Ditch All The Chemicals With A Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner You Can Trust

There's no question that store-bought cleaners have their benefits. After all, it's much more convenient to grab a product off the shelf than it is to make it at home. However, all of those harsh chemicals in your toilet bowl cleaner may be doing more harm than good for your septic system, not to mention the strong fumes they leave behind. Homemade recipe expert Abbie Flake has come up with a non-toxic toilet bowl cleaner alternative and shared the simple ingredients in an Instagram video. All you need is Castile soap, baking soda, and tea tree oil or rubbing alcohol. Combine the concentrate with water, shake it up, and you're ready to go.

Not only will this eco-friendly solution leave your toilet squeaky clean, but it will also protect your pipes from corrosive chemicals. Though gentler than store-bought cleaners, these ingredients are just as tough on stains and bacteria. However, as with any product, there are certain precautions and considerations you should keep in mind before using them in your home. Let's dive into the steps and important details, so you can get your toilet sparkling with this natural cleaner.

To make the mixture, combine a ½-cup or full cup of liquid Castile soap, 4 tablespoons of baking soda, 4 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or 30 drops of tea tree oil, and dilute the concentrate with water. Shake to mix the ingredients and your homemade cleaner is ready for use. Instead of applying it with a toilet brush, a toilet cleaning tool that experts recommend ditching, use a dedicated sponge and rubber gloves for more precise cleaning and easier sanitizing without the lingering germs. Store the cleaner in a durable glass or metal container to preserve the contents.

When used in combination, these ingredients are tough on bacteria and stains. Castile soap is very concentrated and tackles dirt, grime, and grease when combined with water. Plus, it is biodegradable, gentle, and non-corrosive, making it safe to use on practically every surface in your home. If your primary goal is to lift stubborn stains from your toilet bowl, putting baking soda in your toilet can work wonders. Combine 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of white vinegar in the bowl and allow the solution to soak before rinsing or flushing it down.

It's worth mentioning that while rubbing alcohol is recommended as a non-corrosive alternative to traditional cleaning products, it can become unsafe for your plumbing system if used in excess. Vinegar is considered a more septic-safe alternative to rubbing alcohol and also has disinfecting benefits. Tea tree oil also has antibacterial properties but can be toxic for cats and dogs. Keep this in mind if your dog likes to sneak a drink from the toilet bowl once in a while.