We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

11 Best Toilet Cleaners of 2024

The best gels, tablets, and wands for easy and effective cleaning

Collage of Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner on a yellow background

The Spruce / David Hattan

Cleaning the toilet bowl is something most of us would rather not do, but, alas, the task is an essential one on your bathroom-cleaning checklist to keep your toilet sparkling and odor-free. “Apply a toilet cleaner once a week to prevent the spread of bacteria,” says professional plumber Gerald Carpenter. 

Luckily, there are plenty of products out there to make sure you get the job done: gels and sprays, disposable wands, automatic options, and even septic-safe formulas. To help you find the best toilet cleaner for your needs, we researched various options on the market and carefully considered attributes like type, efficacy, scent, and overall value.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach

Walmart Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach

Walmart

What We Like
  • Contains bleach

  • Soft scent

  • Cleverly designed nozzle

What We Don't Like
  • Liquid is light and hard to see

  • May not work for septic systems

We love this gel-based toilet bowl cleaner, because it’s widely available and affordable. Plus, it really gets the job done—even if you’re working with a very dirty bowl. That’s because this option contains bleach, an ingredient that may not be septic safe, but definitely tackles stains, odors, and bacteria with ease. According to the brand, it kills 99.9 percent of germs—perfect if someone in your house has recently been ill. 

Despite its powers, we love that this product doesn’t have the same overwhelming fumes as regular bleach does. In fact, its scent is relatively light and not at all obtrusive. The packaging is also cleverly-designed to help you get into every nook and cranny of the toilet bowl, like the area under the rim. It’s all thanks to a special ergonomic nozzle that’s angled in just the right fashion. Just note: because the solution is a light color, you’ll want to pay special attention to where you’re squirting the liquid to ensure full and ample coverage.

Amount: 24 ounces | Type: Gel | Scent: Rain clean | Weight: 1.5 pounds

Best Budget

Clorox Disinfecting Bleach

Clorox Disinfecting Bleach

Amazon

What We Like
  • Versatile

  • Powerful disinfecting and brightening properties

  • Removes stains

What We Don't Like
  • Strong smell

  • Not incredibly easy to use

You really can’t beat the versatility of Clorox bleach—especially if you’re trying to adhere to a budget. This inexpensive product can tackle grime and germs in many areas of your home, including your toilet, floors, bathroom counters, and shower. You can even use it to clean white laundry and deodorize your washing machine. And because it’s a highly concentrated product, a little bit goes a very long way, stretching your dollar even further. 

It’s both tough on stains and disinfecting—the brand's product listing says it can kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and germs. It does, however, require some mixing on your part, specifically 1/3 of a cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Pre-clean the surface and apply the water-bleach mixture for six minutes before wiping it down. 

Just be sure to use extreme caution when pouring bleach, because it can stain clothes and surfaces, plus burn skin and cause eye irritation. It also has a particularly strong smell, so use the product in a well-ventilated area. Finally, you should never mix bleach with other household cleaners—it can have a dangerous reaction with ammonia, acids, and other ingredients in cleaners.

Amount: 121 ounces | Type: Liquid | Scent: Unscented | Weight: Not listed

Best for Hard Water

Lemi Shine Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel

Amazon Lemi Shine Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Amazon

What We Like
  • Septic-safe

  • Cleverly designed nozzle

  • Biodegradable

  • Sold as 3-pack

What We Don't Like
  • Doesn’t disinfect

  • Requires some scrubbing

Hard water isn’t just, well, hard on your skin and hair, it can wreak havoc on your appliances. That’s because it causes limescale buildup that can lead to stains like water rings. Thankfully, there’s a solution: Lemi Shine. This eco-friendly cleaner (it’s biodegradable and EPA-certified) is powered by citric acid, an ingredient that’s naturally abrasive to dissolve all of that stubborn residue. The bottle is specially designed with a nozzle that can get into hard-to-reach spaces, so you don’t miss any spots either. 

Unfortunately, you may need to use some elbow grease and a pumice brush to tackle really tough existing stains, but once you’ve restored the sparkle to your porcelain throne, this is a fantastic maintenance product. It doesn’t have disinfecting properties, though, so make sure to rotate in a bacteria- and germ-fighting product, too.

