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While cleaning the toilet may never be fun, it’s an infinitely better experience with the right tools. This guide covers the best toilet cleaners to keep the toilet germ-free and eradicate toilet bowl rings, rust damage, and mineral deposits.
Natural or harsh chemicals, store-bought or homemade, neutral and retiring versus bold and eccentric – this guide has it all. Read on to find the ultimate cleaning supplies needed for a shiny, spotless commode.
Best Toilet Bowl Cleaning Gels
These top five liquid cleaners will disinfect, sanitize and get rid of the hardest stains on your bathroom.
1. Zep Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This cleaning gel is a number one bestseller in commercial bathroom cleaners for a good reason — it has a special clinging formula that attaches to the stains, residue, rust and scale to get rid of them. Plus, it does it without harming your drain lines of septic tanks. Its secret? It’s formulated with a 10% acid gel formula that zaps those hard stains right off, minus the harsh odor. You’ll love this product’s wintergreen scent and will make you enjoy your daily or weekly bathroom cleaning routine.
2. Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel
Another bestseller, this powerful cleaner is a household brand that never disappoints when it comes to disinfecting and making your bathroom look clean and smell fresh. It’ll remove hard stains and ensure your toilet doesn’t spray viruses and bacteria to other surfaces every time you flush. Just coat the bowl and under the rim with this product and let sit for 10 minutes to disinfect. It’s an absolute must-have for every household.
3. Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Clorox will impress you with its effectiveness and reliability. Another household brand, this nonabrasive toilet cleaner whitens and brightens your bowl and tackles soap scum and grime, leaving the surface clean. The gel sticks to the sides of the bowl rather than running off, removing the rings nicely. Just apply, scrub and be amazed at how great it gets the job done. Do you want to make toilet cleaning easier? Try this bowl cleaner.
4. Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Who says gentle cleaners aren’t effective for your toughest messes? Formulated with 100% essential oils and botanical ingredients, this powerful cleaner attacks stubborn stains in a flash. Its minty smell is a nice change from the usual chemical fumes. It’s far less harmful for the environment and works great at cleaning the water line ring. If you want to switch up your bathroom cleaning essentials, you won’t regret shifting to this nontoxic option.
5. Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This product is made with ingredients like corn and coconuts that are good for the planet, making you feel good about bringing it to your home. It also has the leaping bunny logo, which makes it cruelty-free. You’ll love the invigorating tea tree and peppermint aroma, making you enjoy tackling a nasty chore. It’s hard to find products that aren’t full of toxins, so add this to your must-buy cleaning agents.
Best Toilet Bowl Brushes
Pair your cleaning gels with these brushes to make toilet cleaning much less of a chore. They reach the inside of the bowl, under the rim and hard to reach areas for effortless scrubbing.
6. Clorox Toilet Wand
This toilet wand is the perfect solution for homeowners who like to keep their distance and immediately dispose of whatever touched their toilet. It’s so hygienic and easy to use that users may actually find themselves looking forward to cleaning their bathrooms. The only downside is that the Clorox cleaning pads that attach to the wand are only good for one use each.
7. Sellemer Toilet Brush
Unlike traditional toilet brushes, silicone brushes don’t get deformed or turn colors with use. They’re efficient, easy to clean and last much longer than conventional brushes. This particular brand comes with a stylish white container that can be mounted on the wall. It’s made of stainless steel, which makes it resistant to rust.
8. Libman Commercial Toilet Brush
Sometimes, simple is the best way to go. This commercial toilet brush comes in packs of four and features bright green bristles and a white stand. Models come with both straight and curved handles, depending on user preference. Unlike many store models, this brush is very sturdy and made in the USA.
9. Mabrasse Slim Compact Toilet Brush
This semispherical brush combines a unique shape with a bent handle perfect for reaching under the toilet rim. A sturdy handle and firm bristles make cleaning the toilet easy and efficient. According to users on Amazon, the reach on this brush is so good equestrians could even scrub a pony’s teeth with it!
Best Automatic Toilet Cleaners
Kill bacteria with these automatic formulas that simplify toilet maintenance.
10. 2000 Flushes Bleach Automatic Toilet Cleaner
Make cleaning the toilet as easy and hands-free as possible with this automatic toilet cleaner. These antibacterial tablets are added to the toilet tank after flushing and before the toilet fills back up. As the name implies, they last for approximately 2000 flushes before needing to be replaced. This tablet also works to deodorize the toilet and keep the bathroom smelling as fresh as it is clean.
