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.
Here are the best toilet cleaners we could find, available in different forms and sizes.
4-pack
$11.96
Amount | 24 oz. |
---|---|
Type | Liquid |
Scent | Original fresh |
Best for | Daily cleaning, tough stains, hard water stains |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application |
Duration | - |
Disinfectant | Plant and mineral-based ingredients |
Eco-friendly | Yes |
$12.57
Type | In-tank |
---|---|
Scent | - |
Best for | Daily cleaning |
Maintenance/Application | Cleans with every flush |
Duration | 3 months per pouch |
Disinfectant | Bleach-based |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 2 refills |
$5.99
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
Scent | - |
Best for | Hard water stains, lime, rust |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application |
Duration | - |
Disinfectant | Hydrochloric acid |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 24 oz. |
4-pack
$8.58
Type | In-tank |
---|---|
Scent | Rain Clean |
Best for | Daily cleaning |
Maintenance/Application | Cleans with every flush |
Duration | 4 months |
Disinfectant | Bleach-based |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 4 tablets |
$4.72
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
Scent | Pine Fresh |
Best for | Daily cleaning, tough stains |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application |
Duration | - |
Disinfectant | Aqua Citric Acid |
Eco-friendly | Yes |
Net weight | 25 oz. |
Dispenser included
$10.47
Type | In-bowl |
---|---|
Scent | Rainshower |
Best for | Daily cleaning |
Maintenance/Application | Cleans with every flush |
Duration | 12 days per stamp |
Disinfectant | - |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 24 stamps |
$7.93
Type | Wand |
---|---|
Scent | - |
Best for | Tough stains, lime, calcium and rust |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application |
Duration | One-time use |
Disinfectant | Clorox cleaner |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 6 disposable refills |
8-pack
$23.92
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
Scent | Emerald Cypress and Fir |
Best for | Daily cleaning, tough stains |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application |
Duration | - |
Disinfectant | Plant-based ingredients |
Eco-friendly | Yes |
Net weight | 32 oz. |
2-pack
$6.72
Type | In-Bowl |
---|---|
Scent | Lavender |
Best for | Daily cleaning |
Maintenance/Application | Cleans with every flush |
Duration | 4 weeks |
Disinfectant | - |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 2 rims |
$5.28
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
Scent | - |
Best for | Rust, lime and other mineral buildup |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application |
Duration | - |
Disinfectant | Citric acid |
Eco-friendly | - |
Net weight | 16 oz. |
Image | 1 ![]() Clorox | 2 ![]() Kaboom | 3 ![]() Kaboom | 4 ![]() Clorox | 5 ![]() Ecover | 6 ![]() SC Johnson | 7 ![]() Clorox | 8 ![]() Seventh Generation | 9 ![]() Soft Scrub | 10 ![]() Instant Power |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Green Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Scrub Free! Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Bowl Blaster | Ultra Clean Toilet Tablets | Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaning Stamps | Disposable Toilet Cleaning System - ToiletWand | Toilet Bowl Cleaner | 4-in-1 Rim Hanger Toilet Bowl Cleaner | Toilet Tank Cleaner |
Features | The Cleaner That Doesn't Compromise Clean for Being Green | Your Powerful Bleach-Based Toilet Cleaning System | The Cleaner That Will Knock Out All Stains from Your Bowl | The Stress-Free Way of Keeping a Toilet Clean and Smelling Fresh | An Eco-Friendly Cleaner That's Safe for Everyone | The Effective Toilet Cleaning System That's Convenient To Apply | Magically Clean the Toilet with a Disinfecting Wand | A Toilet Bowl Cleaner That Attacks Stubborn Stains in a Flash | Your Multi-Purpose Toilet Bowl Cleaner That Prevents Nasty Buildup | A Powerful Tank Cleaner Which Prolongs the Life of Your Toilet |
Price | $11.96 | $12.57 | $5.99 | $8.58 | $4.72 | $10.47 | $7.93 | $23.92 | $6.72 | $5.28 |
Amount | 24 oz. | In-tank | Liquid | In-tank | Liquid | In-bowl | Wand | Liquid | In-Bowl | Liquid |
Type | Liquid | - | - | Rain Clean | Pine Fresh | Rainshower | - | Emerald Cypress and Fir | Lavender | - |
Scent | Original fresh | Daily cleaning | Hard water stains, lime, rust | Daily cleaning | Daily cleaning, tough stains | Daily cleaning | Tough stains, lime, calcium and rust | Daily cleaning, tough stains | Daily cleaning | Rust, lime and other mineral buildup |
Best for | Daily cleaning, tough stains, hard water stains | Cleans with every flush | Manual application | Cleans with every flush | Manual application | Cleans with every flush | Manual application | Manual application | Cleans with every flush | Manual application |
Maintenance/Application | Manual application | 3 months per pouch | - | 4 months | - | 12 days per stamp | One-time use | - | 4 weeks | - |
Duration | - | Bleach-based | Hydrochloric acid | Bleach-based | Aqua Citric Acid | - | Clorox cleaner | Plant-based ingredients | - | Citric acid |
Disinfectant | Plant and mineral-based ingredients | - | - | - | Yes | - | - | Yes | - | - |
Eco-friendly | Yes | 2 refills | 24 oz. | 4 tablets | 25 oz. | 24 stamps | 6 disposable refills | 32 oz. | 2 rims | 16 oz. |
Link |
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.
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.
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