The bathroom may not be a room we tend to decorate or flaunt to visitors, but it is one of our most-used spaces in the house. For the safety and benefit of our health, noses, eyes and sanity, it's advised to maintain a clean toilet rather than a germ-laden one.
Getting a toilet cleaner for the task is a bit more complicated than simply reading "toilet cleaner" on the label. We need to look at its potency, purpose and even eco-friendliness because we can't forget about mother nature. We've scoured through countless cleaners in Amazon and came up with the following buying guide and list of the best ones because you (and your toilet) deserve the best.
Quick List - Top Toilet Cleaners
Clorox
The Cleaner That Doesn't Compromise Clean for Being Green
Clorox
The Stress-Free Way of Keeping a Toilet Clean and Smelling Fresh
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Table of Contents
We will guide you through the process of choosing the right toilet cleaner based on your preference, needs and available time for cleaning so that you can keep your bathroom centerpiece sparkling clean inside and out.
The first consideration is purpose - what do you need the toilet cleaner for? It could be for everyday cleaning, to keep the water stains and odor buildup away or you wish to address an issue such as rust, lime or discoloration. There are many types of toilet cleaners on the market that cater to specific purposes.
They say the best way to avoid hard-to-clean stains and other grimy residue in a toilet is to periodically clean the bowl and save you the trouble of a whole-body workout by scrubbing temporary stains that became more permanent. These type of cleaners are often gentle on the skin and the toilet's surface without that harsh chemical scent.
Cleaners with stronger formulations contain certain chemicals which target stains, discoloration or other stubborn residue that settles in your toilet cistern or bowl. They typically specify their capabilities on the bottle label such as a toilet cleaner that "removes hard water stains, rust and limescale."
Because of their potency, the user is advised to pour the solution on the surface that needs cleaning without making physical contact. After a required amount of time, the formula is rinsed off and should reveal a shiny "new" toilet.
As an added safety precaution, it's best to apply these types of cleaners with goggles and rubber gloves. A strong chemical smell could also arise during use, so open a window or turn on the vent.
Toilet cleaner manufacturers have your best interest in mind when they release products that cater to all cleaning preferences, such as manual scrubbing or a set-and-forget device.
Spray it on the bowl, leave for a while, then scrub. Liquid type toilet cleaners are great for a deep clean, combining your scrubbing power with its disinfecting ingredients. The angled nozzle of these cleaners help in accessing under the toilet rim for that hard-to-reach yet gets oh-so-yucky crevice.
It is often believed that the most effective toilet cleaners come in liquid or thick gel form because it requires your follow-through after the solution initially cleans and preps the surface.
A toilet wand is perfect for those who prefer keeping their hands outside the toilet bowl yet want to thoroughly clean it.
They usually come with disposable, disinfecting scrubbing pads which you can attach to the end of the wand and use to clean the toilet. The shape of the wand allows you to reach under the bowl rim and below the drain for a deeper clean.
An in-tank cleaner is an automatic cleaning system which usually come in tablet form to be placed directly into the cistern.
Another type of in-tank cleaner consists of a device attached in the tank, in between the water outlet and the overflow pipe leading to the bowl. The cleaning tablets are placed in the device for easier application. With every flush, cleaning agents are released into the bowl to keep it generally spotless and lessen the need for scrubbing.
An in-bowl cleaner is another automatic system that cleans with every flush but is placed on the edge of the bowl. It's typically a plastic cage with a gel block inside which gets activated when flowing water passes through.
Powders are designed to rid a toilet bowl of rust and hard water stains without scratching the protective outer layer. They specialize in all sorts of stains and contain enough scrubbing power even without you physically brushing the bowl.
Another essential consideration to remember when picking out a toilet cleanser is the ingredients being used. Even though we've relied on bleach-based cleaners in the past, more and more environmentally-friendly alternatives have popped up, and they aren't half bad at the job.
Hydrochloric acid and chlorine bleach are the most commonly used ingredients in many conventional toilet bowl cleaners. These acids are effective in tackling stubborn stains but could damage the toilet or your septic tank in the long run.
