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What Can You Use to Clean Toilets? – Part 1

Photo showing a person's hand cleaning a toliet

Well, it’s safe to say that cleaning a toilet is no fun activity. And since it’s not something that you would like to do every day, a quick, long-lasting solution would be ideal for cleaning toilets.

You can clean your toilet using various cleansers, such as a proper toilet bowl cleaner, muriatic acid, borax, CLR, and WD-40, along with other products! However, you need to make sure that you follow the correct procedure while using these items so you don’t end up damaging your toilet.

Because people often shy away from cleaning their toilets, they usually grab whatever cleaner they can find and use it carelessly on their toilets. This runs the risk of causing long-term damage to your septic system. Therefore, you must know which cleaner is appropriate for toilet cleaning and how to use it effectively.

Also, I have a part 2 to this topic. Read about more ways to clean a toilet at “What Can You Use to Clean Toilets? – Part 2

How to Clean Toilet Properly

Once in a while, you need to make the extra effort to properly clean your toilet to make it seem as bright and shining as new. To assist you, I have laid out certain steps that you can follow to make sure your toilet becomes spick and span.

Step 1: Start by spraying the toilet bowl with a quality toilet cleanser. I recommend using Clorox’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner which is one of the best cleaning agents for toilets.

Step 2: Pour a cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl and use a brush to swish the cleaner and the vinegar around.

Step 3: Then, using a scrubbing sponge, clean the outside of the toilet. However, before doing this, check whether you have a modern toilet whose seat can be disconnected. If that is the case, remove the seat and clean it separately.

Step 4: Once the exterior of the toilet seat is clean, you can clean the bowl with a toilet brush. If you’re having trouble getting rid of tough stains and water rings, using a pumice stone will help.

Clean the Water Tank

Don’t overlook the water tank! Make sure that you open the cover and look inside. If you see any mineral building up inside the tank, pour 2-3 cups of vinegar into it and let it dissolve. Then, after half an hour, flush out the solution in the tank.

Once the tank is empty, scrape its walls with a toilet brush, and Voila! you have a clean water tank. Just make sure you flush 3-4 times before letting anyone use the toilet.

Can You Use Bleach to Clean Toilet?

Photo showing a maid cleaning a toilet using bleach

Bleach is an age-old solution for disinfecting several surfaces. However, the question is whether or not it can be used to clean toilets.

Yes, bleach is a great option for cleaning toilets. It is optimal to use a maximum of 2 and a half tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water to clean toilets. Using a higher concentration comes with the risk of damaging the surface of the toilet and also poses a danger to your eyes and skin.

How To Use Bleach to Clean Toilets

Using bleach to clean toilets has its risks. Therefore, it’s best to follow the guidelines to safely clean your toilet without damaging the toilet or risking your body.

Step 1: Make sure to put on your rubber gloves and open a window to ventilate the bathroom.

Step 2: Next, fill an empty spray bottle with water and half 2 1/2 tablespoons of bleach.

Step 3: Make sure to flush your toilet first. Then, soak the toilet brush in the solution you’re just created.

Step 4: Using the toilet brush, scrub the sides of the bowl along with the rim and seat thoroughly.

Step 5: After you’re done scrubbing, scrub the area with clean water. You can use a sponge to clean the rim and the toilet seat. After you’re done, rinse the entire toilet with clean water.

[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 06/01/2022.]

Can You Use Coke/Pepsi/Diet Coke to Clean a Toilet?

A photo of a cola in a glass.

It is a pretty common rumor that fizzy drinks can be used to clean toilets. As ridiculous as that may sound, they are a pretty common toilet cleaning method. However, is using Coke or Pepsi to clean toilets that effective?

Coke/Pepsi are very competent toilet cleaners and can easily remove hard-to-clean stains. The Carbonic and Phosphoric acids present in these drinks allow them to disinfect toilets and leave them sparklingly clean. However, employing the correct procedure is very important for this cleaning method to work.

What to Keep in Mind While Cleaning Toilets With Coke

Scrub the Toilet Properly

Make sure you scrub the toilet using a good toilet brush. If you don’t have one, I recommend buying this brush from OXO for the optimum result.

Warm the Coke First

Chemical reactions occur significantly faster at high temperatures. Coke’s acid reactions are no exception. Therefore, for tough stains, consider warming the Coke in the oven or stove before spraying it on the toilet bowl.

Make sure you’re not microwaving the sealed metal can. Instead, you can pour the Coke or Pepsi into a glass that is suitable for microwaving. Make sure to wear your safety gloves when you are handling the hot soda.

Mix the Cola Drink with other Cleaners

While Coke is effective at removing most stains, it is not necessarily the ideal cleaning solution for the job. Therefore, combine it with other household cleaners for stubborn stains.

The easiest and most effective way to remove resilient stains would be to mix two tablespoons of borax with one part of Coke along with a couple of lemons. Apply this solution and wait for an hour before you scrub it off.

Can You Use Dish Soap to Clean Toilet?

A close up photo of a person pouring dishwashing soap with a sponge

Dish soaps are easily one of the most common cleaning solutions you’ll ever find. They can be used to clean a multitude of different surfaces. However, read on to find out if they’re a suitable toilet cleaning alternative or not!

