If you’re looking for a cost-effective and non-toxic alternative to store-bought toilet cleaners, crafting your own DIY toilet bowl cleaner is a simple and effective solution. With just a few household ingredients, you can create a cleaner that removes stains and leaves your toilet fresh and sparkling.
This homemade cleaner combines the cleaning power of baking soda and citric acid with the refreshing scent of essential oils. When paired with white vinegar, it creates a fizzing reaction that helps break down grime with minimal effort. Follow these steps to make and use your DIY cleaner.
What You’ll Need
Equipment and Tools:
- Wooden spoon
- Medium-sized glass mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Funnel
- Two glass jars with sealable lids
- Permanent marker
- Non-metal tablespoon scoop
- Ice cube tray or silicone mold (optional)
Materials:
- Baking soda
- Powdered citric acid
- Essential oil with disinfecting properties (e.g., tea tree, orange, or lavender)
- Distilled white vinegar (cleaning strength, 20%)
- Labels for jars
Instructions: Step-by-Step
1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients
- Measure 2 cups of baking soda into a medium-sized glass mixing bowl.
- Add ½ cup of citric acid powder.
Note: Use a glass bowl to avoid corrosion from the essential oils, which can damage metal and plastic.
2. Incorporate Essential Oils
- Select an essential oil with disinfecting qualities (e.g., tea tree, orange, or lavender).
- Add 1 teaspoon of essential oil gradually—just a few drops at a time. Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon after each addition to evenly distribute the oil.
3. Store the Powder
- Once blended, use a funnel to transfer the mixture into a glass jar with a tight lid.
- Label the jar with the contents and instructions for use. Include a non-metal tablespoon scoop for easy measuring.
4. Prepare the Vinegar Solution
- Pour cleaning-strength distilled white vinegar (20%) into a separate glass jar.
- Use a permanent marker to mark ½-cup intervals on the jar for easy measuring.
- Label the jar accordingly.
Tip: If cleaning-strength vinegar is unavailable, use regular distilled white vinegar (5%), but increase the amount to 2 cups per cleaning.
How to Use
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the powdered cleaner into the toilet bowl.
- Add ½ cup of vinegar (adjust based on the vinegar’s strength).
- Let the fizzing action work for a few minutes to loosen dirt and stains.
- Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush to remove stubborn stains.
- Flush to reveal a clean and fresh-smelling toilet.
Optional: Making Cleaning Tablets
For a convenient, pre-measured option, you can turn the cleaner into tablets or “toilet bombs.”
Steps:
- Follow the original powder recipe but add ½ teaspoon of vinegar to the mixture, one drop at a time. The goal is to make the mixture damp enough to hold its shape when pressed.
- Pack the mixture into an ice cube tray or silicone mold (about 1 tablespoon per mold).
- Allow the molds to dry for at least 24 hours.
- Pop out the dried tablets and store them in a labeled glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
This natural DIY toilet bowl cleaner not only saves money but also reduces exposure to harsh chemicals, making it a safer option for your family and the environment.
