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10 Toilet Bowl Cleaning Hacks

Various cleaning items and supplies in a bucket on the bathroom floor

10 Toilet Bowl Cleaning Hacks

Cleaning the toilet bowl is a necessary task, even if we dislike it. Although there are many powerful cleaning products available on the market, some easy and simple hacks with common household items can keep your toilet bowl looking and smelling fresh.

Many of these hacks are natural, without the harsh chemicals common in most toilet cleaners. Furthermore, they use common household items, like baking soda, lemons, vinegar, and even soda. These ten hacks are tried-and-true methods that can save time and make cleaning easier overall.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Toilet Cleaner

If you are looking for a natural and chemical-free way to clean your toilet, we highly recommend this easy-to-make homemade toilet bowl cleaner in addition to the following cleaning hacks.

You will need the following ingredients.

  • Water
  • Castile soap
  • Baking soda
  • 15-30 drops of your favorite essential oil

Follow these instructions and not only will your toilet bowl be clean, but your bathroom will also smell amazing.

  • Mix the following ingredients in a bottle.
  • Next, spray them on your toilet bowl. For a more effective cleaning, follow up with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.
  • Let this mixture sit in the toilet bowl for a few minutes. Then, scrub it with your toilet brush.

Thanks to the essential oils, your toilet bowl will be clean and shiny, and your bathroom will smell amazing. Enjoy the aromatherapy experience while you clean. If you plan to store your cleaning solution long-term, make sure you boil the water before you mix the ingredients. You can also use purified water from the store.

Basket with rolls of toilet paper and eucalyptus branch on grunge background
Eucalyptus is a great essential oil to use in our DIY toilet cleaner, although any scent you prefer can be used.

©Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock.com

The 10 Best Toilet Bowl Cleaning Hacks

Our list of the ten best toilet cleaning hacks is simple to follow and implement. Moreover, they are highly effective and cover a wide range of cleaning methods, from simple one-step solutions to creating your own cleaners. Regardless of which hack(s) you choose, you will be able to keep your toilet sparkling clean with minimal effort. So, whether you are dealing with stubborn stains, unpleasant odors, or just basic grime, our list of toilet cleaning hacks has got you covered.

The Alka-Seltzer Hack

To effortlessly clean your toilet bowl, drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into it and let them dissolve for about 15 minutes. After that, brush the bowl and then flush. This hack is a time-saver and requires minimal effort, so remember to use it when you are in a hurry to clean up.

glass of water with medicine
The Alka Seltzer method is one of the easiest ways to clean your toilet bowl quickly.

©Charles Knowles/Shutterstock.com

The Baking Soda Hack

If you are looking for a hassle-free cleaning solution, consider the baking soda hack. To make this cleaning powder, you will need a few simple ingredients.

  • 1 part baking soda
  • 1 part citric acid (lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits contain citric acid. Furthermore, any of these will also make your powder smell wonderful even before you add essential oils if you choose to do so.)
  • Essential oils of your choice (optional)
  • Glass jar with a non-metal lid

You can make as much or as little of this cleaning powder as you need. Store the leftover powder in a glass jar. When your toilet needs freshening up, pour one to two tablespoons of the powder into it between your regular cleanings. As it fizzes, this simple hack will freshen up the toilet. Simply flush afterward.

The Coca-Cola Hack (Seriously!)

While this method does have mixed reviews, some swear by this hack. Since the carbonation does the heavy lifting here, you can use any sort of fizzy drink.

To remove stains from your toilet bowl:

  • You should heat the Coke in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before pouring it into the bowl.
  • Pour one to two cups of Coke or Diet Coke around the upper rim of the bowl.
  • Allow the Coke to sit for at least two hours or overnight.
  • Flush the toilet to rinse away the stains. If the stains are stubborn, use a toilet brush to scrub them.

It should be noted that some people who tried this method reported that it made the stains in their toilet look worse, which may make you think twice before using a perfectly good soda to clean.

A brown carbonated drink. Fresh cold sweet cola beverage with ice cubes. Over red background with copy space
Probably the most unusual hack on our list is using Coca-Cola to clean stains from your toilet bowl.

©Evgeny Karandaev/Shutterstock.com

The Grapefruit and Salt Hack

This all-natural toilet bowl cleaner has two ingredients: 1/2 grapefruit (or a whole grapefruit for a more challenging job) and one cup of kosher sea salt. In fact, you can use these two ingredients to clean all the porcelain areas of your bathroom.

To clean your toilet bowl, follow these instructions.