Amount: 24 ounces | Type: Liquid | Scent: Lemon | Weight: 1.75 pounds

Best for Septic Systems

‎Method Cleaning Products Antibacterial Toilet Bowl Cleaner Spearmint

Grove ‎Method Cleaning Products Antibacterial Toilet Bowl Cleaner Spearmint

Grove

What We Like
  • Soft scent

  • Cleverly designed nozzle

  • Bottle is made of recycled materials

What We Don't Like
  • Requires some scrubbing

  • Doesn't lather up

If you have a septic system, flushing the wrong thing down your toilet can cause costly damage—and that includes something as seemingly innocuous as toilet cleaner. Thankfully, there are plenty of toilet bowl cleaners that are safe for septic tanks, and this is one of the best bets, because it doesn’t sacrifice cleaning prowess to the benefit of your plumbing system. The formula boasts a proprietary “power green” technology and citric acid to disinfect and clean stains from your toilet bowl.

The product is super easy to use, too. All you have to do is squirt the softly-scented liquid into the bowl (it has a cleverly-designed nozzle to get into all those little crevices), let it sit, and then scrub before flushing away any grime. Since it doesn’t lather all that well, you may have to repeat the action once or twice for a deep clean. But that won’t cost you much, because the 24-ounce bottle is pretty inexpensive.

As a nice bonus, the bottle is made of recyclable plastic, making it more of an eco-friendly choice.

Amount: 24 ounces | Type: Liquid | Scent: Spearmint | Weight: 1.5 pounds

Best Automatic

Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaning Gel Starter Kit

Amazon Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaning Gel Starter Kit

Amazon

What We Like
  • Completely touchless

  • Soft scent

  • Doesn't leave a residue

What We Don't Like
  • Not a substitute for deep cleaning

  • Not as long-lasting for larger households

Think of this as a "set it and forget it" toilet bowl cleaner—once you put it in place, it’ll keep your bowl clean for up to 12 days. It’s all touchless. You simply “stamp” a single disc onto the inside of your toilet bowl. With each flush, the solution cleans and deodorizes the bowl, eventually dissolving altogether. When that happens, it’s time for a new stamp. 

In addition to cleaning and deodorizing, the product helps keep toilet rings and limescale at bay, extending the time between deep cleans. They don’t, however, disinfect, so remember to rotate in those sessions, too. We also love the fresh scent, which is soft and not at all overpowering—great for those who are sensitive to smells. 

Each package comes with six tabs, which should get you through about 10 weeks, but if you have a larger household with frequent flushing, they may dissolve more quickly.

Amount: 12 stamps | Type: Gel tablets | Scent: Rainshower | Weight: 1.34 ounces

Best Tablets

Vacplus Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Vacplus Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets

Amazon

What We Like
  • Continuous cleaning solution

  • Septic-safe

  • Soft scent

What We Don't Like
  • Makes water blue

  • Not a substitute for deep cleaning

Another great option for keeping your toilet bowl sparkling between deeper cleans, the Vacplus gel tablets are highly automated. All you’ll need to do is drop a tablet into the tank of your toilet, wait 30 minutes, and then use the toilet as normal. Each tablet lasts for somewhere between five to seven days (about 20 flushes daily), and works to fight bacteria, grime, and odor. In its wake, a fresh lemon scent. Not everyone likes the fact that this product also dyes the water blue, but it’s convenient, because the faded color is how you’ll know it’s time to put in a new tablet. 

Each box comes with a pack of 12, so they should last you quite a while. And because this box of tablets is already so budget-friendly, this product is perfect for bargain hunters.

Amount: 12 tablets | Type: Gel tablets | Scent: Lemon | Weight: 1 pound

Best Cleaning Kit

Clorox Disinfecting ToiletWand Cleaning System

Amazon Clorox ToiletWand Disposable Toilet Cleaning System

Amazon

What We Like
  • Disposable

  • Complete system

  • Kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses

What We Don't Like
  • Not as eco-friendly as other options

  • Not as durable as a toilet brush

If you’re grossed out by toilet brushes, this cleaning system may be a more desirable alternative for you—the pad that scrubs all that gunk off the bowl is fully disposable. The concept is simple: Attach a disposable pad to the wand, then use it to clean out the bowl, and toss it in the garbage. 

Each pad has a hexagonal design that fits deep into small, tight areas like the space on the underside of the bowl. The formula on the brush also lathers as you scrub to more effectively remove stains from rust, calcium, and lime. And, like other Clorox products, the brand says the disposable pads can kill up to 99.9 percent of germs. Keep in mind, however, that these pads aren't quite as durable as a traditional toilet brush, so you can’t be as heavy-handed with them. 

