Toilet cleaning is often the last thing you want to deal with on your chore list. Although essential and used daily, many consider it a dirty job. It’s a necessity though, so let’s tackle it together.
There are countless commercial toilet bowl cleaners on the market to choose from that will get the job done, but many contain toxic ingredients. If that is something that you are concerned about, you’re in luck. There are a few homemade toilet cleaners that work well.
We’re going to flush out (pun intended) some of the best homemade toilet bowl cleaners to get your bathroom looking fresh and clean. These cleaners are healthier, more environmentally-friendly alternatives to get your bowl in tip-top shape.
Homemade Non-Toxic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipes
There are many options to get your bathroom and toilet clean today. From name brands at your local grocery store, ordering from specialty brands online, or homemade recipes, you’ll find something that meets your needs.
Many options for Many toilet bowl cleaners on the market today contain harsh chemicals that can pollute the environment. While these cleaners typically do a great job of cleaning, they can be harmful to you, your family, and the environment. With some store and online options, the cost has increased over the years. If cleanliness, health and cost are important to you, then a homemade toilet cleaning recipe might be just what you need.
We conducted a recipe round-up of some simple and safe ways to clean your toilet at home – methods that won’t sacrifice cleaning ability (or your budget!).
Recipe for Hard Water Stains
An easy 1-ingredient solution for your toughest stains.
Hard water stains are caused by a buildup of minerals in the water. As the water moves through the pipes in your home, it evaporates and leaves behind traces of minerals. These minerals can build up quickly in your toilet and cause unsightly stains.
Vinegar is a natural all-purpose cleaner. You can find it at any grocery store, either in apple cider, white, or cleaning formulas. When it comes to cleaning, stick to either cleaning vinegar or white vinegar. Cleaning vinegar is a stronger concentration of distilled white vinegar, and is preferred when using it to clean. White vinegar will do just fine if that’s what you have on hand though.
The Recipe..
Cleaning Vinegar or White Vinegar – Yes, that’s all!
Action Steps
- STEP 1: Remove all water from the toilet. Use a plunger to remove the majority of the water and then remove any excess with a towel or small cup.
- STEP 2: Pour cleaning vinegar (or distilled vinegar) into the toilet bowl until it covers the stains around the bottom of the toilet.
- STEP 3: Soak a few pieces of toilet paper in the vinegar, and apply it around the edges of the bowl to soak stains around the edge.
- STEP 4: Let the vinegar soak overnight.
- STEP 5: The next day, remove the toilet paper from the bowl.
- STEP 6: Using gloves and a toilet brush, scrub the whole toilet bowl. Flush the toilet and enjoy your shiny clean throne.
- STEP 7: If any stains remain, repeat these same steps again.
Our Thoughts of this Recipe
Overall, this appears to be a very easy way to clean your toilet. With only one ingredient, it is also very cost effective. You can purchase vinegar starting at around $2.50 for 64 fl. Oz. Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent without being corrosive or abrasive. One con we found about this method, is it does take time, as you need to let it soak overnight. So if time is not on your side for your home chores, try one of our other highlighted methods below.
Best Unique Recipe to Clean your Toilet
A relatively inexpensive and effective way to clean your toilet bowl.
This is definitely a unique method. If you find yourself out of vinegar, try some toothpaste. Every household has some on hand, and a little goes a long way. So if you find yourself in a pinch, grab some paste and get to it.
The Recipe..
Toothpaste – any brand will do.
Action Steps
- STEP 1: Remove the lid/seat of your toilet bowl.
- STEP 2: Squeeze a generous amount of toothpaste onto any visibly soiled or stained edges, as well as within the bowl itself.
- STEP 3: Use a toilet brush to scrub both the edges and the bowl of the toilet.
- STEP 4: Let the paste soak for approximately two hours. If you have multiple chores, start this first, then come back to it after the soak time.
- STEP 5: Use your toilet brush, as well as some water (preferably a bottle with a spray nozzle) to remove the toothpaste.
- STEP 6: Use a toilet brush to scrub both the edges and the bowl of the toilet again.
- STEP 7: Replace the toilet lid, flush, and you’re done.
Our Thoughts of this Recipe
The average household has toothpaste, making this a great option to try out.Most toothpastes contain the same active ingredients, so it shouldn’t make a difference what type/brand of toothpaste you have lying around to use.
This method also requires some “soaking” time, however, you only need to let it soak for about 2 hours, as compared to overnight.
Best Recipe to Remove Stubborn Stains in the Toilet
An easy, environmentally friendly, two-ingredient way to remove stubborn stains.
This one-two punch is great for those stubborn stains. Baking soda is a non-toxic household cleaner with numerous uses, including removing calcium buildups. The combination of vinegar and baking soda is a well-known tool for getting your home clean and deodorized.
The Recipe…
Distilled White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Action Steps
- STEP 1: Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the toilet bowl. Mix it around with a brush, and let sit for a minute.
- STEP 2: Add 1 cup of baking soda to the bowl and then add another cup or two of vinegar.
- STEP 4: Let this solution sit for 10 minutes.
- STEP 5: Use a brush to get the solution onto all areas of the toilet bowl and beneath the rim. Then let it sit for a while.
- STEP 6: Scrub away any remaining stains.
- STEP 7: Flush the toilet and marvel at your sparkling clean toilet.
Repeat these steps as needed.
Our Thoughts of this Recipe
With only two ingredients, it is cheap and environmentally friendly. It is also much quicker than the first two methods mentioned, as it does not need to soak for as long, offering a faster cleaning time, and great results.
Bonus Hack Recipes – Dishwasher Tabs & Toilet Cleaning Recipe
The Recipe…
Dishwasher Cleaning Tablets
Action Steps
- STEP 1: Drop a dishwasher tablet into your toilet bowl.
- STEP 2: Use a toilet brush to mix the water around and “swish” some of the solution made from the dissolving tablet onto all areas of the toilet bowl.
- STEP 3: Let this soak for several minutes, until the tablet is completely dissolved.
- STEP 4: Use a toilet brush to scrub the toilet bowl.
- STEP 5: Flush the toilet and enjoy the shine.
Our Thoughts of this Recipe
Dishwasher tablets are another common household item. Do not go out and buy any sort of particular tablet to use – any kind/brand should work well. After the tablet fully dissolves, you may find or see the plastic wrapping of the tablet either within the water, or hanging on the edge of the bowl. You can remove this with a gloved hand or your scrub brush. Otherwise, it is small and should not cause any sort of damage or clog if you choose to flush it.
Our Opinion
Cleaning the toilet doesn’t need to be a daunting, grueling, or time-consuming task. There are many choices of toilet bowl cleaners, but we want to be sure you have some environmentally friendly options in your tool belt. For the methods that require mixtures to soak overnight, you can complete other tasks while you are waiting for your bowl to soak.
With very few, cheap ingredients, you can have a clean toilet without much effort or elbow grease. Let us know which methods you have tried. Please check out our other cleaning articles too!