Guest Author - Kathryn Weber

Cleaning toilets. It's not a fun job, but someone's got to do it. The problem is that most everybody does it, it's just that a lot of them just do it wrong. Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way to clean toilets. And, there's a lot more to cleaning toilets than just what meets the eye.

Toilet Vs. Toilet Bowl
If you went by what you saw on the TV in commercials and on shows -- and found on the Internet judging by what I found when I searched on "how to clean the toilet" -- the only thing that mattered when it comes to cleaning toilets is the bowl.

That's short sighted, and doing only that won't give you a truly clean toilet. And, let's face it: You don't sit in the bowl, you sit on the seat and that's where you want it to be really clean.

So when it comes to cleaning the commode, it's more important for the outside to be clean than the inside. That's because there are two important distinctions when it comes to cleaning toilets: healthy clean and looking clean.

Healthy Clean and Looking Clean: Knowing the difference
Toilets by their nature are nasty. In particular, the toilet bowl. So, trying to "sterilize" it is a waste of time. Instead, you should aim for keeping its appearance clean, because it will never truly be "disinfected."

What should be "healthy clean"? That's the toilet itself. This includes the seat, lid, the tank, the rim, the handle and the outside of the commode. This is where you sit, touch, and basically, "interact" with the toilet. It's also where you can do some actual disinfection, although it won't last for long -- especially if you never close the lid when you flush. (Leaving the lid up sends bacteria particles all over the place, so always put the lid down when you flush.)

One Billion Flushes and Sparkling Fresh: Are tank cleaners worth it?
Don't be lulled into thinking you can plunk a tablet into the tank and all your toilet worries are over. Frankly, some things in life just need to be scrubbed. Six year olds' knees and toilets are two of those things. Clean water is all you get with tank toilet cleaners, so save your money. Also, if your pets drink out of the toilet, you could just poison them. Forget tank tablets and use elbow grease instead.

Toilet Cleaning Supply List

Eye protection. Goggles, glasses, to protect your eyes from chemicals and splatters.

Stiff bristle brush with storage container. Forget those wimpy soft brushes that don't actually scrub and go with a stiff bristle brush whose brush and bristles are all-plastic. Brushes that have bristles poking out of twisted wire may be cost-effective, but they can scratch your toilet and permanently damage it. The container can be a cheap plastic vase, or it can be one of those brush/container combinations. You just want to have something to put a damp brush into.

Rubber gloves. Who wants to touch all that? Keep your hands clean and use gloves.

Paper towels. These are for cleaning the exterior of the toilet. No sponges allowed. Sponges spread disease around and no one knows if a sponge has been used on a toilet. You wouldn't want that sponge to go elsewhere in the household.

Non-abrasive cleansing powder or toilet cleaner. My favorite is Comet brand powdered cleanser because it won't scratch, but it still provides some abrasion for scrubbing. Or, choose your favorite brand.

Spray cleaner. This, again, is your preference, so go with whatever brand you like best.

Bleach spray. I like to keep some of this on hand in case there is an incident of sickness in the house, such as stomach virus, diarrhea, etc. Otherwise, for routine cleaning, I don't normally use bleach. Why pollute every time you clean? Save it for occasional use as needed.

How-to Steps for Cleaning the Toilet

Step 1: Clear the area. When you want to clean the toilet, begin by removing everything around it, such as items on the tank, lid covers, and mats around the base of the toilet.

Step 2: Flush the commode and add cleanser.Put the lid down first, then flush. Then, raise the lid and sprinkle your cleanser as close to the rim as possible, or squirt liquid cleaner by the rim or under it. Don't put cleaner into the water or you will dilute your cleaner's power. By flushing the commode first, you will add enough water so that you can create a paste with your cleansing powder.

Step 3: Begin brushing the bowl. With your eye protection on, start as always in cleaning, from the top down. Scrub under the rim first, followed by the bowl, and then finally, the trap or hole at the bottom of the commode. Be sure to look under the rim to make sure you scrubbed it clean and there are no remaining stains.

Step 4: Put the lid down with the brush under it and flush. This will help your brush drain excess water and will help to clean the toilet of the cleanser. It's important that you don't let powdered cleansers sit in the bowl or they may accumulate at the bottom. If you are using another type of cleaner, follow the recommended directions.

Step 5: Clean the exterior of the toilet -- starting at the top. Spray the exterior of the toilet with your cleaning spray. Then, with several paper towels, begin at the top again by wiping down the tank and handle, followed by the outside of the lid. Next, wipe down the entire bowl area, such as sides, front, and where the toilet meets the floor. If you do all this, you won't have those nasty cobwebs and dust collecting around the base of the toilet. It will always be sparkly fresh.

Step 6: Clean the seat, rim, and inside lid. Besides the bowl, these are the nastiest parts of the commode and should be cleaned last. Raise the seat and remove your brush. Spray the seat, inside lid and rim with cleaner and then wipe clean with paper towels, starting at lid, then seat, then paper towels. Pay special attention to the area behind the hinges next to the tank. This gets grimy and may need to be worked at to get scrum and filth that accumulates around the hinges. When finished, throw paper towels away.

Now, you should have a truly clean toilet and one that anybody would be proud to sit on!

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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Calender -- the calendar that helps you end the power struggle with your house. Keeping a clean home is about knowing what to clean when. Virtually everything that needs to be cleaned is on this calendar in a year-round cleaning schedule that helps you keep your house clean easier and faster. Click here for more information.