Here are 3 homemade toilet cleaner recipes that will help you ditch the chemicals and clean your toilet bowl and toilet tank, naturally.
Does Cleaning Toilets Gross You Out?
The cocktail of toxic chemicals in commercial toilet bowl cleaners should gross you out even more. Further, the warnings on the bottles reveal the risks of using and storing these cleaners at home. To illustrate, go grab yours and read it. As a result, you will be more motivated to ditch it for these natural alternatives.
One of our missions at DIY Natural is to help you rid your house of chemical cleaners and dangerous toxins. For that reason, let’s look at the ingredients of the blue commercial toilet bowl cleaners. Then, we will learn about natural homemade toilet bowl cleaners and their ingredients.
Why Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner?
In fact, most commercial toilet bowl cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can pollute your home’s environment.
Hydrochloric acid is an active ingredient in many toilet bowl cleaners. This corrosive chemical is extremely toxic. Further, it poses a risk to children, pets, and especially the person cleaning the toilets!
Finally, inhalation of hydrochloric acid fumes is harmful to the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. If it gets on your skin it’s highly corrosive.[1]
Chlorine bleach is another harmful ingredient. Specifically, bleach is highly caustic, meaning it can burn, corrode, or destroy living tissue. In addition to burning your eyes, nose, and skin, it can easily aggravate asthma symptoms.
While bleach and hydrochloric acid definitely give germs and stains the 1-2 punch, it’s not necessary to pollute your home and risk potential health hazards when disinfecting your toilet. There’s a reason you’re not getting this message from large corporations though, they can’t make any money if everyone starts cleaning their toilets with, say, vinegar. {gasp} Heaven forbid we forgo those blue concoctions that Big Business peddles as “the ONLY thing that can kill germs in our bathrooms.“
Yeah right, we know better.
Natural Cleaners for Toilets
First of all, there are several natural ingredients you can use to formulate a homemade toilet bowl cleaner. Also, making your own allows you the freedom to use whichever ingredients you feel are safest for your family. Finally, the ingredients are readily available and very effective.
White Vinegar
You’re probably bored of hearing all the hype on green-living websites about how wonderful vinegar is for natural cleaning. But I can’t stop singing its praises. Vinegar is a mild acid. It disinfects, eliminates odors, and is extremely safe. (Find white vinegar here)
Borax
Contrary to inaccurate information on some websites, borax is NOT the same thing as boric acid (which is toxic). It is actually sodium tetraborate, and is only as toxic as regular table salt or baking soda, in very LARGE amounts. Borax is a great multi-purpose cleaner that whitens, deodorizes, and removes stains. (find borax powder here)
Lemon Juice or Citric Acid
Citric acid, also found in lemon juice, binds to minerals in the toilet bowl making them easier to eliminate. It may help diminish tough toilet stains left by hard water. (find citric acid here)
Essential Oils
Pure essential oils are some of the best secret weapons to use in DIY cleaners. Many of these plant-based oils boast antibacterial, antiviral, and even antifungal properties. Tea tree oil has been studied more than any other essential oil and has been found to kill most forms of bacteria when added to cleaners at a 0.5% – 1.0% concentration. (Read more about tea tree oil here.) Other essential oils that possess antibacterial properties, and are beneficial in bathroom cleaners are lavender, citrus oils, peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus, among others. (find 100% pure essential oils here)
Baking Soda
Baking soda is wonderful as a homemade toilet bowl cleaner. Specifically, it scours and deodorizes a toilet bowl naturally. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t possess any germ-fighting benefits. However, it will help keep your bowl free of debris, stains, and those ugly rings. (find baking soda here)
Homemade Toilet Cleaner Formulas
Take your pick from these natural, homemade toilet bowl cleaner recipes that we use and love.
Tea Tree Toilet Bowl Scrub
This deodorizing formula utilizes the antibacterial properties of tea tree oil to kill germs in your toilet bowl and on toilet surfaces.
