For the most part, creating a healthy, peaceful toilet house is simply a matter of making the right choice of toilet cleaner for a healthy and peaceful toilet.
It’s very simple, actually: you should use no toilet bowl cleaner at all, if possible. The most effective cleaning results you can get come from common household products, like vinegar, baking soda, and soap and water. These are natural, environmentally friendly and, most importantly, cheap.
Next time you clean your toilet, blend a solution of baking soda and vinegar and use that to scrub away the grime. It works just as well as any chemical toilet bowl cleaner.
If you’re allergic to vinegar, you can also use lemon juice, but be careful not to get it in your eyes. Soak a cloth in the solution and squeeze it until it almost drips, then wipe down the bowl (and seat, if it has one) using long strokes.
If you want, you can also make a paste of baking powder and water, and apply it to the toilet with a sponge. Scrub the toilet bowl, then rinse it off under the faucet.
Some of us, though, would rather just use a chemical toilet bowl cleaner when the need arises. It helps us avoid all the work involved in making our own cleaning solutions, though we do pay for that convenience.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Lime-A-Way Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Best Overall |  |
| Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Budget Pick |  |
| ZEP Commercial Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Lime-A-Way Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pros:
- Great at removing stains
- Effectively kills ring around the drain
- Doesn’t leave any residue behind
- Great scent
Cons:
- Dries out skin
- Pricing
Lime-A-Way toilet bowl cleansers by FMC are incredibly effective at cleaning rings around the drain and surface stains.
It’s also great at removing limescale, buildup, mineral deposits, and rust. You can expect to see a boost in toilet bowl brightness and shine as well.
This is certainly a great product when you want to have a toilet that’s cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing. Everything about this toilet bowl cleaner is perfect: the scent is great, it effectively cleans, it doesn’t leave any residue, and it’s safe for septic tanks. However, there is one minor issue of concern: It’s drying on your skin. It’s safer to work in gloves when using this product and to avoid eye contact.
2. ZEP Commercial Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pros:
- Commercial grade—more effective than other toilet bowl cleaners
- Good value
The ZEP Commercial acidic toilet bowl cleaner comes in a 3-pack of 32-ounce bottles. Despite claiming to be acid-based, this toilet bowl cleaner has a neutral PH which means it’s very safe to use and won’t cause damage to the components of your toilet.
This 28% hydrogen peroxide and citrus cleaner, as well as the foaming action, give you a perfectly clean toilet that’s easy to maintain and doesn’t require a lot of scrubbing and wiping.
While it’s effective for most users, there are some complaints regarding clogged drains after using the cleaner. This is probably caused by how imprecise it is to use, as the consistency of the product, as well as the way you squeeze it from the bottle, contributes to how well it cleans.
3. Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pros:
- Clings to the bowl
- Cleans with a neutral pH
- Leaves a fresh scent
- Water-based
- Doesn’t leave residue on the sides of the bowl
- Easy to use and apply
- Economical
- Targeted cleaning on the hard-to-reach areas of the toilet bowl
- Long-lasting fresh scent (not overwhelming or cloying)
- Ideal for both hard water and well water
Cons:
- Doesn’t work as well with soft water
- Could be abrasive when used for a very long time
- Mixture needs to be adjusted according to the amount of buildup on the bowl
The Lysol toilet bowl cleaner is affordable, easily available, and is best suited for households with hard water. The cationic surfactants in this cleaner cling to the bowl and help remove built-up calcium and other mineral deposits.
The product comes in a relatively big packet yet is cost-effective and offers you great value for money. Also, the good ration of cost to quantity makes this product more economical.
This Lysol toilet bowl cleaner is a very good product that will leave you amazed.
4. Powerhouse Pumice Toilet Bowl Cleaning Stone
Pros:
- Safe to use around children and pets
- Lasts twice as long as other toilet bowl cleaners
- Biodegradable and low odor
- Enriched with pumice stones for stronger cleaning power
- Detergent-free formula
- 100% guaranteed against manufacturers defects
Cons:
- May be hard to find
- Some say it isn’t effective against limescale
- When you test the cleaner on the rim of your bowl, it may crumble and turn to dust
Cleans Fixtures and Seals, Saves Time, Hard to Reach Places.
