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Unexpected Household Staples That Can (& Can't) Clean Your Toilet
By DONNA ROLANDO
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or any other soda, can banish stubborn rust and other stains in your toilet because it contains both carbonic and phosphoric acids, a product of carbonation.
Start with the rim and let the cola flow to cover all the stains. For die-hard residue, boost the soda’s power by warming it in the microwave and soaking the stains overnight.
White Vinegar
Apply white vinegar with about 5% acidity or diluted apple cider vinegar to the stains. Its acetic acid helps eliminate dirt, mineral deposits, and bacteria.
Pour the vinegar on the sides and inside the bowl and wait about 30 minutes before cleaning. For hard water stains, try spot cleaning overnight with toilet paper soaked in vinegar.
Baking Soda
Baking soda has cleaning power that makes it an ingredient in many toothpastes, and the same properties also make it a perfect tool for cleaning and deodorizing toilets.
It eliminates debris, stains, and rings and can also be teamed up with castile soap and various essential oils to create a powerful concoction that keeps the toilet clean.
Pumice
Pumice is volcanic rock that is tough on toilet bowl rings. Soak the rock in warm water first, then with the stone and the bowl wet, gently scrub until the stains vanish.
It's recommended that the bowl should get the pumice stone treatment at least once a week. Be sure to wear rubber gloves for safety, and use toilet cleaning powder where needed.
Essential Oils
Studies determined that adding tea tree oil to cleaners at a 0.5% to 1.0% concentration will kill the most amount of bacteria. It can also fight viruses and fungi.
To use the oils to clean, mix 2 cups of baking soda and about 1 teaspoon of any disinfecting essential oil, then add ½ cup of 20% white vinegar directly into the toilet bowl.