Dish soap can be used either all by itself, or by creating a mixture with vinegar or baking soda to clean toilets. Not only is it a very economical option, but its degreasing properties can also get rid of tough stains by loosening them up. 

How to Use the Dish Soap to Clean Toilets

Using dish soap on its own is an inexpensive and easy way of cleaning your toilets. All you have to do is to spray the liquid into the toilet bowl, and then scrub the toilet bowl using a reliable toilet bowl brush.

The pattern of cleaning the toilet bowl is like that of cleaning dishes with dish soap. Any stubborn stains will be removed by the soap’s bubbles. When you’re finished cleaning, drain the toilet after a few minutes.

Can You Muriatic Acid to Clean Toilet?

A photo of a woman thinking

Muriatic acid is commonly used to get rid of salt deposits on various rocky surfaces. While it can also remove rust and stain marks, the question is if it works on dirty, germ-filled toilets as well?

Yes, you can use muriatic acid to clean your toilet. It can get rid of hard stains easily. However, since it’s an extremely powerful chemical, muriatic acid should be used with great care. Otherwise, you can end up injuring yourself since muriatic acid is known for causing burns on the skin.

Proper Way of Cleaning Toilet with Muriatic Acid

You should always handle Muriatic Acid with the utmost care. Make sure the bathroom is properly ventilated and that you’re wearing rubber gloves while handling this substance.

Start by sanitizing the toilet bowl with regular toilet bowl cleaners. After that, pour around 5-6 liters of clean water into the toilet basin to imitate a flush. When only a small amount of water remains in the toilet bowl, slowly pour in around 10-12 ounces of muriatic acid.

Once the acid reaches the normal water level inside the toilet bowl, let it sit there for a couple of hours. You’ll eventually notice the hard water stains disappearing. Use a brush to scrub off the more stubborn stains. Once you are done scrubbing, flush off the acid at least three to four times.

Can You Use CLR to Clean Toilet?

CLR is a powerful cleaning chemical that will remove even the most stubborn stains. The best part is that CLR does not include any harsh or poisonous ingredients. Sounds like a perfect cleaner for toilets, right?

CLR can clean toilets with great efficiency. It is a strong solution that does not require excessive amounts of scrubbing. All you need to do is apply the CLR to the toilet, wait for a few minutes, and then use a toilet brush to scrub out the stains.

Make sure to only apply the Clr for a couple of minutes. Leaving the CLR on for too long might damage the toilets, especially those constructed of porcelain.

Moreover, you do not need to put much effort into your scrubbing. This is because CLR is strong enough to get rid of most stains and mineral build-up in your toilet. Just make sure you cover all the stains thoroughly to get the optimum results.

Once you are done scrubbing, flush your toilet and make sure that the CLR is washed away. This process is sure to leave behind a gleaming toilet!

[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 06/01/2022.]

Can You Use Borax to Clean Toilet?

A close up shot of borax on a plastic plate

Borax is a natural mineral that is also a highly effective stain remover, cleaner, and deodorizer. It is safe to use on most surfaces and is also highly effective at removing hard-to-clean stains. However, does this make Borax a good cleaning agent for porcelain toilets?

If the proper method is followed, Borax is very much capable of cleaning toilets. It can be used to clean the exterior of the toilet along with the toilet bowl. Another great thing about Borax is that it works great even as a standalone cleaner.

How to Use Borax To Clean Toilet

Even though using borax to clean toilet bowls is a rather straightforward process,  you still need to follow the proper method of using Borax to make sure you can get rid of all the tough stains

Step 1: Apply a quarter or a half cup of borax powder across the bowl’s surface. You vary the powder usage depending on how tough the stain is.

Step 2: Next, take a damp toilet brush and use it to scrub the powder inside the bowl. You can angle the brush to scrub beneath the rim as well. Alternatively, you can also directly apply the borax to the toilet brush and then use it to scrub.

Step 3: Once you are done scraping, wait for a few minutes before flushing the toilet. If the stain remains, you should repeat the process until the stain is completely gone.

Safety Precautions While Using Borax

Borax should be handled with a lot of care since it contains toxic chemicals that can be hazardous. If ingested it can cause vomiting and nausea. Moreover, extensive use of borax can also cause irritations on the skin and in the eyes.

Therefore, while using borax to clean toilets, make sure that you’re wearing rubber gloves for your safety. This is to prevent borax from coming in touch with your bare skin.

Moreover, you should also wear safety goggles to prevent eye irritation. Lastly, make sure you put the borax in a place that is not accessible to children.

Can You Use Denture Tablets to Clean Toilet?

Denture tablets are mostly used for cleaning or whitening tiles and other various surfaces. This should make them suitable for cleaning off the grime from toilets as well, right?

Denture tablets can eradicate germs and get rid of hard water stains on most surfaces, including toilet bowls and tanks. Along with being fairly simple to use for cleaning toilets, denture tablets are also inexpensive and easily disposable. 

