10 Best Eco-Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaners in 2022 (Eco-Me, Seventh Generation, and More)
Thankfully more and more companies are realizing this, and we have more options than ever before. But, that can make it hard to decide. That's why we picked out our top 10 favorite toilet bowl cleaners that are gentle on the environment, like Eco-Me's Natural Plant Extracts Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It's certified, non-toxic, and acid-free. See the rest of our favorites and tips for how to choose the best cleaner on your own!
Quick List - Top Eco-Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaners
Eco-Me
Our Best Pick! An Acid-Free, Plant-Based Cleaner
Method
Biodegradable and Kills 99.9% of Germs
Better Life
A Cleaner Packed With Beneficial Essential Oils
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day
Effective on Lighter Messes and Pleasantly Scented
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How to Choose Eco-Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaners
Here, we'll be introducing the following four important points to check when you choose an eco-friendly toilet bowl cleaner.
Points to Consider:
- Keep an Eye Out for Proper Ingredient Documentation
- Check Out the Packaging
- For Peace of Mind, Look for Official Stamps and Ratings
- Septic Tanks Require Special Consideration
1. Keep an Eye Out for Proper Ingredient Documentation
Look Towards Essential Oils for Disinfectant Properties
However, the antibacterials in traditional toilet cleaners are known to be harmful to plant, animal, and aquatic life, and when you’re flushing it straight down the toilet, that doesn’t seem like the best choice. Namely, keep an eye out for triclosan, phosphates, phthalates, VOCs, and more.
Instead, look for cleaners that use essential oils. Unlike chemical antibacterials, which kill everything in their path, essential oils tend to be effective against just the few harmful bacteria that we should worry about.
Thyme, tea tree, eucalyptus, and oregano oils are known to be some of the most effective. Plus, they’re fully biodegradable and don’t stick around in the ecosystem.
In Homes With Young Children and Animals, Avoid Harsh Acids
While you’ll be hard pressed to find any products that are acid-free that actually work, you can look for acids that won’t be as harmful. Citric acid and lactic acid are both plant-derived and can be found within our own bodies.
Of course, in a toilet cleaner they’d be at a higher concentration than you’d find in nature, but they are much, much safer than other, lab-created acids like sodium acid sulfate, hydrochloric acid, and more.
2. Check Out the Packaging
Though the cleaning solution itself should be looked at in terms of eco-friendliness, you still have the packaging to consider. This may be a no-brainer, but if you really want to go the extra mile, look for packaging made of biodegradable or recycled materials.
Another thing you could look into is the company practices. Do they use renewable energy sources to make their products? Do they donate some of their profits to an environmental organization or charity? Even if the bottle itself may not great for the planet, many companies are open about their eco-friendly practices.
3. For Peace of Mind, Look for Official Stamps and Ratings
Products that have been tested and approved by the EPA, USDA, and other private groups will often have stamps on their label to show that they are indeed as good as they claim to be.
If you don’t mind an extra step in your process, you could also look up the product on the Environmental Working Group’s website to see if it’s been rated. The EWG is an environmental and corporate responsibility-focused oversight group that gives A-F grades to household products based on their ingredients and transparency.
While not all products will have been tested, and certifications don’t mean that the product works well, looking for official recognition is a fast way to find safe products.
4. Septic Tanks Require Special Consideration
You should still always err on the side of caution and only use products that specifically say they’re septic tank-safe.
