Tired of using toxic cleaning products or natural cleaners that don’t quite get the job done? Here’s how to make the best DIY toilet bowl cleaner to leave toilets fresh and spotless.
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In this blog, I’m outlining the exact steps to make the best homemade liquid toilet bowl cleaner and how to use it.
Key Takeaways
- To make this liquid toilet cleaner, you’ll need simple ingredients and no harsh chemicals: castile soap, baking soda, and water.
- Use this cleaner instead of store-bought toilet bowl cleaner. Yep, goodbye harsh chemicals.
- Use this recipe to clean toilets (removing dirt and grime), remove hard water and most other toilet bowl stains, and dissolve odors.
- You can store this cleaner for up to 1 month. So make a bottle today and use it each week to naturally clean your toilets.
Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need
This easy recipe is a result of a lot of trial and error, and lessons in chemistry, such as: vinegar and baking soda cancel each other out (a chemical reaction to avoid when making natural recipes).
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water – The safest option to use when making your own cleaning products. Distilled water removes containments, which may cause bacteria to grow quickly in DIY cleaners. You’ll find this water option at most grocery stores. If you plan to use this cleaner quickly (within a few days), filtered water is fine.
- 1/2 cup baking soda also known as: sodium bicarbonate – This is the key ingredient for lifting stains and deodorizing the toilet. Also used in over 19 different cleaning hacks.
- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap – An ancient, concentrated vegetable-based soap. I use castile soap for everything from homemade laundry detergent to hand soap and face wash. This is the key ingredient for removing dirt and germs from the toilet bowl. For a tougher option, use Sal Suds, castile soap’s big brother. How to clean your home with castile soap.
- (optional) 15-30 drops of your favorite essential oil, such as: lavender essential oil or grapefruit, tea tree oil, lemon, or orange – Many essential oils are known for their natural cleaning power (antibacterial and antiseptic), and their lovely natural scent. The essential oils also add an amazing fresh scent to the toilet bowl. How to use essential oils for cleaning.
Equipment
- 1 squirt bottle – such an empty and clean dish soap bottle, ketchup bottle, or purchase a squirt bottle from the store) for storing the toilet bowl cleaner.
- 1 small funnel (optional) – for pouring the ingredients into the squirt bottle.
How to Make & Use DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Add Ingredients a Squirt Bottle
- Using a small funnel (optional, but very helpful), add the liquid ingredients to the squirt bottle: water and castile soap.
- Finally, add the baking soda.
Step 2: Shake to Combine
- Place the top on the bottle (make sure the squirt top is closed). Shake the bottle vigorously until the ingredients are well combined.
- Store the cleaner in your cleaning caddy.
- Use to clean toilet bowls as needed.
Step 3: Clean the Toilet
- Squirt the cleaner inside the toilet bowl, hitting the sides of the bowl with the solution.
- Use a toilet brush to scrub the toilet bowl.
- Flush the toilet. The toilet should now be clean, stain-free, and deodorized.
If you’d like to disinfect the toilet bowl as well: After cleaning the toilet bowl with this solution, spray hydrogen peroxide or vinegar into the toilet bowl (to do this, attach a spray nozzle on a bottle of hydrogen peroxide or add 100% white vinegar to a spray bottle). Allow the hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to rest for a few minutes inside the toilet bowl, then scrub again and flush.
Disinfecting vs. Cleaning
Disinfecting is an activity that’s (generally) done after cleaning (usually done with soap/water to remove dirt, dust, etc.). “Disinfecting…refers to killing a high percentage of the germs on a surface or rendering them incapable of reproducing.” (source)
In the case of the toilet, and natural cleaning, first use the homemade toilet bowl cleaner, scrub, and flush. Then use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect (optional). This is a good idea for deep cleanings if the toilet is particularly dirty, sickness has occurred in the home, etc.
What to Avoid Doing
- Don’t add vinegar to this recipe. I know many people like to use vinegar for cleaning (including myself), but you should never mix baking soda and castile soap with vinegar (here’s why). You CAN use vinegar in the toilet bowl AFTER cleaning it with this cleaner to disinfect it.
- Don’t add hydrogen peroxide to this recipe. You CAN use hydrogen peroxide as a spray to disinfect the toilet bowl AFTER cleaning with this recipe. But, adding hydrogen peroxide directly to the recipe will result in an explosion of the bottle.
- For safety reasons, don’t use tap water to make this recipe. It’s always best to use distilled water for long-term storage (a few days or weeks).
- Skip the essential oil if have cats or small children in your home. While they provide a lovely scent, they can be dangerous for some animals and children. Do your research first.
