How to Clean Your Toilet So It Gleams—Even the Spots You Usually Miss

Sure, we all think we know how to clean a toilet (à la scrubbing the bowl), but cleaning experts say you might be breezing over some of the grimiest parts (like the rim, hinges, and bolts) that hold stinky smells, bacteria, and hard-water buildup. 

To learn exactly how to keep your commode sparkling clean, we consulted with two cleaning experts: TikTok’s 'Queen of Cleaning' and Clorox spokesperson Vanesa Amaro and Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of AspenClean. 

How to Clean Under the Toilet Rim

It’s often overlooked, but the rim of your toilet harbors mold, bacteria, and mineral deposits, Sokolowski says. Since it’s a more difficult area to access, many folks give it a quick once-over and move on, which means they’re missing crusty debris that can form beneath the lip.

A few extra minutes of focused cleaning make a big difference in how fresh your toilet feels (and smells). Here’s what you’ll need to tackle the area.

Materials Needed:

• Acidic-based, squeeze-bottle cleaner
• Toilet brush
• Old toothbrush
• Paper towels

Instructions:

1. Ventilate the bathroom by opening the windows or running the fan.
   
2. Using your squeeze-bottle cleanser, apply the solution directly under the rim, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
   
3. Let the cleaner sit for 10-15 minutes.
   
4. Use a toilet brush (and/or an old toothbrush) to scrub the surface thoroughly.
   
5. Use paper towels to clean the surface off and inspect for cleanliness.

How to Clean the Toilet Seat Hinges, Bolts, and Base

It's easy to focus on the bowl (after all, it only takes a few swipes of a brush to get it looking presentable), but lots of grime hides on the hinges, bolts, and base of your toilet. Urine and other moisture can collect in the lesser-seen areas, which is why it’s important to take the toilet seat off to get to these crevices.

"You should remove the toilet seat to get a more thorough clean when doing routine deep cleaning to ensure you’re tackling the tough-to-reach crevices," Amaro explains. "The area around the seat hinges and bolts can trap grime that can be difficult to reach without removing the seat entirely."

Materials Needed:

• Screwdriver
• Disinfecting cleanser
• Old toothbrush
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Hydrogen peroxide

Instructions:

1. Ventilate the bathroom by opening the windows or running the fan.
   
2. Use the screwdriver to take off the bolt covers and remove the toilet seat for the most thorough clean
   
3. Spray your disinfecting cleaner on the hinges, toilet seat, bolts, and base of the toilet.
   
4. Using a small toothbrush, work the cleaner into any crevices to remove grime.
   
5. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any residue.
   
6. Next, spray hydrogen peroxide on any urine or mildew spots. Let it sit for 10 minutes.
   
7. Wipe off any residue with a microfiber cloth and dry thoroughly. 

How to Deep Clean Your Entire Toilet

When it’s time to give your toilet a thorough deep cleaning, our experts recommend working from top to bottom. Here’s what you'll need—and what to do—to get things shiny and clean. 

Materials Needed:

• Rubber gloves
• Old toothbrush
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Bathroom-surface cleanser
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Toilet brush
• Paper towels

Instructions:

1. Ventilate the bathroom by opening the windows or running the fan. Clear the area around the toilet.
   
2. Squirt toilet bowl cleaner along the sides of the bowl and under the rim.
   
3. Allow the cleanser to sit for 10-15 minutes to properly disinfect while you clean the exterior of the toilet.
   
4. Spray the seat, base, tank, handle, and lid with bathroom cleaner. Wipe with a clean microfiber cloth.
   
5. Use the old toothbrush to scrub any hard-to-reach areas. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
   
6. Grab your toilet brush and scrub under the rim and along the sides of the bowl.
   
7.  Flush to rinse—and to see if you need to go back for a second round.
   
8. Use a paper towel to remove any moisture on the toilet. Sokolowski says this helps prevent bacteria and water spots.