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How to make a natural Toilet Cleaning Gel

🌱 DIY Green Cleaning Recipe
By Analisa from Under Your Sink

 

Using bleach and commercial toilet cleaners isn’t just overkill, it can actually be dangerous. Mix them with acids or ammonia and you’ve got chlorine gas on your hands - the same stuff used in chemical warfare back in WWI.

At home it shows up as an invisible, lung-burning cloud that can sting your eyes, trigger asthma and make it hard to breathe. The worst part is people often make it by accident. A splash of bleach in the loo, then topping it with vinegar or an acidic descaler, and suddenly you’ve created toxic fumes in your bathroom. Not exactly the “fresh clean” those bottles promise.

Now enough of the doom and gloom, the good news is, when I discovered how xanthan gum could thicken water-based mixtures, I got a little carried away experimenting and  basically made my own natural version of Toilet Duck - without the plastic bottle and extra junk I never wanted in the first place. 

First create your acidic solution

There are 2 easy, cheap and convenient ways to get the acidic solution you need to remove limescale and build up in your toilet.

1. Vinegar:  whether white or apple cider, serves as an effective acidic solution. Opt for vinegar from the food aisle rather than cleaning vinegar, which contains petroleum-based ingredients and is not intended for consumption.

2. Citric Acid: An equally effective yet cheaper alternative to vinegar! This is one budget-friendly solution for dissolving soap scum. Just mix 1 teaspoon of citric acid powder with 500ml of warm water to achieve the same acidic pH as vinegar. 


Creating the gel

Now, let's transform your acidic solution into a gel..
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  • HERES THE RECIPE..


    INGREDIENTS

    · 2 cups vinegar or Citric Acid solution
    · 1 tablespoon Glycerine
    · 1/4 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
    · 5-10 drops Essential Oils (optional)


    MAKES
    Approx. 500ml of toilet cleaning gel


    METHOD

    1.  In the container, first make the thickening solution combining the glycerine and Xanthan Gum until it is free of lumps and forms a gel-like paste. This is your thickening solution for any water-based product.
    2.  Then add the vinegar or citric acid solution followed by the essential oils if you are using them.
    3. Whisk until it is combined and the mixture is the consistency you desire


    HOW TO USE IT

    1.  Squeeze or spread the Toilet Cleaner Gel around the rim and sides of your toilet bowl. The thick gel adheres well and clings to surfaces for effective cleaning.
    2.  Let the gel sit for a while – usually around 3-5 minutes, this allows the natural ingredients to break down stains, dirt, and odours.
    3.  Grab your toilet brush and give the bowl a thorough scrub, then simply flush and admire!

  • 💡 Tips 

    Just use a little bit of xanthan gum at a time, if you thicken too much simply dilute it. If it's not thick enough, add more!

  • ⚠️ Please Note

    I’m not a scientist, just a long-time DIYer with a quirky love for green cleaning. Everything here is based on what works in my home, but every home is a little different. So test, tweak and most importantly - have fun experimenting!

What Next

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