June 8, 2015
Toilet Care Game Changers
A while back, I polled my readers and asked what their cleaning conundrums were. I received an outpouring of questions on a variety of topics and have enjoyed tackling these issues in prior “What’s the Best?” posts. Today, I am taking on a topic that many of you have issues with: TOILET CARE.
How to Clean a Toilet
First things first, let’s talk about HOW to clean a toilet properly. This is the process I follow and I believe it’s the best way to efficiently and effectively clean a toilet:
- Spray thoroughly with your favorite bathroom cleaner (I use the recipe below or this one). Spray the top, back, the handle, the seat, under the seat, the base, basically every single part of the toilet.
- Let the cleaner sit for 10 minutes to clean and disinfect the surfaces.
- Start at the top and wipe down to the base of the toilet. Use a fresh cloth OR paper towel for every toilet and do not use this cloth on any other surfaces.
Toilet Bowl Rings
One of the most common bathroom cleaning questions I receive is in regards to the annoying ring that tends to develop in toilet bowls. Toilet bowl rings are the result of hard water and mineral deposits that develop from standing water in the bowl. No amount of scrubbing, harsh chemical cleaners or bleach will completely remove this buildup. The solution to this is rather unexpected to most: pumice. Pumice is a natural volcanic rock that does a superior job at removing surface stains in toilet bowls without scratching the surface. Thankfully, it is easy to find one that has a handle so that you don’t need to stick your hand in the toilet bowl in order to get the job done. Simply rub the pumice around the interior of your toilet bowl where the ring is and that’s it! It couldn’t be much easier. The Pumie is a pumice stone specifically designed to clean your toilet rings and stains. You can use any pumice stone, but I like that this one has a handle and is designed specifically for toilet cleaning.
Residue Around the Toilet
For those of you with little boys (or big boys) these tips are for you. Let’s face it – a lot of boys have a hard time aiming and hitting the bowl when they go to the bathroom. The result is not pretty and it seems as though no matter how hard you may wipe and wash, there tends to be a residual odor that is left behind. A lot of you have asked for my recommendation on how to eliminate this annoying situation and scent and I am happy to give my first hand recommendations.
First of all, as annoying as it can be, do your best to wipe up drips and drops sooner rather than later. It doesn’t take long for tile grout to get permeated and this makes it harder to eliminate the odor. Depending on the age of your children, this can be a job for them to be trained in (with good hand washing after, of course!). I like to use my Lavender and Lemon Bathroom Disinfecting Spray in the bathroom. Not only does it smell great with the addition of essential oils, but it’s safe and works well on getting rid of all those bathrooms germs and bacteria.
Gather your simple ingredients (this recipe can easily be cut in half if you don’t want to mix up a whole batch).
Lavender and Lemon Bathroom Disinfecting Spray:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup vodka (excellent germ-killing properties)
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 1/2 cups water (distilled or boiled and cooled)
I find that using a funnel makes it really easy to pour ingredients directly into a spray bottle. Alternately, you can use a measuring cup or container with a spout with good results too.
Take note of this additional step before you start as this addition is the game-changer for scent removal. Spray around your toilet base liberally and sprinkle baking soda on top. You will want it to be a thick, paste like consistency. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to kill all those germs. At this point you can use your desired tool of choice to scrub a bit if you want to really get at it, or you can simply wipe it up using a damp cloth until no residue remains.
My Toilet Seat Game Changer
With two little boys, I have had my fair share of moments of being really grossed out by all the residue that is around the toilet seat, screws and hinges. This area is really tricky to clean well. I recently discovered and purchased this toilet seat for 2 of our bathrooms and it’s one of my favorite finds. Instead of having to clean around the hinges and screws, the toilet seat actually lifts up so that you can easily wipe around the hinges and screws. It also is slow-closing to prevent finger pinching and slamming. (Please note that you need to check the size of your toilet before purchasing a toilet seat.)
I’ll continue to answer your cleaning conundrums in upcoming weeks, so keep an eye out for simple solutions to your biggest cleaning irritations. Go here to see all the posts in this series.
Are you following me on Instagram? I post my weekly cleaning routine – come follow along!
If you like these DIY recipes and tips, you’ll LOVE my book, The Organically Clean Home!
Lily de Grey Says
You’ve done it once again, Becky! Thanks for creating a comprehensive solution to cleaning! I’ve always been interested in using natural remedies for my dirty bathroom, and now I can! What percent vodka do I want to mix in with the disinfecting spray?
Lily de Grey |
Becky Says
Post authorThis is the recipe I use:
Lavender and Lemon Bathroom Disinfecting Spray:
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup vodka (excellent germ-killing properties)
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
1 1/2 cups water (distilled or boiled and cooled)
Ernestine S. Bonicelli Says
How about 50 percent -plus rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide in place of vodka? I don’t use beverage alcohol in any form and it’s never on hand.
