How to Clean a Toilet Effectively

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Cleaning a toilet may seem like a no-brainer, but there is a difference between cleaning a toilet for appearance and cleaning a toilet effectively for health. Follow these steps to take satisfaction in knowing your commodes are the cleanest on the block!

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Rubber kitchen gloves
Disinfecting toilet bowl cleaner
Toilet brush
Disinfecting spray or wipes
Paper towels

Step1

Prepare yourself. Gather all your cleaning tools. Open the windows if you are sensitive to cleaning fumes or if you plan to be working in the bathroom for a while.

Step2

Dive in! Put on your gloves and then lift the toilet lid and seat. Pour into the toilet bowl the amount of toilet bowl cleaner recommended on the bottle. Aim for the surface of the bowl, not the water. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes. If you are cleaning more than one toilet, go ahead and do this step for each toilet so you don't have to wait 10 minutes for each.

Step3

Scrub in. Using the toilet brush, scrub around the bowl, in the base of the toilet, then concentrate underneath the rim. If necessary, use more toilet cleaner for stubborn spots.

Step4

Flush away the toxins. Flush the toilet, letting the toilet brush dangle in the bowl while still holding on to it. As the bowl fills back up with fresh water, rinse the brush. Remove the brush and return in to its stand. Give the toilet one final flush.

Step5

Focus on the outside. Using the spray disinfectant and paper towels or disinfecting wipes, wipe down all outer surfaces, concentrating on areas that are especially germy, such as the handle, the seat and the lid. Allow the disinfectant to remain on the surfaces for 10 minutes to be sure all the germs are killed.

Step6

Wash your hands. With the gloves still on your hands, use an antibacterial soap and warm water to wash the gloves as if you were washing your bare hands. Remove them and allow them to air dry. Now wash your bare hands and give the soap dispenser a wash to remove any germs transferred from the gloves.