"The baking soda removes any gunky build-up, the salt is a natural abrasive for scrubbing, and the oxygen bleach cleans and disinfects," she says. Smallin Kuper prefers to pour one cup of baking soda and one cup of distilled white vinegar directly into the toilet bowl for similar sanitized-and-sparkling results.
The experts we talked to recommended any cleaner with some form of bleach, but you can find plenty of bleach alternatives, as well. I personally use Lysol Hydrogen Peroxide Toilet Bowl Cleaner. A bucket: To ensure that the entire bowl gets clean, you need to reduce the water level before applying the cleaner.
Vinegar is safe and milder than caustic cleaners designed for the toilet, and those commercial cleaning agents can eat away the good bacteria in your septic system. To safely and inexpensively clean your toilet bowls, pour a generous glug of vinegar, followed by a heavy sprinkling of baking soda, into the bowl.
Pour one cup of baking soda into the clogged toilet, and then chase it with the hot water/vinegar mixture. Leave the volcano mix to do its job, checking in about 30 minutes. In most cases the clog will have come apart, and a simple flush with send it all down the drain. Plus your toilet bowl will be cleaner!
Vinegar will not damage your toilet in any way if it's left in your toilet overnight. In some cases, leaving the vinegar in your toilet overnight is recommended to get the best cleaning results. No matter what material your toilet is made from, the vinegar will not damage your toilet.
3. Leave it. If this is the only toilet in the house, this may not go down well, but leave the vinegar solution to sit for several hours – or overnight – to give it a proper clean. Around 30 minutes is the shortest length of time experts suggest, otherwise, it may not have as much of an effect.
In this case, a basic toilet cleaning product may not be enough, and you will need to use undiluted bleach. As a one-stop cleaning solution, pour one cup of bleach around the bowl. Then tackle every inch with a toilet brush or a handheld scrub brush. Let it sit for five minutes, then flush.
Vinegar and baking soda produce that oh-so-familiar chemical reaction that powers through buildup and loosens tough stains. While it might seem like it's chewing its way through grime, it's not powerful enough to damage the porcelain finish of the toilet bowl.
Simply mix together equal parts white vinegar and baking soda in a container. Once the mixture is complete, pour it into the toilet bowl and wait for it to fizz. After the fizzing subsides, take a brush and use it to scrub away any stains or spots in the bowl.
Flush to clear the toilet bowl of water. Using either a widely available cleaning product or white vinegar, spray the offending mineral spots. Scrub away with your scrub brush until the deposits chip off or fade away.
Sprinkle baking soda around the top of your toilet before using a cup of undiluted white vinegar to swill the pan. Finally, grab a toilet brush and give the entire toilet bowl a good scrub. This will not only clean the toilet of stains, but it will also eradicate any strong urine smells that are lingering.
How to disinfect the toilet bowl: Once the toilet bowl is clean, pour a small amount of Dettol Antibacterial Disinfectant Liquid into the toilet to help prevent the build-up of germs. Close the lid and flush.
Try this: Swish a cup of vinegar around in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush, then add a cup of baking soda, followed by an additional cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes. Use a toilet brush to scrub stains. Let mixture sit for a few more minutes and then flush.
These are the main reasons why there might be a black ring around the toilet: Mineral deposits on your water supply. Mildew and mold spores. Bacteria buildup such as Serratia marcescens.
Once a week at least.
Tetro says your bathroom is the ultimate bacteria host; E. coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.
"The biggest don't when it comes to toilet tanks is bleach—do not use bleach or products containing bleach inside the tank, as it can corrode the internal parts of your toilet. If you are aiming to remove tough stains from the tank, I also recommend white vinegar diluted with water."
Cleaning your toilet bowl with vinegar is quick and easy
Get Green Be Well warns about choosing the right type of vinegar for the job — always use white vinegar. Though apple cider vinegar cleans just as effectively, its brown coloring can stain the porcelain.
Tips to Keep Your Toilet Clean Longer
The aforementioned baking soda and vinegar is a safer alternative for keeping your toilet bowl sparkling. You can add them to the toilet bowl at the end of the night for a good, cleansing soak until morning.