Cleaning the toilet …

It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it. If that someone is you, here are some simple steps to follow to get the job done right.

1. Gather your supplies:

• Protective eye goggles
• Gloves
• Toilet brush, scrub brush, or pad scrubber
• Cleanser and disinfectant of choice
• Rags or paper towels

2. Prep the toilet:

• Remove items that may be on the tank lid to prevent them from accidentally falling.
• Remove items on the floor around the toilet.
• Lower the water level in the toilet bowl by turning off the water supply valve and then flushing the toilet.

3. Clean and disinfect the exterior of the toilet:

• Using your disinfectant of choice (vinegar, bleach, or other commercially-available product), wipe down the entire outside of the toilet — top and sides of tank, top and bottom of lid, top and bottom of seat, all sides of base.
• Scrub heavily soiled areas as needed.

4. Clean the toilet bowl:

• Wearing protective eye goggles and gloves, apply your cleanser of choice.
• Starting up under the rim, scrub the entire bowl with a toilet brush, scrub brush, or pad scrubber.
• Pay special attention to the water line where stains can develop.
• Turn the water supply valve back on, and flush the toilet to rinse the bowl after it is clean.
• Wipe down the exterior of the toilet again if any cleanser or water from the bowl splashed out when you were cleaning.

5. Clean the floor around the toilet:

• Scrub the floor around the toilet with your floor cleaner of choice.
• Rinse with a mixture of vinegar and hot water.

Remember to clean the toilets in guest bathrooms or other unused areas of your home as well as those in the commonly used bathrooms.

To keep your toilet cleaner in between these thorough cleanings, periodically pour 1-2 cups of white vinegar in the bowl and let it sit overnight, then flush in the morning.

Cleaning a toilet is one of the necessary cleaning tasks that help keep your home safe and your family healthy. We suggest thoroughly cleaning a toilet at least once a week, more often if it is noticeably dirty.

Do you have any tips or suggestions to add? Please leave a comment below!

Until next time … Keep it clean!