Furthermore, they could irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. If swallowed, these chemicals can be fatal. Phosphate is another harmful ingredient to watch out for which may also lead to health issues.
Unlike food items where ingredients are required to be listed in full detail, rules aren't as strict yet for household cleaning solutions; although some brands display their main disinfecting agent on the label. If children or pets are a concern, it's best to go for safer and non-toxic formulations or ensure that they're out of reach.
Natural toilet bowl cleaners, on the other hand, substitute harsh chemicals with plant- and mineral-based ingredients which are biodegradable, non-toxic and much safer to use, even for those with allergies. Some might even have essential oils which give off a sweet, refreshing scent apart from their effective disinfecting abilities.
We mustn't forget the environment and ensure that what we release back to nature is not toxic and damaging. With more emphasis and focus being placed on companies to practice good social responsibility, there are more toilet bowl cleaners that boast of their cruelty-free and vegan production methods and biodegradable packaging.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Clorox Green Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner|4-pack | ![]() | The Cleaner That Doesn't Compromise Clean for Being Green | |
2 | Kaboom Scrub Free! Toilet Bowl Cleaner | ![]() | Your Powerful Bleach-Based Toilet Cleaning System | |
3 | Kaboom Bowl Blaster | ![]() | The Cleaner That Will Knock Out All Stains from Your Bowl | |
4 | Clorox Ultra Clean Toilet Tablets|4-pack | ![]() | The Stress-Free Way of Keeping a Toilet Clean and Smelling Fresh | |
5 | Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner | ![]() | An Eco-Friendly Cleaner That's Safe for Everyone | |
6 | SC Johnson Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaning Stamps|Dispenser included | ![]() | The Effective Toilet Cleaning System That's Convenient To Apply | |
7 | Clorox Disposable Toilet Cleaning System - ToiletWand | ![]() | Magically Clean the Toilet with a Disinfecting Wand | |
8 | Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner|8-pack | ![]() | A Toilet Bowl Cleaner That Attacks Stubborn Stains in a Flash | |
9 | Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Rim Hanger Toilet Bowl Cleaner|2-pack | ![]() | Your Multi-Purpose Toilet Bowl Cleaner That Prevents Nasty Buildup | |
10 | Instant Power Toilet Tank Cleaner | ![]() | A Powerful Tank Cleaner Which Prolongs the Life of Your Toilet |
Just because it's made from plant- and mineral-based ingredients, citric acid and essential oils and has zero phosphorus or bleach doesn't mean this cleaner can't do its job.
It might be green, but it's powerful enough to do a deep clean. This product is cruelty-free and has biodegradable cleaning agents that don't leave harsh chemical fumes or residue to ease your mind.
For more permanent stains, such as hard water stains that have stood the test of time, reviewers commented that they had to scrub extra to succeed. But this did not stop people from buying the product, because regardless of its environmentally-friendly properties, it still got the job done.
This easy-to-install device keeps your toilet clean for up to six months thanks to its powerful bleach-based formula. Simply attach it to the pipe in your tank, drop the tablets and watch the OxiClean Stain Fighters do their job with every flush - reaching even under the rim.
The cleaning system won't harm your toilet tank parts, and it's safe for septic tanks. It's guaranteed you'll be spending less time rinsing a filthy brush. The one downside to this automatic cleaning system is the "toilet-y" smell which annoyed reviewers.
And because the cleaning agents are dispersed with every flush, the scent was constant. One user suggested keeping the tablet inside the thick wrapper to limit the smell. If you're ending up with a clean bowl despite not scrubbing for three months, based on the reviews, a faint smell is worth the compromise.
For this product, there's no need for guessing if the cleaner has done its job and is ready to be rinsed. It goes in purple and turns green when done. Like its namesake, this cleaner blasts rust, hard water stains, grime and lime from your bowl, leaving it sparkling fresh.
Reviewers commented that the manufacturer could have switched the color signals because the green looked like sewer water which seemed more gross than clean. Purple would have been more pleasing to look at. However, this suggestion is but a minor detail compared to the effectiveness of the product.