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon tea tree essential oil
Combine vinegar and essential oil in a small spray bottle. Spray the vinegar mixture inside the bowl, and also on the toilet seat, lid, and handle. Allow the cleaner to sit for several minutes. Sprinkle baking soda inside the toilet bowl and scrub the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush. Use a clean dry cloth to wipe the vinegar solution off the seat, lid, and handle.
Heavy Duty Toilet Formula
This toilet bowl formula can take care of nasty rings in your commode, or any other tough toilet cleaning. It leaves a sparkling bowl and eliminates stale toilet odors.
- ¾ cup borax
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a bowl or squirt bottle. Swish water around the inside of the toilet bowl with a toilet brush, or simply flush it to wet the inside of the bowl. Pour the entire mixture into the toilet bowl, and allow it to sit for several hours or overnight. Make sure family members do not use the toilet during this time. Scrub the bowl and flush the toilet to rinse.
Lazy Day Toilet Scrub
For no-fuss toilet cleaning, keep a spray bottle of vinegar and a shaker-top bottle of baking soda in your bathroom. When toilets need cleaning, spritz them thoroughly with vinegar and allow them to sit for several minutes. Sprinkle baking soda inside the bowl, scrub the inside of the bowl, and flush the toilet. To clean the outside surfaces just spray with vinegar, let stand a few minutes, and wipe clean.
Now you know how easy it is to make homemade toilet cleaner that works!
Video for 3 Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaners
Natural Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipes
You can adopt one of these easy recipes for cleaning your toilets. Or, you can experiment with the natural ingredients discussed in this article to make your own formula.
Are you trying to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle? Eliminating chemical cleaners from your home is a great place to start. We challenge you to start with a homemade toilet cleaner. Then, do one DIY cleaner a week until all your cleaners are natural and homemade.
Bonus Content
- DIY Toilet Bombs that Clean, Disinfect, and Deodorize
- DIY Toilet Tank Cleaner: Simple and Effective Recipe for DIY Toilet Bombs
Need help? We wrote a book that walks you through making all your own natural household cleaners. You can find it here.
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Sources
- Hydrochloric Acid. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID=313. (Accessed Mar. 13, 2019.)
barbara says
Will the vinegar, borax, or hydrogen peroxide break down the paint covering on the toilet seats over time? Not all toilet seats are plastic….those not “wood”, still have some sort of “paint” finish….
Sherry Peterson says
Hi all, I used the denture tablet cleaner method as well. One day while I was making bath bombs, I eyeballed the ingredients in denture tabs. Baking soda and citric acid! Hmmmm I thought, how about making my own denture tabs!!! So, Idid, got a small heart mold from Amazon and made a paste with the 2 and instead of spritzing water, I used Hydrogen peroxide! Used the homemade tabs for my dentures and made larger spoonfuls for the toilet 😉 We are all clean and happy. And yes, my dentist said my dentures were so clean they looked professionally cleaned 😉
Brenda Russell says
Yup. Vinegar on the outside, baking soda on the inside – followed by a flush and then a swish of vinegar (very nervous of causing a volcanic reaction!). Been doing this for years, and never missed the commercial chemicals. Of course, with three sons, I got out of cleaning up the yellow puddles behind the toilet by making them do it. Even though Not Me got the blame!
Paula Saville says
I love using vinegar and baking soda for cleaning, but for toilets I use store brand denture tabs. Just drop one in and wait a few minutes then swish. There is something about the blue or green color and the fizzing that I like.
Tae says
could you put food coloring in the vinegar?
Noah says
Are you positive about HCL (hydrochloric acid)? In my research, HCL is akin to salt or even sea salt. I’m not sure why you think salt (HCL) is so toxic. please inform me if I am mistaken. Thanks.
Betsy Jabs says
Thanks for reading Noah! Salt (NaCl) is used (along with sulfuric acid) in the production of hydrochloric acid (HCl), but is definitely not the same thing. Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid with a pH of about 1. You can see more about the dangers of hydrochloric acid on a Material Safety Data Sheet for it: http://kni.caltech.edu/facilities/msds/HCl.pdf
Noah says
Okay wow, thanks for information and quick reply.
