How to Properly Clean a Toilet

person wiping down a toilet seat

The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

Project Overview
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Estimated Cost: $15

Cleaning a toilet can be a very unappealing chore. While it's not complicated, it is possible to get it wrong. Believe it or not, there actually is a right way to clean a toilet, and the proper method will help ensure that you eliminate any bacteria and viruses that may be thriving there. The right cleaning techniques will not only give you superior results but also save you time and energy.

Watch Now: How to Remove Hard Water Stains in a Toilet

how to clean a toilet
The Spruce

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Rubber gloves
  • Toilet brush
  • Eye protection

Materials

  • Toilet cleaner
  • All-purpose spray cleaner
  • Paper towels or cloths

Instructions

  1. Gather Supplies and Prepare the Area

    Start by removing everything from around your toilet—cleaning a toilet can be a messy job, and there's always the chance of splashing cleaner or water outside of the actual toilet. Prevent extra cleanup by removing all excess items from around the toilet and on the tank lid. Don't forget to remove anything on top of the tank to prevent dropping items into the bowl during cleaning.

    Supplies to effectively clean a toilet
    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
  2. Flush and Add Cleaning Solution

    Put on rubber gloves before beginning any work. Flush the toilet with the lid down to prevent splashing or spraying. Add your choice of powdered, liquid, or gel cleanser into the toilet bowl, applying as close to the toilet rim as possible to prevent the cleanser from being diluted.

    Add cleaning solution to the toilet bowl before flushing
    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
  3. Clean the Exterior of the Toilet

    After the cleansing solution soaks into the toilet grime in the bowl and you flush it away, clean the outside of the toilet with a bathroom cleaner that is strong enough to disinfect as well.

    Start at the top to prevent dripping on already clean surfaces. Spray the tank, handle, and tank edges and wipe them all down. Next, do the outside lid of the toilet. Finally, wipe down the entire outside of the bowl. Start with the sides and front before cleaning the bottom edges of the toilet where it meets the floor.

    Now is also a good time to quickly mop the floor around the toilet, which may also be dirty.

    clean the exterior of the toilet
    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
  4. Clean the Toilet Seat

    The toilet seat should never be neglected. After all, it's the part of the toilet that comes into actual contact with people, and it needs to be cleaned thoroughly. Raise the seat, spraying the seat, inside lid, and the rim of the toilet with bathroom cleaner. Wipe down the lid, seat, and hinges at the back of the toilet seat.

    Some toilets have hinges that will pop open to allow better access for cleaning. Wipe the entire seat with a cloth moistened with clean water to remove any traces of bleach or chemicals from the sitting surface.

    use a cleaning solution and paper towel to clean the toilet seat
    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
  5. Clean the Inside of the Toilet Bowl

    Begin cleaning the bowl from the top down. Always begin scrubbing under the rim first. Look under the rim to get all the stains and grime scrubbed away. Next, scrub the bowl with the toilet brush, including the drain hole opening at the bottom of the toilet bowl. Flush the toilet with the lid down.

    If the toilet bowl has brown or reddish rust or mineral stains, you can clean the porcelain with baking soda or a commercial product, such as Lime-Away or Rust-Away. Some people suggest pouring a can of cola into the bowl, scrubbing and rinsing, then mixing vinegar into the toilet bowl water to dissolve any remaining stains. Either way, make sure you have flushed the toilet first before working on rust stains, as the rust-cleaning products may react with the chemicals in the general-purpose cleaner. Flush the bowl with the lid down after this scrubbing, as well.

    use a toilet brush to clean the inside of the toilet bowl
    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
  6. Clean Up the Surrounding Area

    To finish up, clean up any drips of cleanser or water that may have occurred, put away tools and trash, and replace any items you removed on or around the toilet.

    clean up and put tools away when finished
    The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija

Warning

  • Wear eye protection when cleaning a toilet. Most cleaning products have bleach and other chemicals that can irritate or damage your eyes, and eye protection will prevent you from splattering toilet water and cleaner. You may also want to use protective rubber or latex gloves to prevent contact with your hands. Whenever flushing the toilet, keep the seat lid down to prevent splattering and splashing.
  • If possible, do not use sponges when you scrub a toilet. Damp sponges provide a perfect environment for breeding bacteria. If you must, experts advise sterilizing sponges by placing them into a microwave oven for 30 seconds or so while damp, as heat generally kills all pathogens. Paper towels are a great option because they can be thrown away. If you use reusable cloths, wash them immediately in their own load in hot water with bleach.
  • Avoid toilet bowl cleaner tablets or disks, like the kind that's dropped into the tank or hangs inside the rim of the bowl. These products can contain chemicals that damage porcelain and, if you have pets, there is a danger that they may drink the chemical-laden water.
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Kamboj A, Spiller HA, Casavant MJ, Kistamgari S, Chounthirath T, Smith GA. Household cleaning product-related ocular exposures reported to the United States poison control centres. Eye (Lond). 2020, doi:10.1038/s41433-019-0691-9