'While generally safe with straight porcelain and fireclay, chlorine bleach can oxidize the iron of an enamelled fixture to create terrible rust stains. With coloured porcelain enamel, the effect can be even worse: in addition to rust, the colour will fade.
Yes. You should try and avoid using bleach in the toilet when possible, and opting instead to apply a non-chemical cleaner such as soapy water for cleaning purposes. In doing so, you'll avoid causing potential damage to the glazing on the porcelain surface of the toilet.
Frequently asked questions. Can you put bleach in a toilet bowl? Yes, Clorox® Bleach is safe to add to the water in the toilet bowl. Always flush the toilet first before scrubbing, and then again when toilet cleaning is finished.
Leaving bleach in a toilet overnight is fine, but you shouldn't leave it any longer, or else it might corrode your toilet. If you do decide to leave it in the bowl overnight, let other members of your household know so that they don't use the toilet and accidentally mix the bleach with ammonia from urine.
While the bowl's wet, sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda into the toilet bowl. Concentrating it on stain rings is great, but focus on getting it all over. You should see the reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda; this reaction helps to mitigate buildup without damaging the porcelain.
Avoid Abrasive Cleaning Compounds
It may be tempting to use bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and the like, but it's best to avoid these cleaning agents as much as possible. It's not likely that the chemical compounds above will crack your porcelain toilet, but they can damage the finish of the porcelain.
Many homeowners ask if Magic Erasers® can be used on porcelain or if they will damage ceramic tile. The good news is that they can be safely used on ceramic tiles and porcelain, so you have nothing to worry about if you plan on using them this way.
Baking Soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is another beloved DIY ingredient for non-toxic cleaning. Its mild abrasive, water-softening, whitening, and stain-fighting properties make it an excellent non-toxic bleach alternative. Here are some ways to use baking soda to clean your bathroom.
Without regular deep-cleanings, you could face harmful bacteria, pink slime, buildup, rust, stubborn stains and even mold growth inside your toilet bowl. According to Amaro, a good rule of thumb for a high-traffic area like your bathroom (toilet included) is to clean it weekly.
Bleach has a corroding effect on many surfaces in the bathroom. Use it on your metal fixtures, and in due time, you'll see deterioration.
Cleaning your toilet with chlorine bleach on a weekly basis limits how much damage this chemical can do to the intricate parts in your loo, namely to the rubber seals. Such damage would be costly to repair.
Chloramine gas can also be released when bleach is mixed with urine, such as when cleaning the area around a toilet or when pets stains are cleaned. Both chloramine and chlorine gases are immediately irritating with a very pungent odor, causing watering of the eyes, runny nose and coughing.
For white porcelain only, bleach can be used to remove stains; never use chlorine bleach in colored or vintage porcelain, as it can damage the finish. For both white and colored porcelain, liquid oxygen bleach (such as hydrogen peroxide) is a good alternative.
'While generally safe with straight porcelain and fireclay, chlorine bleach can oxidize the iron of an enamelled fixture to create terrible rust stains.
Leaving Bleach in the Toilet Overnight Can Damage It
You should also never put bleach in the toilet tank because this can damage the parts of the toilet that are needed to make it work. Diluted bleach can be applied to the toilet seat and quickly wiped off in order to disinfect it without causing damage.
Simply measure out half a cup's worth of bleach and pour it into your toilet bowl, using your toilet brush to scrub it into the bowl and beneath the bowl's rim, also allowing five minutes to pass before you flush it all away.
Clean and disinfect your toilet bowl with 1/2 cup chlorine bleach. Pour it into the bowl, and let it stand for ten minutes. Then scrub with the toilet brush and flush.
For cleaning high-use areas like bathrooms – most especially toilets and sinks, bleach is an essential cleaning agent to use. For areas like the toilet, toilet bowl, sink, and bath or shower floor, pour bleach directly onto the area neat and leave for 10 – 15 minutes.
The experts we talked to recommended any cleaner with some form of bleach, but you can find plenty of bleach alternatives, as well. I personally use Lysol Hydrogen Peroxide Toilet Bowl Cleaner. A bucket: To ensure that the entire bowl gets clean, you need to reduce the water level before applying the cleaner.
If you want to really get your toilet tank clean, then you need to make sure you have the right cleaning products for the job. Vinegar is a great toilet cleaning solution. Not only is it free of chemicals and naturally antibacterial, it's also an acid, so it will remove minor lime and calcium deposits.
Distilled white vinegar.
Vinegar whitens, freshens, and softens fabrics. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar along with your regular laundry detergent. Don't worry about the vinegar scent- it will dissipate after drying. Vinegar may also be sprayed on spot stains and collar and underarm stains.
A baking soda and vinegar solution is perfect for cleaning a porcelain sink and removing stains. Make a paste out of the two ingredients and use a soft-bristled brush (such as an old toothbrush) or cloth and your finger, to apply and scrub the stained area.
It can be annoying to discover stains on your glazed porcelain tiles. However, they are easy to remove with the right utensils and solutions. You can use a commercial product safe for glazed porcelain tiles or use white vinegar. Use a warm-water wash with vinegar at half strength to remove the stain completely.
For cleaning and sanitizing, the CDC recommends a dilution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water. Diluting bleach decreases the alkalinity and is safe for regular use on all types of porcelain and ceramic tile surfaces.