“We all want impeccable, bright white toilets. When it comes to cleaning them, how many of us make a useless… or even dangerous move? Let’s take a look.
Every week, it’s the same old story: we have to do the cleaning and tackle the dreaded task of cleaning the toilet. Whether you’re a neat freak or not, many of you are still using a product that is supposedly ideal for keeping the bottom of the bowl white, namely bleach. However, this product is not at all suitable for this purpose. Nor for the kitchen, by the way (video above). Let us explain.
**Why Bleach Doesn’t Clean Toilets:**
Bleach is a disinfectant and a whitener but not a cleaner. When you pour bleach into the toilet, it will whiten the bottom of the bowl and disinfect the area. Do you think you’ve won the battle against dirt? Think again; the operation is only temporary and may have created toxic fumes. If the bottom of the bowl is not white, it’s because limescale has deposited there, and dirt clings to it. Bleach has no cleaning or anti-limescale action. If your toilet looks clean, it is actually only “whitened” by the bleach. Upon the first use, they will get dirty again. To clean the toilet, it is essential to tackle the limescale, remove it, and prevent its reappearance.
**How to Remove Limescale in Toilets:**
There are two natural, inexpensive, and effective products against limescale: vinegar and baking soda. Both of them attack limescale deposits and loosen them from the ceramic surface of the toilet. When mixed with baking soda, which foams and accelerates the process, they are most effective in removing limescale from the bowl. We recommend making your own toilet tablets using baking soda and citric acid. Left at the bottom of the bowl overnight, they often do the job with limescale. If the bottom of your toilet is covered with a thick layer of limescale, you may need to use gloves and steel wool to get rid of it. Make it easier by pouring a cup of white vinegar heated in the microwave for a minute, along with half a cup of baking soda or citric acid, and let it work as long as possible. Once the limescale is removed, a weekly maintenance routine with toilet tablets for the bowl and a cleaning product like black soap for the rest is usually sufficient. If your water is particularly hard, you may need to take action twice a week.”
Moreover, if you use white vinegar (which is often recommended) to remove limescale, a drain cleaner, or any other cleaning product, never use bleach! Vinegar is an acid, acetic acid to be precise, and most cleaning products are acidic as well. Bleach + acid = danger.
