How to Clean a Toilet

We spend a lot of time giving you tips for how to deal with your plumbing and heating – helping you fix problems, maintain your system, and save some money. But what about proper cleaning? Are you going to be happy with functional plumbing if your toilet bowl is stained? Probably not. That’s why we want to share some tips on how to thoroughly clean your toilet, including any unwanted stains.  

Step one – gather your equipment 

In order to clean effectively and safely, you want to have a few key items on hand. First, you should always wear waterproof gloves when you are cleaning your toilet. They shouldn’t be the same ones you use to wash dishes, and they should be intact. Not only do you want to protect your hands from harsh cleaners, you also are going to be getting into some grimy places, and it will be a lot easier if you are protected.  

Next you will want some sort of scrubbing sponge, a toilet brush, a toilet bowl cleaner (ideally with a neck that allows you to squirt under the rim) and a disinfecting cleaner for the outer parts of the toilet. You will also want a dry cloth and maybe even some paper towels. And lastly, if you have hard water, rust or other hard to remove stains, you might want to consider getting a pumice stone. Yes, that thing your aunt uses on her feet – it also works wonders on cleaning a toilet bowl! 

Step two – remove the seat/lid 

A thorough cleaning of your toilet should be done with the toilet bowl seat/lid removed. You will not believe how gross it can get under there. It should be simple to do – if you have decorative covers over the screws, they should lift with a little upwards pressure. Then it is simply a matter of removing the screws (don’t lose them!) and lifting the toilet seat and lid off. Clean that thoroughly with the disinfecting spray and set aside.  

Step three – add your cleaner to the toilet bowl 

Your cleaner needs a little time to work. For best results, you want to turn the water off and then flush the toilet, so you have as little water in the bowl as possible. Coat the bowl with the cleaner, making sure to get it up under the rim – that’s where the real disgusting stuff is. Let this sit while you clean the outside of the toilet.  

Step four – clean the outside of the toilet 

Spray the outside of the toilet with the disinfecting spray and start using your scrubbing sponge to clean the areas all around your toilet, right down to where it meets the floor (and the floor surrounding the toilet too – it also gets pretty dirty). You will need to get down on your knees and really give it some elbow grease, if you want it to be clean. While the water is off and the tank emptied, take the tank lid off and look inside – if you see some build up and grime, now is a great time to scrub that too! 

Step five – clean your toilet bowl 

Now that your cleaner has had some time to work, it’s time to grab your toilet brush and clean the inside of your toilet bowl. Make sure to pay extra attention to the part under the rim, which is hard to see but that often harbours some really nasty mildew and grime. If you have hard water stains, use the pumice stone to gently remove those. Clean the external areas of the toilet that may have been splashed while you were scrubbing inside, using the cloth or paper towel.  

Step six – reset your toilet 

Now that your toilet is sparkling clean, it’s time to put everything back together so someone can mess it up again. Put the toilet lid back on. Wash your toilet brush and leave it to dry by resting it on the rim of the bowl, held down by the toilet seat. Wash your gloves and leave them to dry. Clean your sponge and cloths and throw away any paper towels you used. And then sit back and marvel in the wonderful work you did to keep your home clean.