The Clorox brand is well-known for its cleaning capabilities so you can expect that its toilet bowl cleaning tablets are just as effective. Each in-tank tablet lasts up to four months or up to eight flushes daily and leaves your toilet looking and smelling clean with every flush.
The bleach-based formula keeps stains at bay while continuously cleaning and deodorizing the bowl. The blue water being emitted is your signal that the cleaning agents are at work. When the water turns back to normal, it's time for a refill.
Because this is a tablet which cleans without scrubbing, reviewers noted that they still had to do a weekly manual cleaning to ensure that their toilet remained stain-free. The upside is that this product is enough to keep toilet rings at bay in the long run.
It's eco-friendly, using plant- and mineral-based ingredients, natural fragrances and essential oils, and packaged with a 100% plant-plastic, recyclable bottle. It's also cruelty-free and safe for septic tanks. Lastly, this product cleans well and has passed the standards of many. What more could we ask for?
The scent could be too overpowering for some, which reviewers said seemed too strong for a natural product. On a positive note, users recommend decreasing the amount to limit the smell because the solution is effective enough even if applied in smaller quantities.
Another automatic cleaning system that cleans with every flush and is quite fun to apply is this Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Gel. Using a dispenser loaded with gel cleaning stamps, you position the device near the toilet bowl rim and eject.
The stamp freshens and cleans the toilet, leaving a rain shower scent. Each gel stamp lasts up to 12 days. Reviewers noted that the smell could be overpowering, especially for those who prefer cleaning products with milder scents.
The stamp dispenser is also quite appealing to curious children, and it's advised to keep the product out of their reach. The scent and safety hazard did not bother many users because the stamps did their job well and didn't hurt their plumbing.
This toilet cleaner is perfect for those who hate cleaning brushes yet want to scrub their toilet instead of relying too much on automatic cleaning systems. You attach disposable, disinfecting sponges to the wand and scrub away.
The shape of the wand and sponge heads make it easy to reach under the bowl rim and into the drain for efficient yet effective cleaning. When done, simply press a button to discard the sponge.
One issue brought up in the reviews of this product is the location of the release button, which they felt was too close to the sponge. There were times when the wand didn't easily let go of the sponge, so users had a bit of a struggle. However, the fact that the pads were disposable still outweighed the minor issue.
This toilet cleaner lacks chlorine, synthetic fragrances, dyes, ammonia and other harmful chemicals, but it still packs a powerful punch against tough stains. The formulation is also safe on the septic tank and has been certified to be cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny. Apply under the rim, scrub, flush, and you're done.
Users were quite disappointed that the cleaner couldn't remove toilet rings, rust and calcium buildup. It's great for daily cleaning, though, which is an advantage that many buyers consider.
This in-bowl cleaner will last up to a month and ensure your bowl remains fresh and clean with every flush while fighting mineral and toilet ring buildup. After it sanitizes, the cleaning agents emit a lavender scent which deodorizes your bathroom.
Some users had a bit of trouble positioning the device on the rim so that the water would hit the balls well. After a few tweaks, they had no other issues and were pleased with the cleaning power of the product.
Over time, our cisterns get yucky with rust and other mineral buildups. You'd think that water passing through wouldn't cause such an issue but, unfortunately, it does. That's what this toilet tank cleaner was made for.
Its strong formula removes the toughest of stains and prolongs the life span of your toilet components. Simply pour the required amount into the tank, mix, let it sit overnight and be surprised at the transformation the next morning.
Those with really rusty and dirty toilet tanks are advised by reviewers to apply this product a few times periodically to achieve desired results. This happened in only a few cases, though, because some who used the product on a recently purchased new house transformed the condition of their idle toilet tanks with this cleaner.
Let's keep the whole house clean with a few more recommendations for cleaning products you can buy online. Links have been provided below for easier access.
No. 1: Clorox|Green Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner|4-pack
No. 2: Kaboom|Scrub Free! Toilet Bowl Cleaner
No. 3: Kaboom|Bowl Blaster
No. 4: Clorox|Ultra Clean Toilet Tablets|4-pack
No. 5: Ecover|Toilet Bowl Cleaner
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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