Molly Says
Hi Ernestine, halve the vodka proof to know what percentage alcohol is equivalent… I like to use 50 or 70% rubbing alcohol, straight from the bottle for wiping off glass doorknobs or toilet handles.
I hope this helps a little.
Amanda Says
I notice in your cleaning blogs that you have certain cloths for certain tasks and you say not to reuse them on another area. I am wondering how many total cloths you use when you clean all your bathrooms. I’m just starting out following your cleaning guidelines and am looking to start my cleaning caddy. Thanks! Love your blog!
Jen S Says
We purchased a toilet seat for the kids bathroom with one of those toddler seats attached for my youngest. The main toilet seat now has a ring on it from where the smaller seat rests due to urine. Any suggestions on how to remove this particular ring? I read somewhere that the all purpose stainless steel cleaner I use for my kitchen pots/pans is great for removing bathroom stains. It helped a little by lightening the ring, but didn’t remove it. I’ve been hesitant to use the pumice stone on it for fear of it scratching the seat surface although I have used it for years for removing the toilet bowl ring due to hard water build up. What would you suggest for this? Thank you!
Becky Says
Post authorTry a using Bon Ami and water – just mix it up as a paste 🙂
June Says
Do you have any natural cleaning solutions that don’t use scented products? I am allergic to scents.
Becky Says
Post authorJust omit the scent/essential oil. Have you tried essential oils? They aren’t fragrances, they are the actual oils from the product – ie: lemon is from a lemon. You might be surprised 🙂
Mary Kitchings Says
Where do you buy your essential oils?
Can you please share the brand you purchase and where you get them? I want to buy some, but there are sooo many different ones to choose from and I value your opinion. Thanks!
Becky Says
Post authorI buy them from doTERRA:
mydoterra.com/cleanmama
Karla Says
Love your site, I love the fact you use organic things to clean. I am old school, and have been using several of the items you have mentioned but I was not using the essential oils, so long story short, I tried, and really like the scent of my cleaners.
Christine Says
Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to try the disinfectant recipe!!
Jordan Says
Some great tips for getting the toilet nice and clean! Glad you use things that a lot softer on my senses than harsh cleaners tend to be. It makes it really hard to clean in the bathroom if it’s hard to breathe, so this is great. Thanks so much for sharing!
Anne Says
My conundrum is what to do with the wet cleaning cloths. If I put the in any kind of container they mildew before I can launder them (I live in an apartment where the laundry room is a few floors away so I try to limit trips to very full loads). If I leave them out to dry…. Well, ew. And inevitably Husband will use it for something else, no matter how many times I tell him not to. I would like to use cloths instead of paper towels or wipes, but for this very reason I am considering changing over. I have the same problem in the kitchen. Between messy husband, cat, and toddler, I am wiping liquid, food, and other stuff off the floor and counters many many times a day. i use a microfiber cloth that I rinse and reuse but it still gets very mildewy before I can wash it.
Becky Says
Post authorTry using a bucket just for cloths – when the cloth is wet and dirty, hang it over the side of the bucket to dry. When it’s dry, put it in the bucket. When you have a bucket full of cloths, bring them to be washed. This is what I do and I don’t have the stinky/mildew problem 🙂 xo
Ernestine S. Bonicelli Says
Could you not also just put them all in the bucket with water and some vinegar or peroxide in it until washing time? I soak my sponges and dish clothes overnight with a little water in the sink, and add a little vinegar – prevents the unwanted, unpleasant odor and I don’t have to wash them as often.
Pat Davis Says
There are only the two of us at our house so I do the ‘hang it over the side’ till it’s dry with my washcloths, dishcloths, cleaning cloths, etc. I use the top of the shower enclosure, the laundry basket, etc. to dry them. If someone is stopping by I gather them all and throw them in the laundry basket and stuff it in the closet till they’re gone. Yep, then I hang them out again. Mine never get stinky between washes…..and sometimes it is over a week before we get a load. I have a friend that uses her old diaper pail (you know, the one we used before disposable diapers). But she has more people in her household so they don’t have time to get stinky.
Anna Says
I use a plastic basket/binfrom the dollar store for this purpose. It has a solid bottom but holes everywhere. I do try to hang damp rags on the side to dry first.
Either of these.
https://m.dollartree.com/h5/r/product/household/storage-organization/Round-Plastic-Storage-Baskets-11-/500c541c541p177485/index.pro
This is like the one I actually use except mine is round and about 12″ tall and 12″ in diameter.
https://m.dollartree.com/h5/r/product/household/storage-organization/Oval-Carry-Totes/500c541c541p29118/index.pro
Pat McKnight Says
I am an R.N. and therefore especially interested in cleaners which are effective but not toxic. Your formula for cleaning toilets is interesting – but why not use rubbing alcohol instead of vodka? It is cheaper, for one thing, has a higher concentration of ETOH, and available everywhere. What is the special virtue of vodka over rubbing alcohol? I use rubbing alcohol to clean faucets — it is a very effective disinfectant and it makes metal faucets gleam.
