Keeping the bathroom clean and fresh is important for many people. But conventional cleaning products often contain chemical ingredients. And these not only strain our health but also the environment. DIY toilet cleaners are a natural and cost-effective alternative. In this article you will learn how to make a DIY toilet cleaner yourself, which ingredients are suitable for it and how to apply it correctly to keep your bathroom hygienically clean.
Why DIY toilet cleaners?
Making a toilet cleaner with few ingredients has many advantages. Besides the fact that DIY toilet cleaners are often cheaper, they contain no aggressive chemicals that enter the wastewater. Conventional toilet cleaners often contain harmful substances such as chlorine, ammonia or synthetic fragrances that can burden both the environment and health. With a homemade toilet cleaner you reduce this impact and opt for an environmentally friendly alternative. Another advantage is that you can adjust the ingredients so the cleaner is perfectly tailored to your needs.
The best ingredients for DIY toilet cleaners
To produce an effective DIY toilet cleaner you need only a few ingredients you may already have at home. However, one important preliminary note: Please check in advance which materials are generally suitable or not suitable for your toilet and must therefore not be used. Information on this is provided by the toilet’s manufacturer.
Here are the best natural ingredients for making a toilet cleaner:
- Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda): Baking soda is a versatile cleaning agent that neutralizes odors, dissolves stains and is known for its mild abrasive effect. It helps loosen deposits and dirt in the toilet.
- Vinegar: Vinegar is an effective home remedy against limescale and has antibacterial properties. Vinegar cleans the toilet thoroughly and at the same time provides a fresh scent.
- Citric acid: Citric acid effectively removes limescale and stubborn deposits. It is particularly suitable for toilets where the water is very hard.
- Essential oils: Essential oils such as tea tree oil, lemon oil or lavender oil have antibacterial properties and give the DIY toilet cleaner a pleasant scent.
These ingredients can be easily combined and offer a cost-effective and natural alternative to conventional toilet cleaners.
DIY toilet cleaner: recipes and instructions
There are different ways to make a toilet cleaner yourself. Below we present two simple recipes that you can try depending on your needs.
Recipe 1: Toilet Tabs with Baking Soda and Citric Acid
DIY toilet tabs are practical and easy to use. They can be used like conventional cleaning tablets and are quick to produce.
Ingredients:
- 300 g baking soda
- 100 g citric acid powder
- 1 tbsp water
- 10–15 drops of essential oil (e.g., tea tree oil or lemon oil)
Instructions:
- Mix the baking soda and citric acid powder in a bowl.
- Add the water slowly and mix well. The mixture should be slightly damp but not too wet.
- Add the essential oil and combine until a uniform consistency is achieved.
- Form small balls or press the mixture into an ice cube tray. Wear gloves, a mask and safety goggles while doing so.
- Allow the tabs to dry for at least 24 hours before using them.
Usage: Throw one tab into the toilet bowl and let it work for a few minutes. Then scrub the toilet with the brush and flush.
Recipe 2: Liquid Toilet Cleaner with Vinegar and Lemon Juice
A liquid toilet cleaner is particularly suitable for regular cleaning and is effective against limescale deposits and dirt.
Ingredients:
- 200 ml vinegar (e.g., household vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
- 100 ml lemon juice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 10–15 drops of essential oil (e.g., eucalyptus oil or lavender oil)
Instructions:
- Pour the vinegar and lemon juice into a spray bottle.
- Add the baking soda and essential oil and shake the bottle gently.
- Be careful not to shake the bottle vigorously, as baking soda can react with vinegar.
Usage: Spray the cleaner into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few minutes. Then clean the toilet with a brush as usual.
Recipe 3: Liquid toilet cleaner with citric acid and dishwashing liquid
An DIY toilet cleaner made from corn starch and dishwashing liquid is also a simple method to remove stubborn dirt and limescale deposits. The combination of corn starch and dishwashing liquid ensures good adhesion to the toilet walls and makes cleaning easier.
Ingredients:
- 600 ml cold water
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tbsp biodegradable dishwashing liquid (e.g. Sodasan dishwashing liquid Lavender & Mint)
- 2 tbsp citric acid
- Optional: 10–15 drops essential oil (e.g. tea tree oil or lemon oil) for a fresh scent
Instructions:
- Boil 100 ml of water and let it cool. Put the remaining 500 ml of water into a small pot and add the corn starch. Stir the mixture well so the corn starch dissolves.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat until it thickens slightly. This takes about 1–2 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent lumps.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
- Dissolve the citric acid in the 100 ml of boiled and cooled water, stirring until the crystals have dissolved.
- Then add the dishwashing liquid to the citric acid mixture. Add that mixture to the pot with the water–corn starch mixture. Stir everything well. Optionally add a few drops of essential oil.
- Pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle or another empty bottle.
Application:
- Spray or pour the DIY toilet cleaner generously into the toilet bowl, paying particular attention to heavily soiled areas.
- Let the mixture sit for about 10–15 minutes so it can loosen limescale and dirt.
- Scrub the toilet with a toilet brush and then rinse thoroughly with water.
Thanks to the corn starch, this cleaner adheres better to the toilet walls and helps remove deposits thoroughly.
Tips for using DIY toilet cleaner
To achieve the best cleaning result, you should observe a few application tips. Always let the cleaner sit for a few minutes before scrubbing with the brush so that limescale and deposits can loosen. For stubborn soiling you can sprinkle baking soda (Natron) directly into the toilet bowl and pour vinegar over it. This combination produces a chemical reaction that breaks down the dirt and keeps the toilet clean and fresh. Use the DIY toilet tabs once a week for a thorough cleaning and the liquid cleaner for daily maintenance.
Benefits of a homemade toilet cleaner
A DIY toilet cleaner offers many benefits. In addition to reducing plastic waste, you also save money, since the ingredients are generally inexpensive and often found in the kitchen. The option to add essential oils also allows you to give the bathroom a personalized scent. Another advantage is flexibility, because you can adjust the ingredients as you like and tailor your cleaner to the specific requirements of your household.
DIY toilet cleaner for the environment
Homemade toilet cleaners rely on a small number of ingredients. Most DIY cleaners are biodegradable and contain no synthetic fragrances or preservatives that could enter the environment. Avoiding single-use packaging and reusing bottles or containers also helps reduce household plastic waste. Using a DIY toilet cleaner therefore contributes to sustainability.
Conclusion
A DIY toilet cleaner is a simple, cost-effective way to keep the bathroom clean and fresh. With a few ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and citric acid, you can produce effective and sustainable cleaning agents that keep the bathroom hygienically clean. Try it and discover the benefits of a DIY toilet cleaner tailored precisely to your needs. And if you currently have no time or inclination to make a toilet cleaner yourself, you can find sustainable toilet cleaners here (also available in bulk) from the companies AlmaWin, Sodasan and Sonett.