Most toilet cleaners are designed to do everything in one product. That sounds convenient but it's actually the reason they struggle to do any one thing particularly well.

A toilet has three distinct cleaning problems. Each one requires a chemically different solution. Once you understand that, the whole job becomes a lot more straightforward.

1. The dirt

Bodily fluids and general grime. This is organic matter, and it responds to soap or an alkaline cleaning paste. Your multi-purpose cleaning spray or paste handles this easily.

2. Mineral deposits

That slow build-up of staining under the rim and around the waterline (usually brown or grey) is caused by minerals in your water reacting with the porcelain over time. Soap won't touch it. You need an acidic solution to dissolve mineral scale. Citric acid gel or white vinegar both work. This is exactly what the toilet cleaning gel recipe is designed for.

3. Germs

Hydrogen peroxide is the straightforward low-tox option. Spray it on after cleaning and leave it to work. It breaks down into water and oxygen, so no rinsing required.

 

The order matters

Clean first, then disinfect. Soap and alkaline cleaners remove the organic matter. Acid removes the mineral build-up.

Hydrogen peroxide then does its job on a clean surface, which is where disinfectants actually work. Applying disinfectant to a dirty surface is largely a waste of time.

A practical order for a full clean

First remove the dirt


Next remove build up and give shine

This is where an acidic solution comes in. 

  • Apply toilet cleaning gel or spray under the rim and around the waterline. Leave it to sit for a few minutes.
  • Scrub with a toilet brush, then flush.

 

 

Spray hydrogen peroxide over the bowl and exterior surfaces and leave it for at least 5 minutes. You will find by the time you come back it has dissipated but you can wipe of excess with a clean cloth. 

 

 

Why not an all-in-one product?

Commercial all-in-one toilet cleaners typically contain a surfactant (for dirt), a mild acid (for scale), and a disinfectant — all in one formula. The problem is that these functions work best at different pH levels. Acids and disinfectants don't always play well together in a single solution, and the concentrations required for each job are often compromised to make the formula stable.

A three-step approach uses each ingredient at the right strength for the right job. It's more effective and you're using less overall.


A note on hard water

If you have hard water, mineral deposits will build up faster and be more stubborn to remove. Using the toilet gel more regularly makes a bigger difference than scrubbing harder. If you're not sure whether you have hard water, this guide will help you find out. 

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