Becky Says
Post authorYou can use rubbing alcohol in lieu of the vodka – I have found that both work equally as well. I like the more subtle scent of vodka 🙂
Ernestine S. Bonicelli Says
Rubbing alcohol also has a tendency to leave streakless anything that you wipe off with it, unlike both sponges and rags. I keep some in a spray bottle, half alcohol and half water, in my kitchen and spray my counters often and generously with it. It also discourages insects, including ants.
Heather Says
Can you substitute anything for the vodka in the disinfecting spray? My husband is a recovering alcoholic and we do not keep alcohol in the house. Thanks!
Heather Says
Nevermind. I see the comment above. Thanks!
Marcy Says
Do you use a plastic or glass spray bottle for your cleaner? I am happy to see that I can use just plain rubbing alcohol.
Becky Says
Post authorYou can use either, but I prefer glass 🙂
Candace Says
I was just wondering where you get your glass spray bottles?
Becky Says
Post authorYou can find the link to them and other favorite cleaning products of mine HERE.
xo
Becky
Lupe Says
A few months ago I cleaned a toilet that was blackened from the water line down to the drain hole. The build up was thick and hard, it was a nightmare considering that I didn’t have all day to clean it. So, I pushed the water through with a plunger to the point where the bowl was empty, added bowl cleaner, let it set for 15 minutes, then used an old butter knife to chip and scrape away the buildup. I had to do this twice, but once it was done it looked like heaven! Thanks for the insight.
amy Says
do you have any recommendations for cleaning around a toilet in a bathroom with a wood floor? i’m having some lingering “smell” issues and don’t want to have to remove the whole toilet to clean underneath if i don’t have to!
Becky Says
Post authorI spray cleaner around the base and wipe under the toilet area – that seems to work well to remove the smell issues.
amy Says
sorry, wrong email address in my above comment…
LeeAnne Says
Can you use a something different than lavender ?I am alergic to lavender but like the idea of using essential oils.
Becky Says
Post authorYes, choose any other essential oil you’d like 🙂
Karen Says
Hi, LeeAnne, I use peppermint and lemon oil. You might give that one a try.
Kirsten Says
Hi I’ve made your recipe for cleaning bathrooms and all I can smell is vinegar! I’m in the uk so is it different products? Thanks Becky xx
Becky Says
Post authorAdd a little essential oil and that should help!
madurima Says
Can actual lemon juice used instead of lemon oil? At home lemon is always handy.pls clarify
Michelle Says
The toilet seat link doesn’t work. Can you send maybe an updated link? Thank you ????
Becky Says
Post authorHere’s the link and the post is updated – thank you!
http://www.homedepot.com/s/bemis%2520toilet%2520seat%2520just%2520lift?NCNI-5
Cynthia Says
How would you tackle dark brown/yellow stains in the water holes under the rim of the toilet?
Becky Says
Post authorThe Pumie!
Linda Lutz Says
Ok do you have an answer for removing marks left in toilet bowl from using a snake to unplug Toilet? Tia
Becky Says
Post authorThe pumie would remove those 🙂
Tiffany McIntosh Says
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but perhaps i missed it. I have three boys (4 if you count my husband) and they all sit to pee. Not revolutionary, just not gross. My bathroom never has that “boys live here” smell and I’m not a big cleaner. I just got your book and I’m really digging it though. There may be hope for me yet!
Liz Says
Love this post, thank you for all of the tips! How do you store your pumie? I want to switch over to using that instead of a toilet brush, because it grosses me out that it’s just sitting in a cup where it stays moist, so I want to figure out the best/least gross way to store a pumie when I buy one.
b r Says
Post authorI keep it in a small bucket by itself under the sink, pumie facing down.
Liz Says
Thanks!
Rachel Says
I have marble flooring and I have heard lemon eo can etch the marble. Can I should I substitute a different oil for the lemon? What oil? Is the lemon eo so little that it won’t have any effect on the stone?
b r Says
Post authorThe lemon is so minimal that you won’t need to worry about it. You could use peppermint instead or just leave it out.
Cynthia Says
If I substitute 70% rubbing alcohol or 3% hydrogen peroxide instead of the vodka, how much alcohol or peroxide would I add?
b r Says
Post authorI would only substitute alcohol because hydrogen peroxide needs to be stored in its original container.
Julia Says
That toilet seat looks awesome! But the reviews aren’t so great. Some say that the seat moves around when they sit on it. Has that been the case for you?
b r Says
Post authorNope, we love them!