Betsy Jabs says
No problem! Happy New Year!
sage_brush says
I’ve tried every kind of natural thing for toilets. Nothing works on rust stains except Bar Keepers Friend. We have some rust even with an iron filter and water softener. BKF gets rid of ALL kinds of stains on my old white porcelain.
Annie says
Thanks so much for this! I will definitely be trying this out here soon!
Impi says
You can also use Heavy duty cleaning or pickling vinegar. Instead of 5% acetic acid, it has 10%.
Maureen says
How long can I keep the vinegar mixture-expiry date so to speak
Betsy Jabs says
The vinegar mixed with essential oils will keep for quite some time. (It’s hard to give exact exp. dates with homemade formulas.) I would recommend storing the solution in a dark cupboard so the essential oil isn’t constantly exposed to light (which causes it to degrade).
Rosemarie says
I am wondering about the effect of the borax or the baking soda and vinegar on my septic tank??? I just dumped the recommended enzyme treatment down there two nights ago to maintain the septic tank. Would any of this counteract or interfere with the enzymes? Can you give me a reference I can check? Thanks.
Betsy Jabs says
Great question Rosemarie. Borax, baking soda, and vinegar are all better for your tank than chemical cleaners (but you may want to wait a few days to let your enzyme treatment do its thing). Here is a source that talks a little about this: http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az1160/
vikky says
Great question Rosemarie, thank you. As we, for many years, are using the EM (Effective-Micro organism) products and we are looking for our septic tank as well.
Lynn MIllar says
I have a septic tank that utilises worms inside to get rid of solids. I use vinegar down the toilet and borax for hard cleaning. Never had my worms die on me yet so must be really eco-friendly. This is just an awesome website for getting back to basics. I have tried so many of the reciepes with almost 100% success. The errors are all mine though when I tried to shortcut things. Keep up the good work.
Gregg says
Keep in mind also never to mix ammonia with clorine bleach as the combination of the two creates toxic fumes in large quantities.
Ford Twintee says
Love the article, do you think I could take my employer to court for making me use store bought chemicals to cleanse our restrooms?
Thanks – Ford Twintee
Betsy Jabs says
Interesting question! I have no idea if this one would stand up in court, especially since a large percentage of the country is still using chemical cleaners.
Lindsey @ NW Backyard Veggies says
I had a friend who used a pumice stone bought from the local hardware store to scrub off the toilet rings that had accumulated. She had to wrap her hand in a dishtowel to use it, but doggone it if it didn’t work!
(I just use baking soda and a scrub brush. I’m not pumice stone hardcore yet.)
Nikki says
I have purchased your book and use this recipe on my toilet that my 4 boys use- the toilet comes out great! Thank you for sharing this info. I’m very happy to now be cleaning my home without toxic chemicals!
Leah says
I would be afraid that the soda or borax would counteract the acid in the vinegar and make it uneffective.Should I worry?
Megan Bazzett says
Any metal hydroxide (like baking soda) neutralizes acid, like vinegar. Maybe try using them separately…?
Matt Jabs says
Sprinkle the soda on, then spray on the vinegar. The reaction takes place on the bowl providing heavy cleaning action. No worries.
Danielle L. says
This is wonderful; thanks so much!!!
Judy J. says
Thanks for the new ‘recipe’. I use my own laundry detergent, foaming handsoap and general cleansers, and just made some dishwasher detergent last night. I will definitely be trying out your toilet bowl cleaner. In the article, you mentioned using rosemary oil, which I have on hand. Was it suggested because of its smell, or does it have disinfecting – and other – properties good for cleaning germy surfaces? Thanks for your series on diy cleansers. What an easy way to save a wad of money!
Betsy Jabs says
Yes, I love rosemary for its disinfecting properties! The fresh smell is just a bonus. 🙂
Stacey says
What do you use for cleaning and disenfecting the toilet surface?
Leah says
A spray of vinegar followed by a spray of peroxide or in any order will disinfect.