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It’s probably safe to say that cleaning the toilets in your home isn’t one of your favorite things to do. However, while this is not an enjoyable chore, it is a necessary one. Keeping your toilet clean can not only keep germs and bacteria at bay, but it can also help ensure it continues to function properly and prevent unsightly hard water stains. While there are countless toilet cleaning products available, you may be searching for an alternative or more natural solution. You may also find yourself in a tough spot with guests on the way and no cleaner to be found. In either of these cases, all you’ll need to do is put on a pair of gloves and try out one of these toilet cleaning hacks to ensure that your porcelain throne is ready for business.
1. Banish hard water stains with a pumice stone.
If you’re searching for toilet bowl cleaning hacks to tackle icky stains along the side of the bowl, look no further than a pumice stone. “Pumice works as an abrasive cleaner and it will scratch and remove anything softer than it. Toilet bowls are made from ceramic, which is harder than pumice and thus is not damaged by it,” explains Derek Christian, the chief cleaning officer at All Star Cleaning Services of Fort Collins, Colorado. He shares that a pumice stone is often the tool of choice for members of his company to clean stained toilet bowls with lots of hard water buildup. You could even use one alongside your favorite toilet bowl cleaner to take care of any stubborn stains that are left behind.
2. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that can help keep a toilet free of stains.
Those looking for natural toilet bowl cleaning options should consider trying distilled white vinegar. “Vinegar is a mild acid. Acid can also be used to remove hard water from a toilet by dissolving it,” says Christian. However, he also notes that because vinegar is a weaker acid, it may not be as effective on older or heavier stains. Instead, he recommends using it to tackle newer stains or hard water rings. “To make it more effective, we use the toilet brush to plunge as much water as possible down the drain to expose the hard water ring to the air. This way we can put the vinegar directly onto the ring without it being diluted by water,” shares Christian.
Once you learn how to clean a toilet with vinegar, you may be excited to find out that the natural solution can come in handy in other ways as well. Using it can be a clever way to unclog a toilet without using a plunger—you might try this instead of pouring dish soap into your toilet. Chris Willatt, the owner of Alpine Maids in Denver, Colorado, offers one additional use for vinegar when cleaning a toilet. “If you want to go crazy, you can fill up your tank with vinegar and use it to flush your entire toilet system. The bathroom will smell like vinegar for a day, but it really cleans it. Just make sure you flush it out,” he shares.
3. Eliminate germs and grime with a steam cleaner.
A steam cleaner can serve as an easy toilet cleaning tool. As Willatt explains, “The steam [will] serve as a force between the hard mineral buildup in your toilet and the porcelain. The steam breaks it up.” In addition to cleaning inside the bowl, a handheld steamer can help with cleaning the toilet seat, around the hinges, and along the base.
In order for your efforts with a steam cleaner to be the most effective, there are a few key things you should do. First, start cleaning at the top of the toilet and work your way down. This way, any loosened gunk and bacteria won’t fall onto already cleaned areas. Second, you must allow the steam nozzle to make direct contact with the areas you want to clean. Without this direct contact, you won’t actually sanitize the surface.
Our Recommendation: McCulloch MC1230 Handheld Steam Cleaner at Amazon for $69.99
With its fast heat-up time and 11 accessories, this steam cleaner will allow you to blast germs and bacteria off your toilet (and other surfaces in the home).