How to Use Denture Tablets To Clean Toilet

So you might be wondering, what’s the proper procedure for using denture tablets to clean toilets? Well, it’s fairly straightforward. The only extra materials you need are a toilet brush and a pair of gloves.

Start by dropping a denture tablet into the toilet bowl and leaving it there for at least half an hour. You will eventually start noticing the water turning blue and effervescing.

Next, take a toilet brush and dip it in that blue water. Then, use that wet brush to scrab the strains of the toilet bowl. Once you are done scrubbing, flush the toilet to leave behind a shiny surface!

Can You Use Oxiclean to Clean Toilet?

A man cleaning a toilet using a cleaner spray

Generally, Oxiclean is a great cleaning substance. Not only does it break down stains, but it also helps prevent oils from accumulating on various surfaces. The sodium percarbonate in the OxiClean can remove a vast range of stains, so that should make it a great toilet cleaner as well, right?

OxiClean is a great chemical cleaner that can get rid of hard toilet stains caused by mineral deposits. It also has sanitizing properties, as it gets rid of most bacteria and viruses. The best part about OxiClean is that it’s fairly simple to use for cleaning toilets.

For the optimum results, spray the OxiClean by maintaining a distance of at least 6 to 8 inches from the surface. Make sure that you spray the surface until it’s completely soaked. Let the OxiClean sit there for at least 5 to 10 minutes before you flush if you want to disinfect the toilet properly.

If you are cleaning the exterior of the toilet, use a clean cloth or a sponge to wipe away the OxiClean.

Can You Use Comet to Clean Toilet?

Comet is a great cleaning substance that can tackle heavy stains throughout your home. This multi-purpose cleaner cleans and deodorizes the surfaces without leaving behind any trace. However, does that make Comet a suitable toilet cleaner?

This content is owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on Jun 1, 2022..

Comet is one of the most effective toilet bowl cleaners and offers a trouble-free cleaning experience. It is also an inexpensive option as compared to other cleaning products. Observing the correct procedure while applying Comet will disinfect the surface and leave behind a glossy toilet.

How to Use Comet to Clean Toilet

The most affected areas are usually the seat and the bowl of the toilet which have a high rate of germ and bacterium growth. Therefore, cleaning these areas is the most important aspect of toilet cleaning.

Start by putting 2 and a half teaspoons of Comet into the bowl and leave it for a few minutes so that it can react against filthy spots. Next, scrub the toilet seat and bowl carefully with your standard toilet cleaning brush.

To eliminate the loose dirt and cleanser residue, flush the toilet at least 4 times. You should also use a hand shower to clean the bowl of the toilet because merely flushing it won’t get rid of the residue.

Can You Use Dishwasher Tablets to Clean Toilet?

I almost always use dishwasher tablets to clean dishes. However, dishwasher tablets are known to clean ovens and washing machines. However, is this enough to consider dishwasher tablets as an acceptable toilet cleaner?

Dishwasher tablets are capable of cleaning toilets. The cleaning process is fairly simple, however, a drawback is that it takes a while for the tablets to disinfect and get rid of hard water stains. Therefore, it’s best to leave the tablets in the bowl overnight.

Proper Way of Cleaning Toilet With Dishwasher Tablets

Start by putting a standard dishwashing tablet in the toilet bowl and let it dissolve. Ideally, you would want to leave the dishwasher tablets in the toilet bowl overnight.

After you wake up in the morning, you need to grab a toilet brush and scrub your way inside the toilet bowl. Don’t forget to flush the toilet afterward!

If you have any stubborn hard water stains around where the water sits in the bowl, there is another technique to make the dishwashing tablet work for you.

For that, you need to wear a pair of gloves and use them to clean the stain. Wet a corner of the tablet and begin scrubbing the stain as if you’re using a scrub. Although this sounds like a very undesirable task, the water line should vanish in no time.

[This article and its contents are owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on 06/01/2022.]

Can You Use WD40 to Clean Toilet?

A close up shot of a person spraying

WD-40 is a common household item that is great for both indoor and outdoor cleaning. It is great at eliminating oil, dirt, and other contaminants from most surfaces. Does this make it an effective toilet cleaner as well?

You should only use WD-40 to clean the surface of your toilet. You need to ensure that you don’t flush it down the toilet, as that can cause long-term damage to your septic system. This is because WD-40 contains chemicals that can destroy beneficial oils in the septic system.

Why You Shouldn’t Flush WD-40 in the Toilet

Although WD-40 is effective for cleaning the exterior of the toilet, it can prove to be harmful to the toilet if you flush the cleaner inside it. This is because WD-40 contains oil that destroys beneficial bacteria in the septic system.

Even if you don’t have a septic system, avoid flushing WD-40 down the toilet since it might cause pipe damage in the long term. The only time you should flush WD-40 down the toilet is if you discover streaks from hazardous germs and want to get rid of them quickly.

This article was first published on Jun 1, 2022 by Wabi Sabi Group..

If you’re interested in reading more about different ways to clean a toilet check out our second article, “What Can You Use to Clean Toilets? – Part 2

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WabiSabi Group is the owner of this article and was published on Jun 1, 2022 and last modified on .

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