  • First, cut a grapefruit in half and sprinkle the top of it liberally with salt.
  • Next, wet the inside of the toilet bowl (you can just flush it). Sprinkle salt inside the bowl.
  • Scrub the grapefruit and salt mixture around the toilet bowl, making sure to squeeze a little juice over each dirty spot. Lift the grapefruit every few seconds to pick up fresh salt from around the bowl.
  • Use the grapefruit rind on more stubborn areas.
  • Once you are done scrubbing, leave the solution as is for 10 minutes. Finally, flush the toilet to rinse the bowl.
Natural backdrop of sliced round grapefruites
Just like lemons, grapefruits are a great fruit to use for natural cleaning due to their citric acid content.

©Julia Anisimova/Shutterstock.com

The Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfecting Hack

Use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your toilet while eliminating rust. First, spray the inside of the toilet bowl with a solution of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Let it sit for thirty minutes, and then flush. That is all you need to do! However, it should be noted that this is more of a disinfecting method than a cleaning method. We suggest using it as part of a deep cleaning of your bathroom.

Structural chemical formula of hydrogen peroxide with cleaning products. Hydrogen peroxide is used as a bleaching agent or a disinfectant. Prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), hygiene concept
Spray hydrogen peroxide in your toilet bowl to eliminate germs and rust.

©Danijela Maksimovic/Shutterstock.com

The Pumice Stone Hack

If you are struggling to get rid of a persistent ring inside your toilet bowl, try using a pumice stone. To prevent scratches, always soak the stone in warm water and make sure that both the stone and toilet surface are wet. To protect your hands, you might want to wear gloves. Then, gently scrub the stain until it disappears. Finally, flush the toilet to rinse the bowl.

Pumice stones on white table in bathroom, space for text
Gently using a pumice stone with warm water is an effective method for removing stains from the toilet bowl.

©New Africa/Shutterstock.com

The Shaving Cream Hack

If your toilet does not smell or look fresh, you can use shaving cream to clean it. Shaving cream's foaming properties eliminate uric acid crystals and their odor. To clean your toilet with shaving cream, spray an ample amount into the toilet bowl and let it sit for about 10 minutes. After that, scrub the bowl and then flush. That is all!

Close up of foam and brush, with razor on the back
Spray an ample amount of shaving cream into the toilet bowl and let it sit for approximately ten minutes. This will leave your toilet cleaner and smelling fresher.

©Fabio Alcini/Shutterstock.com

The Toothpaste Hack

Yes, it sounds crazy, but toothpaste is made to clean the enamel on your teeth, so it also works really well to clean the enamel on your toilet. There are two methods. In the first, you squirt a liberal amount of toothpaste into your toilet, scrub it, and then let it sit for an hour or so. In the second method, you drop a tube of toothpaste into your toilet tank. The toothpaste cleans the toilet and makes everything smell minty and fresh.

Toothpaste tube and mint leaves on green background, space for text
There are two ways to clean your toilet with toothpaste: either drop it in the tank or use it to scrub the toilet.

©AtlasStudio/Shutterstock.com

The Vinegar and Baking Soda Hack

Vinegar and baking soda are excellent for cleaning almost anything. Baking soda can be used as a simple toilet scrub because it acts as a mild abrasive, lifting grime and stains from your toilet bowl. For tougher stains, pour in one cup of vinegar and let it react with the baking soda. This combo of baking soda and vinegar will create a fizz that further loosens stains. Once the fizzing stops, scrub the toilet with a brush and then flush to rinse the bowl.

Sanitizing the toilet bowl with baking soda and vinegar. Ecological house cleaning. View from above.
Clean and sanitize your toilet bowl with baking soda and vinegar.

©Nick Alias/Shutterstock.com

The WD-40 Hack

If you are dealing with tough stains, especially those caused by hard water, using the WD-40 hack can be a great solution. You can use WD-40 to break down tough lime stains or hard water lines in your toilet bowl. Follow these simple instructions.

  • Spray a small amount of WD-40 into the bowl.
  • Let it sit for a few minutes.
  • Scrub the stains or water lines with your toilet brush.

After flushing your toilet, the stains should disappear.

WD40. Anti-rust cleaner on a white background
If you have tough stains, the WD-40 hack can save you a lot of time scrubbing.

©Safarov Nariman/Shutterstock.com

Final Thoughts

Our list of the ten best toilet cleaning hacks features traditional remedies like vinegar and baking soda as well as unconventional methods such as Alka-Seltzer and Coca-Cola. No matter which hacks you incorporate into your cleaning routine, achieving a clean and fresh-smelling bathroom will be effortless. Whether tackling stubborn stains or combating unpleasant odors, our list offers thorough solutions to meet all your needs.

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