5. Clorox ToiletWand
6. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pros:
- Good Budget Cleaning Option
- Perfect For Cleaning Toilet Issues
Toxic bathroom cleaners – filled with chemicals like bleach – can (and do), linger in fumes that cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs of the users. Due to chemicals being more acidic than most surfaces, they have a tendency to mix with natural elements (viruses, bacteria, etc.) in the toilet that result in the formation of mold. The bleach present in the cleaners has the tendency to deteriorate your toilet handle, seats and other parts, furthering the risk of mold growth due to the presence of moisture.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Lavender Scent, is a non-toxic cleaner that has been designed to work on a variety of surfaces. It is made with biodegradable ingredients and is safe for both your plumbing and your home. It also has an inbuilt antibacterial agent of grapefruit seed extract which prevents microbial growth and makes the insole very effective as a cleaners before a moldy problem begins to form. This product also does not contain any petrochemicals, dyes, phosphates, ammonia, chlorine, alcohol, bleach, caustics, or any type of artificial chemical.
7. Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Pros:
- Safe for septic tanks
- Also removes stains
- Can remove rust
- Best smelling toilet bowl cleaner
- Great value
It’s important to have a great, natural and efficient toilet bowl cleaner, for your septic tank, that removes stains, kill germs and other remaining debris. The Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner is just that: it’s a natural product, safe for septic tanks, that removes stains, spots, tough odors, rust and any other stains that may occur, by using tea tree and peppermint oils.
It can be used on fiberglass, floor, porcelain and cast iron toilet bowls, and it’s also safe for septic tanks.
The Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner offers great value because you can buy it in bulk.
8. Fluidmaster 8100 Flush 'n Sparkle Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaning System
Pros:
- Reduces water consumption by 25%
- Fully Programmable
- Automatically flushes after 10 minutes after being activated
- Leaves tank clean, white and residue free
- Silent operation
- Easy to install
- Long lasting
The Fluidmaster’s Flush’n Sparkle is the best toilet bowl cleaner on the market thanks to its maximum performance and economy.
With this device, you won’t have to worry about purchasing toilet bowl cleaner for years. After spending a few minutes installing this product in your toilet once, you basically never have to put your hand in there again.
The best thing about Flush’n Sparkle is that it’s fully programmable. You can decide when the device cleans your toilet. You can set it up to clean the toilet every 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, or 48 hours.
9. Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic
- Contains a non-rinse bleach product
- Doesn’t require scrubbing
- One dose works for over a year
- Has been on the market for over 50 years
- Fights germs, ring around the bowl, lime stains, and toilet bowl scum
- Aluminum free
- Resealable package to prevent moisture from damaging the tablets
Cons:
- Might leave a bleach-like smell
- Not recommended for light-colored toilet bowls
This patented Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets is a toilet bowl cleaner and disinfectant in one. They’ve been on the market for over 50 years and have convinced over 100 million people that the tablets are the best toilet bowl cleaner. Not only do Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets help you keep your toilet bowl fresh, it also contains bleach for effective disinfection of germs as well. They’re safe to use for all toilets and are free from phosphates, dyes, and bleach.
10. Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaning Gel Starter Kit
Pros:
- Great all-around cleaning agent
- Easy to mix into water and it bubbles up well
- Overall great value
- Great smell
- Safe cleaning product
Cons:
- Doesn’t seem to do a wonderful job at cutting through hard, crusty residue
- There is a chemically smell that lingers for a while
- Dispenser could be better
The cleaning gel that comes with a little plastic dispenser is great for cleaning tile, sinks, and toilet. It seems to do the job very nicely. It doesn’t leave any residue behind, and it doesn’t scratch, but remember, it leaves a fizzing chemical smell in your bathroom.
The product also comes with a little plastic dispenser and some great smelling miniature-size glade rain shower toilet bowl gel. The dispenser works fine, but after using it a few times, unless you seal it airtight, or leave the dispenser head sticking out of the lid, it will dry out quickly.
