Cleaning the toilet can be one of the most dreaded chores in the home as it can take ages to do as no one likes to deal with germs or stains.
Many people use bleach to get the toilet clean as it is a strong disinfectant, but it should not be used every time as it can weaken certain plumbing materials that can damage your pipes.
Bleach also only whitens stains instead of completely removing them, so limescale and grime can build up in the toilet even if they look clean.
Instead, Casey Major-Bunce, also known as Major Mum Hacks, has shared a better and quicker way to clean the toilet using only natural products.
She said: “As a busy mum of four I know that keeping a clean home is essential but also hard work. I also want to avoid hard scrubbing and harsh chemicals, so when I can go natural I will. So, if you don’t want to use bleach down the toilet these natural ways help you keep on top of a sparkling clean toilet.”
How to clean a toilet properly with natural items
You will need:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Denture tablet
- Essential oils (optional)
It may seem simple, but white vinegar contains acetic acid, which naturally kills bacteria and breaks down limescale. Baking soda is one of the best ways to remove grime without having to scrub, as it is abrasive and will loosen stains.
Casey said: “Baking soda is a magical powder powerhouse for cleaning. It also deodorises and scrubs away stains without scratching surfaces.
“You can add this to your toilet with some white vinegar, which is a natural disinfectant. Vinegar helps to break down mineral deposits and stains. Scrub and leave on for around an hour; they wash away.”
However, the secret to a sparkling toilet is to use a denture tablet, as it contains citric acid and sodium perborate which helps lift stains quickly to make the toilet much easier to clean.
Casey said, “Another thing that I always do is pop a denture tablet down the toilet—this is a natural way to clean the toilet and keep it fresh, and I do this weekly.”
Method
All you need to do is drop one denture tablet into the toilet bowl and leave it to fizz for at least 15 minutes. It is important to leave it to bubble to give it time to break down stains and loosen them.
Next, pour roughly 90g of baking soda and 240ml of white vinegar into the toilet bowl as well. It will fizz up and begin dissolving grime, so leave it alone for at least 10 minutes.
Once the time is up, use your toilet brush to gently wipe your toilet bowl and any stains should easily come away so your toilet is now sparkling clean.
If you wish, you can also then add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the bowl to help your bathroom smelling fresh.
Casey added: “For a lovely scent in your toilet, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil (like tea tree or lavender) to the toilet water. They also have antibacterial properties! And you can also add a few drops inside the toilet roll (the brown cylinder I mean).”
It is important to note that some essential oils can be highly toxic to dogs and cats, so if you are a pet owner, always do your own research on them.
Follow Casey Major-Bunce aka The Queen of Hacks @MajorMumHacks. Casey’s debut book, The Big Book of Major Mum Hacks by Casey Major-Bunce is out 13th March (Sphere, £18.99)
