One of the most effective ways to keep your toilet bowl clean is by using a quality toilet cleaner. Fluidmaster's Flush 'n Sparkle™ cleaning system is a great option, as it provides a powerful cleaning solution with every flush.
Pour white vinegar into the empty tank, filling it to about an inch below the rim. Let the vinegar sit for 12 hours. Scrub the tank's interior with a plastic bristle brush. Turn the water valve counterclockwise.
Tips For Keeping Bathroom Bacteria At Bay
In order to wipe away germs, disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily and give the bathroom a thorough cleaning at least once a week. That should include scrubbing the tub and toilet bowl as well as handles and other surfaces.
Both Hydrochloric Acid (Lysol/Harpic) or Sodium Hypochlorite (Clorox/Domestos/Domex - AKA chlorine bleach) are synonymous for cleaning toilets while effectively killing germs.
If you run out of toilet bowl cleaner, the next best thing to use is actual bleach, Forté says. Simply measure out half a cup's worth of bleach and pour it into your toilet bowl. Use your brush to scrub the sides and beneath the bowl's rim, also allowing five minutes to pass before you flush it all away.
Using either disinfecting wipes or a combination of disinfecting spray and a rag, paper towels, or a sponge (that you reserve just for this task), wipe down all of the external surfaces of the toilet, paying special attention to any areas you touch regularly such as the seat and the flushing handle.
Cleaning with soap and water washes the bacteria away, whereas bleach (including baby-friendly bleach) actually kills the bacteria. Both options work to keep your home clean.
Professional cleaners often use the same household supplies as you would: toilet-bowl cleaner (or bleach), disinfectant wipes, rubber gloves, as well as a nonscratch scrub sponge, a microfiber cloth, or paper towels. A handheld scrub brush or a pumice stone can get to especially tough stains.
You can use straight or a diluted vinegar cleaning solution for the bathroom to clean bacteria, especially around the toilet. Cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar in the bathroom can work really well. To clean your toilet with vinegar, pour a cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl and let sit overnight.
We recommend using a mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. This ensures your toilet tank is being disinfected without causing damage, which the use of bleach or chemical cleaners can do.
The Germiest Place in Bathrooms
A study conducted by home safety nonprofit SafeHome found that your shower curtain and shower floor carry 60 times more bacteria than your toilet seat! Why? It's largely due to the lingering moisture that creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.
The most common method for how to remove bacteria from water is through the use of chlorine; in fact, about 98% of public water systems use some form of chlorine for disinfection. Chlorine is frequently used because it is inexpensive and effective.
In conclusion, leaving vinegar in the toilet overnight is not recommended as it can cause damage to the porcelain surface. The best way to clean a toilet is with a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar, followed by regular cleaning with bleach or other cleaning products for tougher stains or odors.
The easiest way to thoroughly clean the toilet tank is to spray it down with a disinfectant cleaning spray such as Lysol or 409. Using a disinfectant spray will loosen much of the build-up, and kill most of the bacteria and germs. Let the solution work for about 15 minutes before you start cleaning.
It's essential to clean the inside of a toilet tank to remove mineral deposits that can damage or interfere with the toilet's operation. Baking soda will absorb odors, break down stains, and dislodge fungal growth with its abrasive power.
While the idea of your bathroom smelling like fresh laundry with every flush might be tempting, the potential risks outweigh the benefits. The chemical makeup of fabric softeners can be harmful to septic systems, leading to clogged pipes and potential damage to the flushing system.
White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.
Scrub the entire surface with your toilet brush, paying special attention to any stains or buildup. Make sure to clean underneath the rim, which is a hot spot for bacteria and mineral deposits. Flush the toilet to rinse away the cleaner and any loosened dirt, grime, and mineral deposits.
Tips for Maintaining Your Toilet Tank
Avoid using cleaner tabs—they often contain bleach, which is a no-no for cleaning toilet tanks because of bleach's corrosive properties. Add a cup of white distilled vinegar to the tank once a month. Leave it to sit overnight and then flush it in the morning.
Warm white vinegar
Nuke several cups of white vinegar in the microwave for about 2 minutes. Pour the hot vinegar into the toilet bowl, and let it sit overnight. Then scrub the toilet bowl in the morning with your toilet brush.
In fact, it is probably a good sign, the experts note. "If (someone) has a bowel movement and it's so clean and well-formed that it doesn't leave any residue and just sinks, that is actually a very healthy bowel movement," says De Latour.