How Long Will This Cleaner Last?
- Store the cleaner in your cleaning caddy, just as you would a commercial toilet bowl cleaner.
- Store for up to 1 month.
Conclusion
Use this natural toilet bowl cleaner just as you would conventional toilet bowl cleaners.
The ingredients used to make this recipe are purposely selected to remove dirt and grime, lift stains and freshen toilet bowls. Give it a try and tell me what you think!
If you’re looking to make a powdered toilet bowl cleaner, check out this recipe.
FAQs
- Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda? No, these are two very different products. You need baking soda, a standard kitchen staple, and a household cleaner for this recipe.
- How long will this recipe last? I recommend storage for up to 1 month due to the water. Granted, you’re not consuming the product so that you could go a bit longer without issue.
- Could you replace the water with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to help sanitize and bleach out stains? Hydrogen peroxide will cause an explosive reaction if mixed with baking soda, and vinegar doesn’t interact well with castile soap or baking soda. Stick with water. After cleaning, spritz the toilet directly with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide for sanitizing.
- I can’t find Castile soap; what else can I use? Any dish soap, from Dawn to natural dish soap (like Seventh Generation), will work perfectly as a substitute.
- Can I use a small spray bottle instead of a squirt bottle? No, it will be very hard to spray this solution due to the baking soda. You’ll find a squirt bottle (used for condiments) in most stores (even the Dollar Store) in the kitchen/cooking aisle, or reuse an old dish soap or ketchup bottle.
Top Favorite Cleaners for the Bathroom
- Bathroom Cleaner Spray: An all purpose cleaner for all surfaces, including the bathroom toilet seat.
- Tub & Sink Scrub: For tiles, sinks, and tub/shower surfaces.
- Glass/Mirror Cleaner: For shower doors and bathroom mirrors.
- Liquid Laundry Soap: Wash your bathroom towels in this simple detergent.
Learn how to make natural cleaners for your home
DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe
After much experimenting, I’m excited to share a DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner that fights odors and leaves even the dirtiest toilet bowls sparkling clean.
Cost: $3
Equipment
- 1 squirt bottle (such an empty and clean dish soap bottle, ketchup bottle, or purchase a squirt bottle from the store) for storing the toilet bowl cleaner
- 1 small funnel (optional) for pouring the ingredients into the bottle
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water best for safety purposes
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup liquid castile soap (any scent or unscented)
- 15-30 drops favorite essential oil of choice such as: lavender, grapefruit, tea tree, lemon, or orange (optional)
Instructions
- Using a small funnel (optional, but very helpful), add the liquid ingredients to the squirt bottle: water and castile soap. Finally, add the baking soda.
- Place the top on the bottle (make sure the squirt top is closed). Shake the bottle vigorously until the ingredients are well combined. Store the cleaner in your cleaning caddy. Use to clean toilet bowls as needed.
- Store the cleaner in your cleaning caddy, just as you would a commercial toilet bowl cleaner. Store for up to 1 month.
How to Use:
- Squirt the cleaner inside the toilet bowl, hitting the sides of the bowl with the solution. Use a toilet brush to scrub the toilet bowl. Flush the toilet. The toilet should now be clean, stain-free, and deodorized.
- (Optional) If you'd like to disinfect the toilet bowl as well, here's a great way to do that: After cleaning the toilet bowl with this solution, spray hydrogen peroxide or vinegar into the toilet bowl (to do this, attach a spray nozzle on a bottle of hydrogen peroxide or add 100% white vinegar to a spray bottle). Allow the hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to rest for a few minutes inside the toilet bowl, then scrub again and flush.
Notes
Disinfecting vs. Cleaning
Disinfecting is an activity that’s (generally) done after cleaning (usually done with soap/water to remove dirt, dust, etc.). “Disinfecting…refers to killing a high percentage of the germs on a surface or rendering them incapable of reproducing.” (source) In the case of the toilet, and natural cleaning, first use the homemade toilet bowl cleaner, scrub, and flush. Then use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect (optional). This is a good idea for deep cleanings if the toilet is particularly dirty, sickness has occurred in the home, etc. Powder Toilet Bowl Cleaner Variation: If you’d prefer a powder toilet bowl cleaner, follow this simple recipe. Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Why Does it not last longer than a month?
Hi Olivia, The reason it doesn’t last longer than a month is due to the natural ingredients, like castile soap and essential oils, which lack synthetic preservatives. These can be prone to microbial growth or degradation over time, especially in a moist bathroom environment. To extend the shelf life slightly, you can store it in a cool, dark place and use distilled water to minimize impurities. Making smaller batches can also help ensure freshness