10 Best Eco-Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaners Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eco-Me Eco-Me Natural Powerful Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Herbal Mint｜Herbal Mint | | Our Best Pick! An Acid-Free, Plant-Based Cleaner | |
2 | Method Method Antibacterial Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Spearmint (2 Pack)｜Spearmint, 2 pack | | Biodegradable and Kills 99.9% of Germs | |
3 | Better Life Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner｜2 pack, Tea Tree & Peppermint | | A Cleaner Packed With Beneficial Essential Oils | |
4 | Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Lavender Scent｜Lavender Scent | | Effective on Lighter Messes and Pleasantly Scented | |
5 | Ecover Pine Fresh | | Simply Formulated Option in Eco-Friendly Packaging | |
6 | Boulder Clean Boulder Clean Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Bergamot Rosemary & Eucalyptus (4 Pack)｜4 pack, Bergamot Rosemary & Eucalyptus | | An EPA-Approved Cleaner That Works, Even With Hard Water | |
7 | Biokleen Biokleen Soy Toilet Scrub | | An Acid-Free, No Soak Cleaner | |
8 | Frosch Frosch Lemon Toilet Bowl Cleaner (2 Pack)｜2 pack, Lemon | | Pleasantly Lemon Scented With an Intuitive Design | |
9 | Seventh Generation Seventh Generation Emerald Cypress and Fir Scent Toilet Bowl Cleaner (8 Pack)｜2 pack, Emerald Cypress & Fir | | A Bulk Biobased Cleaner for Frequent Washing | |
10 | J.R. Watkins J.R. Watkins Toilet Bowl Cleanser, Lemon｜Lemon | | Super Effective and With Few Ingredients |
Eco-MeEco-Me Natural Powerful Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Herbal Mint ｜ Herbal Mint
Our Best Pick! An Acid-Free, Plant-Based Cleaner
- made fully from plant-based materials and baking soda
- provides a non-toxic, acid-free clean
- a little goes a long way
Recommended for:
- you don’t have to let it sit, the baking soda offers a gentle scouring, and it's highly effective even if you don't clean frequently
Be aware that because of the baking soda, pressure can build up in the container between uses. However, reviewers love its light smell and how effective and quickly it works.
MethodMethod Antibacterial Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Spearmint (2 Pack) ｜ Spearmint, 2 pack
Biodegradable and Kills 99.9% of Germs
- pleasant minty smell
- formulated to kill 99.9% of household germs
- just as effective as traditional chemical-laden cleansers
Recommended for:
- deep cleaning without the toxins and heavy scrubbing
This cleaner is formulated to kill 99.9% of household germs including the flu virus, staph, and salmonella. It has a pleasant minty smell and is great for regular cleaning.
You may have to use a little more than you’re used to, but this cleaner is effective and comes without most toxic ingredients (minus the sodium lauryl sulfate). Users like that they don't have to do any heavy scrubbing after letting this cleaner sit for a few minutes, and they loved the minty scent.
Better LifeBetter Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner ｜ 2 pack, Tea Tree & Peppermint
A Cleaner Packed With Beneficial Essential Oils
- plant-based
- packed with essential oils and leaves a minty scent
- disinfects and deodorizes your toilet
- effective against most mild to light messes for everyday toilet cleaning
This cleaner is plant-based and packed with essential oils like tea tree oil and peppermint to disinfect and deodorize your toilet. It leaves behind a refreshing mint scent and is effective against most mild to light messes.
However, this may not be the best cleaner for harder stains, although a longer soak and harder scrub may be enough to get the job done too. This would be better for your everyday toilet cleaner rather than to get rid of tough messes.
Mrs. Meyer's Clean DayMrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Lavender Scent ｜ Lavender Scent
Effective on Lighter Messes and Pleasantly Scented
- biodegradable and non-toxic
- cruelty-free
- light and floral lavender scent
- 98% naturally derived
Recommended for:
- lighter stains and surface messes
This toilet cleaner is biodegradable and non-toxic. It is meant to be a "refreshing" cleaner for lighter stains and surface mess, but it works fairly well on older stains as well when let to sit.
However, some reviewers note having trouble figuring out how to open the nozzle as, unlike some natural cleaners, this toilet cleaner employs a similar locking mechanism to the traditional chemical ones.
Simply Formulated Option in Eco-Friendly Packaging
Features:
- simple formula with 6 ingredients
- cruelty-free
- plant- and mineral-based, with essential oils
- 100% plant plastic and recyclable bottle
Recommended for:
- people who are looking for a cleaner with an easy-to-understand formula with fewer ingredients
If you believe that the fewer the ingredients, the better it is, then this simple formula is for you. It has only six ingredients total, so it only includes what's necessary (though you could argue that "fragrance" isn't essential).
