6 Household Staples That Get Your Toilet Sparkling Clean Naturally

When it comes to toilet cleaning, untold types of manufactured powders, sprays, and liquids are ready at our disposal. However, what you have in your cupboard might just be strong enough to do the job without adding harsh chemicals. “For regular toilet cleaning, I honestly think common household products are underrated,” says cleaning technician Henry Andersone. “A lot of people immediately grab heavy chemical cleaners when they don’t need them for everyday buildup.”

Read on for a list of expert-recommended common household items you can use to give your toilet a sparkling clean.

How to Clean Your Toilet With Common Household Items

CEO at Cleancorp, Lisa Macqueen, extolls the virtues of common household items. “Products such as baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap are cheap, widely available, and generally have fewer chemicals than many commercial toilet cleaners,” she says. “They are also more environmentally friendly because they reduce exposure to acids, bleach, and synthetic fragrances.” 

This is especially the case in smaller bathrooms with poor ventilation, where strong commercial cleaners can become overwhelming pretty quickly, or in homes with pets, young children, or people with asthma. “Another big benefit [of natural cleaners] is surface preservation,” adds Andersone. “Some aggressive toilet bowl cleaners can slowly wear down finishes or discolor older fixtures over time if they’re constantly overused.” 

The following common household products are recommended for safe toilet bowl upkeep. “Most people already have at least two or three of these sitting in their kitchen,” notes Andersone.

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Mild dish soap
• Hot (not boiling) water
• Borax
• Lemon juice

Baking Soda and Vinegar Method

"Baking soda helps absorb odor and lightly breaks down grime without being abrasive,” says Andersone, while vinegar is ideal for disinfecting and deodorizing.

1. Sprinkle baking soda evenly around the toilet bowl.
2. Slowly pour 1 to 2 cups of white vinegar into the bowl.
3. Allow mixture to fizz and sit for at least 30 minutes. “The fizzing reaction helps loosen debris and mineral deposits,” says Andersone. For tougher stains, leaving the mixture on longer, or overnight, can help.
4. After soaking, scrub thoroughly with a toilet brush. Be sure to scrub under the rim. 
5. Flush.

Borax Soak Method

For harder stains, like water marks, rust, and mineral deposits, Macqueen recommends borax or citric acid. “They are significantly more effective because they target mineral-based staining more aggressively,” she says.

1. Sprinkle borax into the toilet bowl, focusing on stained areas.
2. Allow to sit overnight.
3. Scrub thoroughly in the morning with a toilet brush and flush.

Citric Acid Method

Similar to borax, citric acid can safely and effectively remove water marks, rust, and mineral deposits from your toilet bowl.

1. Sprinkle citric acid directly into the toilet bowl.
2. Leave it to sit for 20 minutes.
3. Scrub thoroughly and flush.

Lemon Juice Method

Like other acidic ingredients, lemon juice can help tackle mineral buildup and refresh the toilet bowl with a clean, citrus scent.

• Apply lemon juice to stains or pour it into the bowl.
• Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Scrub and flush.

Dish Soap + Warm Water Method

The unsightly grime ring you may see in a toilet is essentially a mixture of hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) and organic waste. Enter dish soap, whose surfactant properties work to penetrate and break the molecular bonds of organic matter.

1. Add a small amount of dish soap to the toilet bowl, then add warm water. Don’t use boiling water. “People assume hotter is better, but boiling water can crack porcelain, especially in older toilets,” says Andersone.
2. Allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Scrub thoroughly.
4. Flush.

When DIY Cleansers Can't Cut It

Use commercial disinfectants after sickness or for severe staining, says Macqueen. “Household ingredients are great for maintenance and light cleaning, but don't forget that 'natural' doesn't always mean disinfecting,” she adds. This especially applies in situations where sanitization is the priority rather than appearance alone, says Andersone.