On the upside, the pads have a fresh scent that eliminates odors but doesn't linger. And each kit comes with a stand for the wand that also has a compartment for the six replacement pads it comes with. When you run out, you can buy more without having to repurchase the entire system.

Amount: 6 pads | Type: Disposable brush | Scent: Rainforest rush | Weight: 1.2 pounds

Best Toilet Bowl Cleaner for Tough Stains

Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Power Stain Destroyer

Amazon Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaner and Power Stain Destroyer

Amazon

What We Like
  • Budget-friendly

  • Specially-designed nozzle

  • Great on rust and limescale

What We Don’t Like
  • May need more than one application

The name—Scrubbing Bubbles Power Stain Destroyer—is a dead giveaway for just how effective this toilet bowl cleaner is. The liquid cleaner, which changes from green to blue as it works to eradicate stains like rust and limescale, is as hardworking as it gets, short of pure bleach. 

Like other great toilet bowl cleaners, this one has a special curved neck with a nozzle on the end that makes it possible to get into all of the little crevices that harbor water and other buildup that can seep down into the rest of the bowl, leading to staining. It’s easy to use, too: Just squirt it into place, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub it away with a brush and flush. If there’s any buildup or grime remaining, you may need to repeat the process once or even twice—alternatively, you can let the solution sit overnight to minimize elbow grease required.

Amount: 24 ounces | Type: Liquid | Scent: Rainshower scent | Weight: 1.5 pounds

Best Eco-Friendly

Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Starter Set

Amazon Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Starter Set

Amazon

What We Like
  • Plant-based and plastic-free formula

  • Attractive storage tin

  • Pleasant lemon cedar scent

What We Don’t Like
  • Scrubbing required for thorough cleaning

  • Pricier than other options

The Blueland toilet bowl cleaner starter set may be on the pricier side, but it offers a plastic-free and plant-based solution that will last for months at a time. Not to mention, it comes with a handy metal tin for storing all of those replacement tablets. The purple tin is even pretty enough to pass as decor. 

But it’s not all about convenience and aesthetics. The eco-friendly tablets are easy to use—simply drop them into your toilet bowl. They start working immediately, fizzing as they tackle any grime in their wake. Of course, it’s not entirely hands off. For the most effective cleaning, especially if you’re dealing with hard water stains, use a toilet brush to scrub the product into the bowl. The lemon cedar scent is nice and subtle—and uniquely earthy—leaving your bathroom smelling freshly cleaned.

Amount: 14 tablets | Type: Tablets | Scent: Lemon cedar | Weight: 1.68 pounds

Best for Rings

Kaboom Scrub Free! Toilet Bowl Cleaner System

Amazon Kaboom Scrub Free! Toilet Bowl Cleaner System with 2 Refills

Amazon

What We Like
  • Automatically cleans for up to 6 months

  • Septic-safe

  • Stain-fighting solution

What We Don’t Like
  • Requires an attachment on the toilet

  • Doesn’t disinfect

This starter set includes an attachment that you install on your toilet to house cleaning tablets that continuously work to keep your bowl sparkling for months at a time. Each pouch contains two tablets that work for up to three months at a time. Because the set comes with two pouches, you’ll be covered for up to six months on your first purchase. 

While installation may seem a little tricky at first, it’s easy to pop the tablets in. With each flush, the tablets will release powerful OxiClean stain fighters that work on rust, limescale, and other buildup. They may not disinfect, but they do keep things nice and fresh. Plus, they’re septic-safe. 

Amount: 2 pouches | Type: Tablets | Scent: Unscented | Weight: 7.2 ounces

Best Toilet Cleaning Brush

OXO Compact Toilet Brush & Canister

OXO Compact Toilet Brush & Canister

Amazon

What We Like
  • Affordable

  • Tapered brush head

  • Easy grip

  • Touch-free canister

What We Don’t Like
  • Non-replaceable brush head

  • Not made with eco-friendly material

Simple, but thoughtfully designed, this compact toilet brush from OXO is perfect for tucking alongside every throne in your home. Besides its compact size, what we love the most is that the storage canister has a touch-free opening mechanism. Your hands will never come anywhere near the brush head or the base it sits in. 