The biggest complaint reviewers had was that the lemon scent is quite strong. If you can get past that and you're looking for something that's safe for everyone without breaking the budget, give this one a try.
Boulder CleanBoulder Clean Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Bergamot Rosemary & Eucalyptus (4 Pack) ｜ 4 pack, Bergamot Rosemary & Eucalyptus
An EPA-Approved Cleaner That Works, Even With Hard Water
- no harsh chemicals
- certified by the EPA’s Safer Choice program
- effective against hard water
- cruelty-free
Recommended for:
- if you need help clearing out hard water buildup or soil and mineral stains
This cleaner contains no harsh chemicals and is certified by the EPA’s Safer Choice program, so you know it’s good and effective. It is effective against hard water, smells pleasant, and cleans well.
However, some reviewers have noted that the purple dye in the cleaner may leave purple marks in your toilet if left on for too long, so that’s something you should consider.
An Acid-Free, No Soak Cleaner
- acid-free
- doesn't need to sit and soak
- can be used on any tile or porcelain surface
Recommended for:
- multi-purpose cleaning from a non-harsh product
This cleaner is free of acids and instead uses soy extracts and perlite to scrub away at grime, so there’s no need to let it sit and soak. It can be used on any tile or porcelain surface and is also great for tubs.
However, for those who prefer to do a little less scrubbing and a little more setting, this might not be the right product for you as it will require a thorough scrubbing to get the job done.
FroschFrosch Lemon Toilet Bowl Cleaner (2 Pack) ｜ 2 pack, Lemon
Pleasantly Lemon Scented With an Intuitive Design
- lemon-scented
- intuitive nozzle design
- 100% vegan formula
- comes in a 100% recycled bottle
Recommended for:
- works well against build-up and hard water
This pleasantly lemon-scented cleaner is effective against build-up and hard water (so long as you let it soak for a while) and has an intuitive nozzle design for easy squeezing.
The company also incorporates energy-saving and renewable energy practices in their manufacturing. However, it still may not clean as quickly or easily as traditional chemical-based cleaners.
Seventh GenerationSeventh Generation Emerald Cypress and Fir Scent Toilet Bowl Cleaner (8 Pack) ｜ 2 pack, Emerald Cypress & Fir
A Bulk Biobased Cleaner for Frequent Washing
- biodegradable
- USDA 97% biobased certified
- bottle made from recycled materials
Recommended for:
- those looking to clean their toilets more often
This cleaner is biodegradable and USDA 97% biobased certified, which means it won’t harm you, the environment, or your septic tank. Plus, its bottle is completely made from recycled materials!
However, reviewers note that it isn’t very powerful and may require a tough scrubbing to get stains out. So, this might be best for those looking to clean their toilets more often or for those who clean their toilets frequently enough that there isn't much grime buildup.
J.R. WatkinsJ.R. Watkins Toilet Bowl Cleanser, Lemon ｜ Lemon
Super Effective and With Few Ingredients
- short ingredients list
- no harsh chemicals
- non-toxic
Recommended for:
- super-effective cleaner with a great scent
This cleaner is super effective against all sorts of stains, marks, and mess. It’s thick, sticks to the sides well, and should be left to sit for a while. Plus, it has a refreshingly short ingredients list.
However, at over $13 per bottle, it is very much on the expensive side. Even if it is rather effective, that may be a deterring factor for some. Reviewers prefer the scent of this cleaner to other non-toxic cleaners, though!
How to Deal with Hard Water
All you have to do is pour one cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes. After that, add one cup of baking soda and one more cup of vinegar. Mix them together, being sure to swish them around enough to get up on the sides.
Let the fizzy mixture sit for 15 minutes, then scrub at the stains. If they come off, you can flush the mixture down. If not, let the mixture sit for up to another half hour and the stains should scrub right off!
Looking for More Planet-Friendly Cleaning Supplies?
Now that you've got some toilet cleaner, it's time to detoxify and greenify the rest of your cleaning routine. Here are some of our suggestions!
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.