11. Lysol Hygienic Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Most automatic toilet bowl cleaners are convenient and easy-to-use, but few live up to the hype that comes with Lysol’s powerful Automatic Bowl Cleaner.
One of the things I like best about this product is its scent-free qualities. Many of the other automatic cleaners on the market make your bathroom stink up for a few hours after you clean the toilet, but this one keeps the room odor-free.
You simply insert the cleaner into your tank, let it work, and slip the container back under the tank where the Lysol cleaner stores. I’ve noticed a noticeable difference in the cleanliness of my toilet bowl when using this product. The residue left behind is noticeably less and the bowl itself feels cleaner.
12. Method Antibacterial Toilet Cleaner
Pros:
- Added features like handles and a date-scheduling system
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- Budget Friendly
The Method antibacterial toilet cleaner is a good mid-range choice. You can buy a system including a toilet brush and cleaner, which, unfortunately, means the Method cleaner goes a little faster all around. This cleaner, however, is still strong enough to stand up to messy children.
I like that the Method Antibacterial Toilet Cleaner System comes with handles to make it more convenient to use. You don’t have to worry about dropping and spilling your cleaner while you’re using it.
As far as toilet cleaners go, this is one of the more affordable options in this category. Since it isn’t the most powerful option, however, you’ll need to add some elbow grease to make sure the toilet bowl gets thoroughly cleaned.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best toilet bowl cleaners?
Cleaning your toilet bowl is necessary to maintain the health of your family and friends. It is common to find the harmful germs like E-coli, bacillus, etc. in our toilet bowl. If these germs attack the human body, there are chances that they would cause cold, flue, fever, and nausea.
Toilet bowl cleaners serve a significant role to remove the germs and maintain the hygiene of our home. Considering the presence of germs in the toilet bowl, we must strictly opt for toilet bowl cleaners which are designed with the use of precise materials and formula.
The best toilet bowl cleaners are the ones which do not lead to side effects, are economical and environmental friendly. Moreover, they should be easy to apply in our toilet bowl.
Thus, we have provided the list of the best toilet bowl cleaners of the year to make your work easier and life healthier.
How do you clean a badly stained toilet bowl?
In short, you don't. If the tank of your toilet is highly stained or yellowing, then it's time to consider replacing it with a new tank. There is just no good way of restoring the metal holding tank to a good-looking shiny finish. However, if it's only the bowl that's stained, then there is a solution. To clean your toilet bowl, you will need:
- Paper towels
- White vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Cotton swab
Is Bowl sparkle safe for plumbing?
For some models that come with a little soap dispenser inside the bowl, the manufacturer recommends using only salt or vinegar as toilet cleaners. Due to their chemical compositions, the soaps in the dispensers cannot be used in conjunction with bacteria killing liquids like bleach or chlorine, which could harm your plumbing and the environment.
Does this mean we should never use them? No. It simply means that we should use a little common sense and turn the dispenser off before we clean the tank with chlorine or bleach.
The main reason for keeping this handy little compartment full of soap is to reduce the amount of toilet bowl prep you need to do every time. Using a little bit of soap in the pre-tank solution instead of a lot of liquid in the tank keeps things from getting messy.
How do I remove brown stains from toilet bowl?
The most effective way to remove unsightly brown stains from your toilet bowl is with bleach. Simply pour a bit of bleach into the bowl and keep it submerged. Keep it in overnight and repeat a couple times to get the best result. If you have maybe a few brown or orange stains on your toilet, then this method might be good enough to get rid of them.
If you have multiple stains, then you may want to combine using the bleach with one of the following options. First, snag some oxalic acid powder (which you can find at your local home improvement store) and apply it to your stains like you would apply a detergent product. Simply rub it on and then apply water with the bleach to let the rust-removing magic take effect.
Conclusion
It may seem like a small or even unimportant product, but toilet bowl cleaner is the key to a clean bathroom. From keeping odor at bay to sanitizing, there’s more to toilet cleaner than you might know about. So we put together this guide to help you find the best toilet bowl cleaner to fit your needs. We hope it helps you make a well-informed choice for your household.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Lime-A-Way Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Best Overall | |
| Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Budget Pick | |
| ZEP Commercial Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Upgrade Pick | |