A weekly trip to the bathroom to scrub the toilet bowl is a necessary, though not very enjoyable, task. On the other hand, you might be surprised to learn that several everyday products can be used to disinfect a toilet bowl. Some examples are Coca-Cola, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide.
Here are 10 completely outlandish solutions that actually work to disinfect toilet bowls. Don’t waste money on toxic and ineffective toilet cleaners before giving these a try.
Coca-Cola Cleanser
It might be hard to believe, but many people claim that Coke can remove rust rings from a toilet. To explain how: In order to remove stains from a bowl, pour an entire can of soda over the bowl’s rim and let it sit for at least an hour. Use the toilet brush and then flush the toilet. If this fails to work, move on to Tip No. 2.
Exfoliate Using a Pumice Stone
You can get rid of the ring inside the bowl with a pumice stone, which is an unusual but efficient method. For best results, soak the pumice in warm water before using it, and keep both the stone and the toilet bowl moist while you work. Remove the stain with a gentle scrub and a toilet flush.
Vinegar White Bowl Soap Bath
Most people use bleach to remove toilet stains and bacteria without knowing that regular white vinegar works well as a cleanser too. Toilet paper should be soaked in vinegar and placed immediately on hard water stains to remove them. Overnight, leave the paper covered in vinegar. If you flush to rinse the next morning, the stains should be gone.
When used at full power, vinegar works wonders on grout and caulk as well. Apply a solution with a spray bottle and wait at least an hour before rinsing it off.
Use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect
Hydrogen peroxide is a safe and effective germ killer, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A half cup of hydrogen peroxide in the toilet bowl left for 30 minutes, will kill any bacteria there.
A Homemade Fizzy Bomb for the Bathroom
Make your own “fizzes” or “bombs” to clean and deodorize your toilet, or purchase them. Create your own all-natural fizzy toilet bombs with simple kitchen ingredients like baking soda, citric acid, and your preferred scented oil.
Clean Chrome with Baby Oil
Baby oil works wonders on chrome; you won’t believe how shiny everything gets. A few drops on a soft cloth are all it takes to restore the shine to your toilet’s handle, as well as your faucets and showerhead. Buff the toilet tank and bowl till they shine by applying a few more drops.
Use of Nail Polish as a Rust Preventative
Protect the nuts and screws holding your toilet seat in place from corrosion by painting them with clear nail polish. There will be less of a chance of the seat moving about as a result of the screws loosening.
Unclogging Pipes with Boiling Water
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil and use the contents to unclog a toilet with no additional chemicals. Put the kettle on to boil and then carefully pour it into the toilet bowl to help break up the obstruction.
Reducing moisture buildup with bubble wrap
If your toilet tank sweats, try covering it with a sheet of bubble wrap. Before removing the tank cover, make sure the water supply to the toilet has been turned off. Put in a flush and wait for the tank to empty. After the tank is empty of water, line it with bubble wrap to prevent the exterior from freezing over during storage.
A Plastic Soda Bottle Conserves Water
There is a simple solution to save money and reduce water waste if your toilet is not a newer model with water-saving capabilities. Put a couple of inches worth of sand in the bottom of a one-liter plastic container, then fill it up with water. Put the bottle in your toilet tank, out of the way of the moving parts, and secure the lid. The bottle will prevent the tank from being overfilled with every flush, hence reducing water use.