How to Clean a Toilet in Record Time

Before getting started, you may want to take precautions by donning some safety equipment, says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dustbusters, a family-owned and operated janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. "Safety glasses and gloves should be worn dependent upon the type of cleaner utilized," Biddle says. "Many cleaners are acidic based and cause eye and skin irritation."

Place the tip of the bottle of your toilet cleaner underneath the rim and apply the cleaner generously around the toilet bowl. Make sure to apply enough so that the cleaner runs down the sides of the bowl, then close the bowl and let it sit for up to 10 minutes.

While waiting for the cleaner to work on your toilet bowl, apply a spray cleaner all over the outside of your toilet and wipe it down with your paper towel or rag. If you have a toilet with a quick-release seat, you can also take the seat out and clean it separately.  

Spray on your cleaner, paying more attention to areas on the toilet that get touched regularly, like the flushing handle and the seat. If the cleaner contains a disinfectant, leave it to sit for the amount of time recommended on the bottle.

For hard-to-reach areas like the toilet seat hinge, you can use a toothbrush to make cleaning easier. Once you’re done, wipe off the cleaner with a paper towel or rag.

Use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl, applying firm pressure to any areas that may have stubborn stains. Concentrate your scrubbing along the edges of the toilet bowl and in the drain. Once you’ve finished scrubbing, close the toilet seat and flush. Keeping the seat closed prevents any particles from escaping during a toilet flush into the air.

Keep your toilet brush clean by covering it with disinfecting spray and leaving it to sit for a few minutes. Then, rinse it with hot water in your shower or tub and spray the toilet brush basin to ensure your brush stays clean.

For a sparkling clean toilet, clean it at least once a week. The number of times you’ll need to clean it depends on how much use your toilet gets, so you may need to increase it to twice or three times per week if you have a big family, frequent houseguests, or work from home. 

Clean the exterior, handle, and seat once a day with a cleaning and disinfecting spray if more than one person uses the toilet. This regular cleaning ensures that your toilet stays looking and feeling clean.