Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner

How to Make DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1. Measure Dry Ingredients

   In a medium-sized glass mixing bowl, measure two cups of baking soda. Add 1/2 cup citric acid powder. The bowl must be glass because essential oils can corrode metal bowls and stain plastic bowls permanently.

2. Add Disinfecting Essential Oil

   You need about one teaspoon of a disinfecting essential oil. Tea tree oil, orange, and lavender provide disinfecting qualities. You can choose a single oil or create your own scented blend.

   Slowly add the disinfecting essential oil just a drop or two at a time. Stir well with a wooden spoon after every addition. Do not pour in the entire teaspoon at one time because it will be too difficult to distribute it smoothly.

3. Store in a Glass Jar

   Once the mixture is thoroughly blended, use a funnel to pour it into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Be sure to add a label so that everyone knows what's inside and a note on how to use the cleaner. Include a non-metallic one tablespoon scoop or spoon.

4. Fill Distilled White Vinegar Jar

   The cleaning strength (20%) distilled white vinegar must be stored in a separate jar from the powder and added directly to the toilet bowl when it is time to clean.

   To make cleaning time easier, pour the vinegar into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use a permanent marker to create hash marks at 1/2 cup intervals. Label the jar.

   Tip

   If you cannot find the cleaning strength distilled white vinegar, you can use regular distilled white vinegar (5%). However, you will need to use two cups of the weaker vinegar each time you clean the toilet bowl.

If you would rather make a tablet or "bomb" to be dropped into the toilet, you can alter the ingredients a bit. You'll need an ice cube tray or a silicone mold that holds about one tablespoon and will release the tablets easily.

In addition to the baking soda, citric acid, essential oils, stir in 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar just a drop at a time. Add only enough vinegar to make the mixture damp enough to hold its shape when squeezed together in your hand.

Place the damp mixture in the ice cube tray or mold and level off. Allow the mixture to dry for at least 24 hours. Pop the tablets out of the molds and store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and add a label.

How to Use DIY Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1. Flush the Toilet

   When it's time to clean, flush the toilet to remove any tissue or waste.

2. Measure and Add Cleaner

   Add one tablespoon of the baking soda mixture or one baking soda cube to the water in the toilet bowl. Sprinkle some additional powder around the interior sides of the bowl.

3. Scrub With a Toilet Brush

   Use a dampened toilet brush to scrub the bowl. Don't forget to clean under the rim and around the water flow jets.

4. Add the Cleaning Vinegar

   Pour 1/2 cup of the 20% cleaning vinegar (or two cups of 5% distilled white vinegar) into the bowl. There will be some fizzing action as the baking soda and vinegar react.

   Tip

   If there is no fizzing action, your baking soda may be old or you are not using enough DIY powder for cleaning.

5. Scrub Again, Wait, and Flush

   Use the toilet brush to give the bowl another good scrub to remove any remaining stains. Allow the mixture to remain in the bowl for at least 15 minutes before flushing.

If you're looking to freshen drains and help remove soap scum in the drain pipes, add 1/2 cup of the dry baking soda mixture to the drain. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of cleaning distilled vinegar (20%) or two cups of 5% regular distilled vinegar.

There will be fizzing! Allow the mixture to work for at least one hour before flushing out the drain with hot water.