Bleach is an ingredient in many toilet cleaning products. Commercial products contain additives that help them stick to the sides of toilets, but bleach is less expensive and works just as well.
Benefits Of Using Bleach On Toilets
Toilets should be cleaned and disinfected weekly. Bleach kills bacteria, mold, other fungi, and viruses. It removes built-up stains and calcium and sanitizes toilet seats, lids, the exterior, and the surrounding floor. Bleach should always be diluted before use to prevent damage to floors, seats, lids, and chrome handles.
Do not use bleach to remove rust. It does not work. Bleach sets rust stains–making them more difficult to remove with other cleaners.
Cleaning the Bowl
To clean the toilet bowl:
- Pour a quarter cup of bleach into the water in the bowl.
- Use a toilet brush dipped in the bleach water to scrub the entire inside of the bowl and into the chute. Pay particular attention to the underside of the rim.
- Rinse the bowl by flushing a couple of times. Rinse the brush clean and let dry before returning it to the holder.
Removing Built-Up Stains In the Bowl
Built-up stains and limescale accumulate below the water line and require long-term immersion in bleach water to remove.
- Pour a quarter cup of undiluted bleach into the water in the toilet bowl when it won’t be used for 8 hours. Overnight may be the best time.
- The toilet can’t be used while the bleach is working.
- Close the toilet lid, close the bathroom door, and turn on the exhaust fan.
- Flush the toilet to rinse out the bleach. The toilet should be clean.
- Repeat for a longer period of time if necessary.
Cleaning the Toilet Exterior
Each toilet flush sprays tiny amounts of fecal matter and urine on the undersides of seats and lids, and onto the exterior of the bowl. Sanitize these areas with diluted bleach.
- Mix 1 ¼ tablespoon of bleach with one quart of warm water. Pour in a spray bottle and shake well.
- Wipe down the exterior of the toilet, seat, and lid with a mild detergent to eliminate dried-on urine. (Dry urine contains ammonia which reacts with bleach and forms a toxic gas.)
- Spray all of the exterior toilet surfaces–lids, seats, bowl, tank, and surrounding floor with the diluted bleach solution. Let it sit for a minute, then wipe it dry with a clean cloth. You can also let the bleach solution air dry for better sanitation.
Cautions When Using Bleach
The active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite. It is a powerful chemical that causes problems if not handled properly.
- Inhaling Bleach. Can damage the lining of lungs and esophagus.
- Bleach and Ammonia. Mixing bleach with ammonia produces a toxic gas that can cause chronic breathing problems and in rare cases death. Flush the toilet before cleaning. Urine contains ammonia.
- Bleach on Skin. Splashing bleach on exposed skin can cause rashes.
Wear long rubber gloves, turn on the exhaust fan, and open windows when using bleach to clean the toilet. Consider wearing a mask or respirator and goggles or safety glasses to reduce the risk.
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