How to Clean a Toilet Thoroughly
A quick toilet clean — spray and wipe the visible parts — misses the most bacteria-laden surfaces. A thorough toilet clean covers everything: bowl, under the rim, tank, seat (all surfaces), hinges, base, and the floor around it.
Supplies
- Toilet bowl cleaner (gel or liquid — gel clings to the sides better)
- Toilet brush
- Disinfectant spray
- Rubber gloves
- Microfibre cloths (separate from your surface cloths)
- Old toothbrush for hinges
Step-by-Step
- Apply bowl cleaner first — squirt under the rim all the way around and let it run down. Leave it for at least 5–10 minutes while you clean everything else. The dwell time is what does the work. Starting with the bowl lets the cleaner soak while you tackle other surfaces.
- Spray the exterior — spray the outside of the bowl, tank, seat (top and bottom), lid (top and bottom), and hinges with disinfectant spray. Let it dwell 2 minutes.
- Wipe the seat and lid — wipe top and bottom of both the lid and seat. The underside of the seat accumulates splash residue and dust. Wipe hinges with a damp cloth or toothbrush — these are almost never cleaned and collect significant grime.
- Wipe the tank — wipe lid, then sides of the tank. The flush handle or button is high-touch: wipe it with disinfectant.
- Wipe the bowl exterior — wipe the outside of the bowl, then the base. The base accumulates significant bacteria from floor splashing. Wipe around the base seal at the floor level.
- Clean the floor around the toilet — the floor within about 12 inches of the toilet accumulates bacteria from aerosol flush spray. Wipe or mop this area every time you clean the toilet, not just during full floor cleans.
- Scrub the bowl — by now the bowl cleaner has been dwelling for 5+ minutes. Scrub under the rim first (this is where bacteria and mineral deposits concentrate), then the sides of the bowl, working down to the drain hole. Flush.
Mineral Stains in the Bowl
Brown or rust-coloured staining in the bowl (common in Toronto homes on older plumbing) is mineral deposit, not dirt. Regular bowl cleaner won't remove it. Use:
- Bar Keepers Friend powder applied directly to the stains and scrubbed — very effective
- Or pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bowl and let sit overnight — the acid dissolves mineral deposits
- For severe staining: Pumice stone (Pumie toilet ring remover) used wet, rubbed gently on the stain
Under-Rim Jets
The small holes under the toilet rim (siphon jets) accumulate mineral buildup that reduces flush power over time. Use a bent wire or old toothbrush to clear debris from each hole, combined with vinegar dwell time to dissolve mineral deposits.
Thorough toilet cleaning is part of every Maidless clean. Book at maidless.ca.