Simple & Effective 3 Ingredient DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Learn how to make DIY toilet bowl cleaner that effectively and naturally cleans your toilet and only require 3 simple ingredients!

For the last decade plus, I’ve used the same blue toilet cleaner, you know the one in the squeeze bottle. I’ve tried a few different toilet cleaners here and there, but always came back to my tried and true cleaner. It’s also been one of the last things I’ve been hesitant to switch to a more natural alternative. I was really worried I wouldn’t find something that cleaned as effectively as the conventional product I was using. However, I decided it was time to try something else out, something more natural and cost effective.

That’s when I started learning about DIY toilet bombs and citric acid bathroom cleaners. Citric acid is an effective cleaner, de-scaler and mild disinfectant that many people use for cleaning their bathrooms. I figured it couldn’t hurt to try. And once I did try, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is this DIY toilet bowl cleaning powder super easy to make with only 3 ingredients, it’s also super cost effective and works great! It’s also super fun to use because it gets super fizzy and who doesn’t love that, am I right?!

If you’ve been curious about trying natural cleaning products, then I think you’re going to like this toilet cleaner. It’s similar to that of a DIY toilet bomb, but without the added work and wait time!

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FAQs

Is this DIY toilet bowl cleaner actually disinfecting my toilet?

While there may be other conventional products like bleach that great at disinfecting, they can be really harsh. And while I do think there is a time and a place for products like that, daily or weekly use of this toilet cleaner made with citric acid is great. Citric acid is a mild disinfectant and can help remove everyday germs. That being said, I do recommend cleaning your toilet and other surfaces in your home with a stronger disinfectant after sickness, but of course that’s entirely up to you.

How do I get rid of stains in my toilet?

This homemade toilet cleaner is great at helping to remove hard water and other stains in your toilet. Citric acid is a wonderful de-scaler and can help with those pesky stains. It’s important to leave this toilet cleaning powder in the toilet for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing to allow the ingredients to break down mineral deposits and other built up substances on the surface. If you need a little something extra to remove stubborn stains, you can add borax to the mixture. Borax works similarly to baking soda in that it is a mild abrasive and can help remove odors.

Is this toilet cleaner safe on septic systems?

While this toilet cleaner is generally safe to use for septic systems, the citric acid can disrupt the good bacteria that is in your septic system that helps break down … things. Large amounts of citric acid can be a concern, but the amount used in this cleaner shouldn’t be an issue. If you have any concerns about using natural cleaning products with your septic, you can reach out to an expert for more information.

Ingredients

Baking Soda: Baking soda is a great cleaner for so many places around the home. It’s great at absorbing odors and helps remove tough stains and build up on many surfaces, including the toilet bowl.

Citric Acid: Citric acid is an acid that’s found in, you guessed it, citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and grapefruits. You often find citric acid in canning recipes, but it’s found in a lot of our foods. But citric acid is actually a great cleaning agent. Citric acid works great as a de-scaler, which means if you have hard water, it can help to remove those hard water stains in your toilet. It is also has disinfecting properties, which of course is great for cleaning your toilet.

Essential Oils: Essential oils help to make this toilet cleaner smell great and depending on the type of oil you choose, can contribute to the disinfecting properties. For example lemongrass, tea tree, peppermint and clove are all known to have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

How to Make DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

• Glass mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Airtight container

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups baking soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid
• 20-30 drops essential oils

DIRECTIONS

In a glass mixing bowl, combine baking soda and essential oils until they’re well combined.

Add the citric acid mixture to the baking soda mixture and mix thoroughly.

Add the homemade toilet bowl cleaner to an airtight class storage container.

How to Use DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Add about 1 tablespoon of the toilet cleaning powder and allow it to sit in the toilet for 10-15 minutes.

Use a toilet brush to scrub the inside of the toilet.

Flush the toilet and now it’s all clean!

NOTES

• For added cleaning power, you an add1/4 cup of borax to the mixture. However be aware that mixing citric acid and borax creates boric acid which can be harmful if ingested. So pay special attention to keep the cleaner out of reach of children and pets.
• Store this homemade toilet cleaner in an airtight container in a cool dark place.
• This cleaner may become clumpy over time, so simply break up the clumps before using.
• Citric acid and homemade cleaners are generally considered safe for septic systems, but citric acid can disrupt the natural bacteria in septic systems that’s used. If you’re worried, I recommend checking ahead of using this natural toilet cleaner.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE NATURAL CLEANING RECIPES?

Looking for more natural cleaning recipes recipes? Check these out!

• DIY Grout Cleaner
• How to Make All-Natural Cleaning Spray
• Homemade Laundry Softener and Scent Booster
• Homemade Laundry Powder

Did you enjoy learning how to make DIY toilet bowl cleaner? If you did and the recipe worked for you, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!