Toilet cleaning is not top of the list of favoured cleaning chores for many of us, if indeed any are! However, a hygienic toilet is important and there are right and wrong ways of cleaning it:
Cleaning a toilet, the right way:
Be sure to clear everything away from the toilet before you begin, including any items stored on the cistern, as you don’t want to splash any cleaning solutions or toilet water onto anything else. Then:
Flush the toilet and add a cleaning solution
Put the lid down and flush the toilet first, before adding your preferred cleaning solution to the bowl. While you can use any solution that works best for you, it’s important that it can banish germs and bacteria so that your toilet is not just clean, but hygienically clean. Don’t forget to add some cleaner under the rim, which can be a breeding ground for germs.
Clean the toilet on the outside
Leave the cleaning solution to work on the inside of the toilet, while you tackle the exterior. Begin at the top and spray the tank, handle and any edges with an anti-bacterial cleaner, then wipe it all down with a clean sponge or cloth. Move on to the outside lid of the toilet and wipe down the entire bowl.
Clean the seat of the toilet
This part of the toilet should never be neglected, since it is the one area that gets the most direct human contact. Lift the lid and spray the seat liberally, the inside of the lid and the rim of the toilet. Wipe the lid and seat and don’t forget about the hinges at the back of the seat. Afterwards, be sure to wipe the set thoroughly with a clean cloth or sponge and using simply clean water, to eliminate any traces of cleaning solution which could be harmful if skin touches it.
Finally, clean the inside of the toilet bowl
Start at the top and work your way down. Scrub under the rim and be sure to do this thoroughly as some stains will be tough to remove without a lot of scrubbing. While it may look clean if you’re looking down at it, once you bend down and look properly under the rim, you’ll often see many stains that are potential breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.
Then scrub the bowl and the drain hole at the bottom of the bowl, before flushing the toilet again with the lid down. If the toilet bowl is covered with brown or reddish rust or mineral stains, then you may need to use a commercial cleaning solution designed specifically for this purpose. Many people recommend pouring cola into the toilet bowl, leaving it overnight before flushing the next morning to remove any stubborn stains.
Always wear gloves when cleaning a toilet to prevent harm to your skin from any of the chemicals and ensure that you use a clean sponge that can be discarded or washed thoroughly in bleach once you’ve finished. For more stubborn toilet cleaning jobs, consider hiring a professional to get it hygienically clean using their own methods and specialist cleaning tools.