It’s a highly effective tool, too, thanks to a tapered brush head that is designed to reach all angles inside your toilet bowl, even the crevices. The handle is easy to hold, too. This way, you can get a better grip for a more purposeful scrub down. 

On the downside, this toilet brush is made of plastic and the brush heads are not replaceable. You should anticipate replacing the brush about once per year. But at this price point, we don't think that’s too much of an ask.

Amount: 1 brush and stand | Type: Brush | Scent: N/A | Weight: 11.2 ounces

Final Verdict

For a highly effective way to keep your toilet clean, disinfected, and odor-free, try the Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach. Of course, there’s also the highly versatile and exceptionally budget-friendly option: a jug of Clorox Disinfecting Bleach. It’ll keep your toilet stain-, odor-, and germ-free, but can also be used in areas like the kitchen and laundry room. 

What to Look For in a Toilet Cleaner

Ingredients

Like other cleaning products, toilet bowl cleaners come in both conventional and more natural formulas. While the latter—like the Lemi Shine Toilet Bowl Cleaner—is more preferable for septic tanks and the more eco-conscious, they can’t always be counted on for deep cleaning tasks like removing a years old water ring or a buildup of limescale. For those tasks, you may need to swap in a chemical-based cleaner like Clorox Disinfecting Bleach. When using these types of conventional cleaners, just be sure to take proper precautions. Products containing bleach can stain both clothes and surrounding surfaces, plus irritate eyes, skin, and sinuses. Wear gloves and use them in a well-ventilated area to be safe. 

Formula

There are several types of toilet bowl cleaners, each of which requires a varying level of effort on your part. Traditional toilet bowl cleaners like liquids or gels, including our top pick Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach, are generally applied to the bowl prior to scrubbing with a toilet brush. There are also toilet bowl wands that come with disposable cleaning heads, like the Clorox Toilet Wand, which eliminates the need for a brush. Finally, there are automatic toilet bowl cleaners, like pods or discs, that work with each flush. 

Effectiveness

The best toilet bowl cleaners are all effective for everyday cleaning, but if your toilet has hard water buildup or rust stains, you may need a specialty product that has enough strength to tackle the mess. Look for a cleaner that’s marketed toward your particular need. Beware: Stronger toilet bowl cleaners have harsher ingredients, like bleach, that help remove tough stains and kill bacteria. These chemicals can be dangerous if you have pets, kids, or a septic system, as noted by commercial plumber Umberto Griccino. If that’s the case, opt for a gentler product that requires a little more elbow grease.

Scent

Scent doesn’t have any bearing on efficacy, but a pleasing aroma can make the dirty job more enjoyable. Not to mention, a soft lingering scent serves to make your bathroom seem cleaner for longer. Toilet cleaners come in all types of fragrances, from more floral aromas to citrus notes. However, if you’re sensitive to synthetic fragrance, you may want to opt for an unscented cleaner.

FAQ
  • How often should you clean a toilet?

    It’s always a good idea to clean your toilet any time it’s visibly dirty, but professional plumbers suggest weekly cleanings at bare minimum. That may seem like a lot, but that’s because this plumbing fixture harbors the most bacteria and germs, says Kathy Cohoon, director of franchise operations at Two Maids & A Mop.

  • Are all toilet cleaners the same?

    All toilet cleaners are not the same. Some are made with harsh ingredients like bleach, while others are formulated with more natural ingredients like citric acid. The best toilet bowl cleaners all serve to get the job done, but the gentler, more natural formulations may not suffice for heavy-duty stains or disinfecting. Consider your needs, and pick accordingly.

  • Is it ok to put bleach down the toilet?

    In short: Yes, but only in certain scenarios. If you have a septic tank, toilet bowl cleaners and bleach or chlorine-based cleaners should be avoided or seldom used, says Griccino. If you use them too often, they can cause your septic tank to back up and even contaminate your drinking water. If you’re not sure, look at your product label to see if these ingredients are included.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a writer with nearly 15 years of experience writing for a wide range of publications, including Real Simple and Good Housekeeping. She’s written and edited hundreds of articles in the cleaning space and made her final selection of products based on her own experience, bestseller lists across multiple retailers, and interviews with Kathy Cohoon, director of franchise operations of Two Maids & A Mop, and professional plumbers like Gerald Carpenter and Umberto Griccino. All products on this list have been carefully selected, considering formula type, efficacy, scent, and overall value. 

Advertisement