What Happens If You Use Washing Soda To Clean Your Toilet? Here's What We Know

Yellow stains. Terrible odor. Mold. The truth is, no one enjoys doing business in a dirty, grimy toilet. According to experts, you should clean your toilet at least once a week. And don't concentrate on just the toilet seat. Pay attention to other surfaces, including your sink, shower, mirror, floor, and bathtub. A more frequent routine is advisable, especially if someone in the house is dealing with an infection. Even if you don't like cleaning your toilet — and most Americans don't — watching a toilet transform after some scrub work is often quite fulfilling. You'll feel like you deserve a Nobel.

Of course, you can use the 2-pack Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner, which sells on Amazon for $14 — or the many toilet-cleaning hacks out there. Still, you may have thought of trying washing soda, especially if you prefer natural products. The good news is that washing soda cleans the toilet well, mostly because it's good with grimy stuff, the kind that toilets are known to incubate. Although you should expect a fresh and sparkling space, you need to know how to use washing soda correctly. Let's dive in.

Depending on the brand, washing soda comes as white powder wrapped in a box, plastic container, or polythene bag. You'll simply open the container and pour a bit of the powder on the internal sides of your toilet seat. After this, scrub the sides with a toilet brush, then flush well for a sparkling rinse. For a larger surface, such as the floor, walls, and bathroom countertop, dissolve half a cup of washing soda in a gallon of water, preferably warm, scrub well with a brush, then rinse and leave to dry. You can use the same solution to clean the external sides of your toilet seat.

Is there anything else you can mix washing soda with? Yes — essential oils. If you're not cleaning your bathroom with essential oils, you're missing out. For example, tea tree oil contains Terpinen-4-ol, a phytochemical with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Plus, tree tee oil has anti-biofilm properties, meaning it can prevent bacteria communities from adhering to slimy surfaces. So, after pouring half a cup of washing soda into the toilet — particularly on the sides of the toilet bowl you want to scrub — squeeze some drops of your preferred essential oil, then pour half a cup of white vinegar. Give it time to mix and foam, then scrub gently with a toilet brush before flushing well for a glistening outcome.

Before using washing soda to clean your toilet, there are some precautions to consider. For instance, washing soda should not be used on certain surfaces, including surfaces made of fiberglass, whether sink, tile, or tub. The same holds for aluminum and waxed surfaces as it often reacts with these surfaces and, hence, can damage them. Also, don't confuse washing soda with baking soda. Although both come as white powders, washing soda is more alkaline, with a PH of about 11, compared with 8 for baking soda. Think of washing soda as a stronger version of baking soda.

Similarly, washing soda differs from Borax, which has a PH of 9, and Oxiclean, which is essentially hydrogen peroxide and washing soda. Remember, it's not just the toilet. Washing soda can be used to freshen towels and linens. Where can you get washing soda? The 55 oz box of ARM & HAMMER sells on Amazon for just $5.38. Finally, washing soda is also called soda ash or soda crystals, of course, depending on who is speaking.