How to Make a DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner With Baking Soda and Vinegar Create a homemade toilet bowl cleaner with just a few household ingredients. Close Credit: Getty Images DIY toilet bowl cleaner offers a simple way to keep your bathroom fresh using household items. Regularly cleaning your toilet bowl helps prevent bacteria and grime from accumulating, contributing to a healthier home. A homemade cleaner is not only cost-effective but also lets you tailor the ingredients to your preference. With just a few essentials like baking soda, citric acid, and distilled white vinegar, you can mix up a natural and efficient cleaning solution. Kathy Cohoon, director of franchise operations of Two Maids How to Clean a Toilet the Right Way (and How Often You Should) What You'll Need Materials 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar A few drops of essential oils (optional) 2 empty jars Toilet scrubbing brush Instructions This DIY toilet bowl cleaner takes just a few minutes to make and can be customized to your liking. If desired, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance or leave it scent-free, says Kathy Cohoon, the director of franchise operations of Two Maids. Use gloves when handling citric acid, as it can be irritating to skin. Combine dry ingredients: Combine 1 cup baking soda and a 1/4 cup citric acid in a bowl. Gently stir together to incorporate. Scale the formula as needed to make a larger batch. Add essential oil and pour into jar: If desired, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance and stir well. Once fully incorporated, add the mixture to a glass jar. Pour vinegar into a separate jar: Add distilled white vinegar to a separate glass jar or bottle and store it alongside the dry mixture. You will need to combine the dry and wet ingredients in the toilet when you are ready to start cleaning. Don't have citric acid? You can substitute cream of tartar in a 1:1 ratio. How to Use DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner Once your ingredients are prepared, you can use your DIY toilet bowl cleaner. Start by flushing the toilet to remove any loose tissue paper or debris, says Cohoon. Then, add a couple of small scoops of the baking powder mixture to the toilet, allowing it to sit for one to two minutes.Use a scrub brush to scrub the entire toilet. Next, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the toilet, allowing it to bubble. Scrub the toilet again and flush. How to Clean and Maintain a Toilet Tank How to Store DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner Store the baking soda and citric acid mixture separately from the distilled white vinegar. Keep both supplies in airtight glass containers and store them in a dark, cool area, like in a linen closet or pantry. Mistakes to Avoid If it's your first time making your own toilet bowl cleaner, you'll want to avoid these common mistakes when cleaning. Use a Clean Toilet Brush: You don't want to negate your cleaner by using a dirty brush. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly after each use. Don't Mix Too Soon: The fizz of combining baking soda and vinegar helps with the cleaning power, so mixing them before adding to the toilet makes them less effective. Add the dry baking soda-citric acid mixture first before pouring in the vinegar. Timing is Important: Allow the mixture to fizz and then sit for a couple of minutes to allow time for it to break down dirt and stains before scrubbing with your toilet brush. Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing Bathroom Cleaning Tips