Are you seeking a safer, cheaper, and more effective toilet bowl cleaner? Here's an eco-friendly and frugal homemade toilet bowl cleaner recipe with basic household ingredients.
Let’s talk about something totally unglamorous but absolutely necessary—cleaning the toilet bowl. I know, it’s not the most exciting topic. But as moms and homemakers, we know that a truly clean home includes even the least glamorous corners.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to keep spending money on chemical-filled cleaners that promise a lot but often fall short. I discovered that you can make your own toilet bowl cleaner at home—for a fraction of the cost—and it’s not only cheaper but also safer and surprisingly more effective. If you're like me and want to keep your home fresh without the harsh stuff, this DIY cleaner might just become your new go-to!
Why do I use a natural toilet bowl cleaner?
You might be wondering—why bother making a homemade toilet bowl cleaner when you can just grab one off the store shelf? I used to think the same. But everything changed when my son kept getting sick. That season of our lives pushed us to take a closer look at what we were bringing into our home, and it led us down the path of natural living.
We started growing our own food, cooking from scratch, and gradually replacing store-bought products with safer, homemade alternatives—including our toilet bowl cleaner. It was a simple shift, but it made a big difference. I learned that many commercial cleaners are loaded with harsh chemicals that could be affecting our health more than we realize.
Now, I use natural cleaners at home not just for safety, but for a few other important reasons too:
Cost-effectiveness
Let's admit it: branded commercial cleaning products cost money. But this DIY toilet bowl cleaner only uses cheap and safe ingredients you already have at home.
Safer and more eco-friendly
According to the National Library of Medicine, hazardous substances, such as glycol ethers, fragrances, and detergents, are used in professional cleaning products. These substances contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the eyes, skin, and nose and pose risks when ingested.
So, we made the switch from chemical cleaners due to health reasons. Now that we only use natural ingredients and no toxic chemicals, we feel safer and healthier. My son's allergic rhinitis has subsided, so we're determined to do away from harsh chemical cleaners as much as possible.
Highly customizable
Another benefit when you make diy toilet bowl cleaner is that you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. Although you'll always need baking soda and distilled vinegar as base ingredients, you can add your favorite essential oils to boost its fragrance. If you aren't fond of essential oils, it's OK because this DIY toilet bowl cleaner still works just as great!
These personal encounters only strengthened my commitment to avoid commercial toilet bowl cleaners and look for safer and eco-friendly alternatives. I have since switched to this natural toilet bowl cleaner, and it's one of the wisest decisions ever!
Easy Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe
This DIY toilet bowl cleaner comprises basic household essentials, so you most likely already have them at home. Each has its own natural cleaning power, making them essential elements of this DIY toilet bowl cleaner.
So, to create this homemade toilet bowl cleaner, you need:
- Baking soda - one of the most effective ingredients in homemade cleaners is baking soda. It is a mild alkali that effectively dissolves in water to remove dirt and grime. It also removes odor, is slightly abrasive, and reacts splendidly with vinegar solution. Many of my proven and tested natural cleaners are composed of a baking soda and vinegar base.
- Citric acid or lemon juice is also a fantastic cleaning agent I use in DIY cleaners. When appropriately used, citric acid or lemon juice does an amazing job in descaling and removing soap scum, hard water stains, and mineral deposits. It is perfect to use in cleaning the bathroom.
- White vinegar is a natural toilet cleaner because it has effective disinfecting qualities. It dissolves hard water deposits and toilet bowl stains and kills bacteria without harsh chemicals. I could not imagine any homemade toilet cleaner without white vinegar in it.
- Essential oils (optional) - You can also add your essential oil of choice to leave a fresher and cleaner aroma after cleaning the toilet. They also have antibacterial properties. Other great options include lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender essential oils.
How to Make a DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This homemade toilet bowl cleaner is easy and comes together in just a few minutes. All you need are the ingredients listed above, and follow the step-by-step process below:
- Measure 1 cup of baking soda and pour into a glass jar. Add ¼ cup of citric acid or lemon juice. Mix well until they are fully incorporated.
- As an additional but optional step, add 3-5 drops of your preferred essential oil to the baking soda and mix well.
- Pour distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle. Keep your baking soda and vinegar toilet bowl cleaner together because you'll use one after the other when cleaning the toilet.
How to Use This Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Now that you have prepared your homemade toilet cleaner, it's time to let it work its magic.
First, flush the toilet bowl to wet the sides and dissolve loose tissue paper.
Pour 1-2 scoops of your baking soda mixture into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Now, take a toilet brush and start brushing the insides of your toilet bowl.
Pour or spray white vinegar into the toilet bowl. This creates a fizzing reaction because white vinegar is acidic while baking soda is alkali.
Scrub the toilet until it is all clean, gleaming, and sparkly. Flush.
Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner Variations
You'll find several variations or formulas you can explore when researching or coming up with your own cleaning products.
For example, you can combine white vinegar and essential oil in a small spray bottle. Use this wet mixture first by spraying the toilet bowl in and out. Next, sprinkle with baking soda, and clean the entire toilet with a scrub brush.
I've also read of some natural recipes that use baking soda and essential oils, which they put in shaker containers (think parmesan cheese shakers). While this is also effective, I still want to use white vinegar to clean toilet bowls.
There are also toilet bowl cleaners that use castile soap mixed with water and placed in squirt bottle. Others also use hydrogen peroxide instead of white vinegar.
Meanwhile, other formulas call for borax instead of baking soda. Borax is also an effective and natural toilet cleaner as it is slightly abrasive and has deodorizing properties. You can use borax to remove tougher toilet bowl stains, as it has antimicrobial and antifungal powers.
You'll find different variations and formulas for this DIY toilet bowl cleaner when you do your own research. I encourage you to try my recipe and the others and see which works best for you!
DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tips and Tricks
Want to make the most of your natural toilet cleaner? Here are my top homemade cleaners tips and tricks to maximize their shelf life and effectiveness:
Choose the right container
Pick a sturdy container with a tight-fitting lid to store your baking soda mixture to prevent degradation due to light and air exposure.
Store in a cool, dry place
Your wet and dry homemade toilet bowl cleaners should be stored in a cool and dry place to prevent unwanted reactions and exposure.
Keep them away from children and pets' reach
While these homemade toilet bowl cleaners are non-toxic and safe, keeping them away from children's and pets' reach is still best. They could pose a risk when placed in breakable containers or accidentally ingested. Take this extra precaution for everyone's safety and your own peace of mind.
Soak stubborn stains in this homemade toilet bowl cleaner longer
If you are dealing with particularly stubborn toilet bowl stains, it is best to let the mixture sit longer and give it time to work its magic. After that, scrub your toilet clean with a scrub brush.
Key Takeaways
Keeping your toilet clean doesn’t have to mean harsh chemicals or expensive products. With just a few natural ingredients you likely already have at home, you can create a safe, effective cleaner that gets the job done—without the fumes or the hefty price tag.
Making the switch to homemade toilet bowl cleaner has been a small but meaningful change in our home, and it’s one I truly feel good about. It’s simple, affordable, and better for our health and the planet.
So if you’re looking for an easy, eco-friendly way to clean your toilet, give this DIY recipe a try. You might never go back to store-bought again!
