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I don’t know about you but I hate cleaning the toilet. In the past, I’ve used all sorts of harsh chemicals, thinking it was necessary to get rid of, well, you know, germs.
Chemical companies have led us down a merry path. You really don’t need to pour caustic chemicals down the drain to get the job done. All you need is vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and/or borax. It’s cheaper, safer for the environment and safer for you and your children.
Below are 5 different natural recipes to clean your potty:
Vinegar - howstuffworks Uses for Vinegar: Cleaning Your House
Pour white vinegar into the toilet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Next sprinkle baking soda on a toilet-bowl brush and scour any remaining stained areas. Flush.
Baking Soda - eHow How to Clean Your Toilet Bowl Naturally
- Pour 1/2 box of baking soda into the toilet bowl.
- Let the baking soda stand overnight in the bowl. Try to do this the last thing before bed so you don’t accidentally flush the toilet before the baking soda has a chance to work.
- Flush the toilet several times in the morning.
- Run a brush around the bowl to fully remove any loosened grime.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- Pour the vinegar into the toilet bowl.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Return to the toilet, grab your toilet brush and dip it into the toilet.
- Take it out, and sprinkle some baking soda onto the brush.
- Scour the inside of the toilet with the brush repeating the sprinkle procedure until the baking soda is gone…..voila! Clean Toilet!
Borax and Lemon Juice – eHow How to make Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaners
- Pour 1 cup of Borax into a small bowl.
- Pour 1/2 cup of lemon juice over the Borax and gently stir with a spoon into a paste.
- Flush the toilet to wet the sides, then rub the paste onto the toilet with a sponge.
- Let it sit for 2 hours before scrubbing thoroughly. This is great for removing a stubborn stain, like a toilet bowl ring.
Borax and Vinegar – eHow How to make Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaners
- Flush the toilet to wet the sides of the bowl.
- Sprinkle a cup of Borax around the rim and sides of toilet.
- Spray 1/2 cup of vinegar over the Borax.
- Allow to sit for several hours or overnight.
- Scrub thoroughly with a toilet brush until the bowl gleams.
Sometimes, hard water just leaves a stubborn ring that no amount of scrubbing or rubbing can eliminate. That’s when I grab a pumice stone and rub lightly on the stain.
Related Post: Flapper Failure Flushes Dollars Down the Toilet
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Welcome to Verda Vivo. My name is Daryl Warner Laux.
Now that’s cool. I asked you a question yesterday and I got the answer – and a great one – today.
Many many thanks Daryl, keep up the good work !
Edouard, The marketing guys keep trying to make us think we “need” this or that chemical to be clean, turning us into germ-o-phobes. It’s cheaper, better for the environment, and better for our health to use non-chemicals to keep our homes clean. As always, thanks for commenting! ~ Daryl
[...] [...]
I tried the vinegar & baking soda method (#3), and it did a good job. The foaming reaction was kinda fun, though I’m not sure if foaming = cleaning or if it’s just an interesting effect.
I’ve also used a pumice stone before (#5), but I scrub pretty vigorously with it. No damage so far, and it does get out the stains.
I find that using baking soda and vinegar in my bathroom sinks gets them cleaner than anything else. I also use baking soda and vinegar to clean my toilets. A pumice stone is very useful to clean tough stains. Because we have hard water, I have to deal with calcium deposits in the toilet bowl which are difficult to remove. ~ Daryl
Via email: “How to End Laundry Chaos” was an article in Dr Mercola’s newsletter today, May 28 issue #1272. You might find some useful info in it. His entire output is very interesting: as well as being a doctor he is an internet and information junky. Karen
It is really useful cleaning tips! Thank You!
Hey, look at new cleaning blog. Many useful tips!
its good but please tell me how i make jell like toilet cleaner
Now you don’t need to flush the toilet to get the sides of the bowl wet (as recommended in the Borax options). It is an outrageous waste of fresh and clean water. Use your brush, or a sponge and minimize water use!
Great tips!!! I personally like the following solution: mix 1 liter of white vinegar, ¼ c. baking soda and1 tsp. dish detergent. You can wash not only the toilet with it but the floor as well as this liquid will kill the odor, germs and eliminate grease and dirt. But the best way to eliminate any kind of odors is prevention – clean your bathroom often enough and you will not have to deal with this problem.
[...] http://verdavivo.wordpress.com http://cleaning.tips.net box box [...]
[...] 1) Clean your toilet naturally [...]
Vinegar is a great invention, i have started using it more to clean the bathroom.
Hi, thanks so much. Keep up such good work.
I think vinegar cleaning is great.” I use in a bottle 1/2 cup vinegar , 1tsp dish washing liquid , 1 tsp Bi Card Soda and 2 cups water in spray bottle for everything even the toilet it works wonders
Now you don’t need to flush the toilet to get the sides of the bowl wet (as recommended in the Borax options). It is an outrageous waste of fresh and clean water. Use your brush, or a sponge and minimize water use!
[...] I checked out a blog on cleaning using vinegar and baking soda, and it was super helpful! (http://verdavivo.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/5-ways-to-clean-your-toilet-naturally/) [...]
Just remember not to breathe too close to vinegar and baking soda mixed together.
Great post! It seems like baking soda is used in so many ways – from beauty to cleaning. Thank you for sharing. I will follow Heather advice and try the recipe with vinegar and maybe for the first time I will find some pleasure in cleaning… the toilet
when you use the vinegar and baking soda, do you have to drain the water in the bottom 1st
i’v learnt that
Thanks so much! This is very cool. I do want to note, though, that Borax is very harmful to children and pets, especially if swallowed. I know that my cats like to lick where water drips into the bathtub and sink, so I won’t be using Borax, but the other ideas are fantastic.
Not only are ‘green’ toilet cleaners inexpensive, they are also safe to use. Using these effective products will leave your toilet clean and stain-free.
[...] expensive. We’ll see how it works. I found a short list of natural toilet bowl cleaners HERE, for those who might like to try other options including vinegar [...]
awesome article! i think i might just add the baking soda a little early and see if i can get a mini-volcano going. in fact, i may have just stumbled upon a brilliant idea for green self cleaning toilets?!!
patent pending. copyright cam clayton.
if your toilet is sooo stained that even a pumice stone won’t work, try just emptying the water out (i just pour a big bucket of water down) then fill with vinegar – you may use the whole gallon, just cover the stains. Let it sit overnight and the next morning it will swish away with a quick wipe.
Borax and Lemon Juice really nice smell. Fresh.