and bowl naturally. But first, let’s take a look at some facts about commercial toilet bowl cleaners and why they are so bad for you.

Table of Contents

  • Toxic Toilet Bowl Cleaners
  • Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaners – 5 Ingredient Tricks
    • 1. Borax
    • 2. Citric Acid
    • 3. Essential Oils
    • 4. White Vinegar
    • 5. Baking Soda
  • Formulas For Natural Toilet Cleaners
    • Heavy-Duty Formula
    • Tea Tree Formula
  • Final Verdict

homemade toilet bowl cleaner

Toxic Toilet Bowl Cleaners

A lot of bowl cleaners you can find contain chemicals that are pretty harsh and can pollute your environment. For example, hydrochloric acid is a very corrosive chemical that can be found in many store-bought cleaners. Hydrochloric acid also poses risks not only to the person cleaning the toilet but to pets and children in the vicinity as well.

Another harmful ingredient that is present in most cleaners is chlorine bleach. As this ingredient is caustic, it can destroy, corrode, or burn living tissue. Furthermore, it can easily aggravate asthma symptoms.

If you must use a cleaner from the store, we recommend looking for an option that doesn’t contain toxic chemicals like those above. If you want to finish using your current cleaner but contains ingredients like those mentioned, we recommend using gloves, a mask, or other appropriate protective gear. For the future, consider making your own non-toxic cleaner following the steps here to avoid any damage to yourself, your toilet, or others in your household.

Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaners – 5 Ingredient Tricks

Using a homemade toilet bowl cleaner is a great option as it allows you to only use the ingredients you think are the safest for you and your family. There are four key ingredients mentioned below that you can use to create a homemade cleaner. All of them are quite effective and readily available.

1. Borax

One of the biggest misconceptions about borax is that it is as toxic as boric acid. However, borax is not any more toxic than regular table salt or baking soda. In fact, borax is very effective when it comes to removing stubborn stains. It is a multi-purpose natural cleaner that effectively deodorizes and whitens surfaces to remove stains.

2. Citric Acid

Another great way to remove stains from the surface of your toilet bowl is by using citric acid. This product easily binds to dirt and bacteria, making them easier to remove afterward. It can also get rid of tough stains caused by hard water. Found naturally in lemon juice, citric acid is considered to be one of the least dangerous natural toilet cleaners.

citric acid homemade cleaner

3. Essential Oils

Another awesome ingredient used in DIY toilet cleaners is essential oils. Most plant-based essential oils have antiviral and antifungal properties. For example, one of the most commonly used oils is tea tree oil, which is known for being very effective in killing bacteria. Other types of oils, such as lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, and citrus oils, also have antibacterial properties to help with your at-home cleaner development.

4. White Vinegar

You may have already heard about the benefits of white vinegar when it comes to natural cleaning. White vinegar is a mild acid and is one of the most effective natural ingredients you can use. It can easily eliminate any odors and disinfect your toilet while offering a very safe option for your DIY cleaner.

5. Baking Soda

Baking soda is an amazing ingredient you can use to make a powerful toilet bowl cleaner. Although it doesn’t have any bacteria-fighting benefits, it does an amazing job of keeping the toilet free from ugly rings, debris, and stains. Especially when combined with white vinegar and some essential oils, it can make a really powerful bowl cleaner and stain remover.

Formulas For Natural Toilet Cleaners

Now that you know what ingredients can be used to make an effective toilet cleaner, it is time to move on to the actual formulas. We have a couple of different options to recommend:

Heavy-Duty Formula

This formula is ideal for any type of tough cleaning. It will effectively get rid of all the odors and bacteria attached to your toilet bowl. To make this solution, you will need three-quarters of a cup of borax, ten drops of lavender essential oil, five drops of lemon essential oil, and one cup of white vinegar. Combine all these ingredients in a bottle or a bowl.

Before you use the mixture, you’ll want to wet the inside of the bowl by either flushing the toilet or simply swishing some water all over the inside of the bowl. After you have done that, pour the solution into the bowl and let it sit overnight. Make sure that no one uses the toilet during this period. After letting the mixture sit, scrub the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush and flush the toilet to remove all residue.

Tea Tree Formula

For the tea tree formula, you need half a cup of baking soda, one cup of distilled white vinegar, and about half a teaspoon of tea tree oil. First off, combine the white vinegar with the tea tree oil, ideally in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture all over the bowl, lid, toilet seat, and handle. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then sprinkle the baking soda into the bowl. Once the baking soda has reacted with the vinegar, scrub the inside of your toilet bowl with a brush and use a clean cloth to wipe off any remaining solution afterward.

tea tree oil cleaner recipes

Final Verdict

Most cleaners you can find in stores nowadays contain toxic ingredients that are a threat to your health. On the other hand, using natural ingredients is both cheaper and, more importantly, way less dangerous. We’ve provided a couple of options to meet any of your cleaning needs. If you are struggling with stubborn stains, the heavy-duty formula is the way to go. For some less stubborn stains, the tea tree formula is also very effective and simple to make and use. Ultimately, by creating your own cleaners at home, you’ll create a safe, clean environment for cleaning your bathroom every time.

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