11. Lysol Automatic Cleaning Click Gel
Unlike tank cleaners, this automatic cleaner is applied with an applicator tool to the side of the toilet bowl above the waterline. Each time the toilet is flushed, the gel works to clean and freshen the toilet bowl. If buildup or stains are causing an issue, simply apply multiple gels at once for extra cleaning action. Amazon reviews say this cleaner smells so good that your husband may start cleaning the toilet so that he can smell it more often!
12. Scrubbing Bubbles Continuous Clean Toilet Drop-Ins
This scrubbing bubbles vanish automatic toilet bowl cleaner is perfect for families and health-conscious individuals. It doesn’t include harsh chemicals like phosphates and doesn’t dissolve rubber flappers when dropped in the toilet tank. Vanish also goes easy on septic systems. Because of its bright blue color, it works best in toilets that see heavy use.
13. Simple Life Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This automatic toilet bowl cleaner is as cute as it is effective. Like other automatic cleaners, it’s dropped into the toilet tank and works for around 2000 flushes. However, this toilet cleaner stands out because of its presentation – it’s encased in a cute, high-quality glass smiling kitty, which is recyclable. It’s environmentally friendly, cleaning flush after flush effortlessly.
Best Toilet Cleaner Plungers
Never be glimmered by toilet accessory glamor. These sturdy plungers are the best toilet cleaners that work effectively at doing the task they’re designed to do without the expensive price tag.
14. Simple Human Toilet Plunger
This stylish toilet plunger has excellent reviews and is mounted to a stainless steel rod. A magnetic collar syncs the plunger and caddy when stored so that tipping isn’t a possibility and drips can be eradicated. The same company also sells a matching toilet brush for a heightened bathroom aesthetic.
15. Supply Guru Heavy Duty Toilet Plunger
Another good option is this solid plunger featuring a wooden handle. Although this plunger may not be as high quality as vintage models, it’s pretty close. The rubber section is thick and has good suction power to unclog mess, according to user reviews. Its shape also prevents it from turning wrong-side-out and splashing water everywhere.
16. Korky Beehive Max Universal Toilet Plunger
Made in the USA, this toilet plunger has a T-handle style and is powerful enough to clear difficult clogs. User reviews suggest this plunger is more powerful than usual and can get homeowners out of all kinds of jams. It’s also splashproof and guaranteed to fit all toilet bowl styles.
17. NEIKO Toilet Plunger and Brush Combo Set
To save space and be fully equipped for bathroom emergencies, purchase this plunger and brush set. The plunger is also available as a single unit. Unlike many other toilet plungers, this model is made of thick, sturdy rubber that suctions effectively and clears blockages before the toilet overflows. Both cleaning tools come equipped with solid aluminum handles.
Best Natural and Homemade Cleaners
Do you want to take the most natural route? These kitchen ingredients will clean your toilet just as effectively as commercial products. They’re the best toilet cleaners you can find in your kitchen.
18. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Combine vinegar and baking soda to clean the toilet bowl without using harsh chemicals. This natural combo will eliminate odors and fight stains and toilet bowl rings. The acetic acid in vinegar can also kill some bacteria, including E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To kill all the germs lingering in the toilet bowl, add some bleach or hydrogen peroxide as well.
19. Vinegar and Baking Soda with Borax
If the toilet stains are toughing it out, incorporate borax. This naturally occurring mineral can be dissolved into a vinegar solution or caked over tough stains as a paste. Although it’s a natural product, it can adversely affect health if swallowed or following extensive exposure.
20. Grapefruit and Salt
Yes, this is a valid toilet cleaning option! Cut the grapefruit in half, and cover the inside with salt. Wet the toilet by flushing it, then scrub the toilet bowl with the inside of the grapefruit. Recoat with salt as often as needed. The combination of acidic juice and gritty salt will take off stains and leave the bathroom smelling fresh and clean.
The Best Toilet Cleaners For a Shiny Toilet
A homeowner’s bathroom cleaning plan is only as strong as their tools. Use this guide to create a strong arsenal that can fight toilet bowl stains and smells while achieving the fresh, clean feel their bathroom deserves. Who knows — after purchasing the right tools, users may even find themselves looking forward to this previously household dreadful chore.
Original Publish Date: January 12, 2022 — Updated May 31, 2024
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About The Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and a freelance writer with over five years of experience.
She's most interested in researching topics on sustainable construction, such as new technologies and innovations in the built environment. She also loves sharing home projects and inspiration for even the most novice DIY-ers. Rose's favored topics and values stem from growing up in a family of contractors.
When she isn't writing, you'll find her baking something to satisfy her never-ending sweet tooth and spending time with her cats. For more about Rose, you can reach out on LinkedIn and check out her portfolio online.
