Works For Me Wednesday: frugal bowl cleaner

By mudlark • July 18th, 2007

Truth be told, toilet bowl cleaners are nothing more than marketing genius. Those porcelain thrones get special attention due to the special nature of the ‘nature’ that happens there. Companies have played on our sensibilities (and sense of smell…) long enough.

What they’re really selling is: a fun shaped bottle; chemicals to alter the way your nose senses smell (they call them ’scents,’ but really they just trick your nose); more chemicals to make it ‘cling’; still more chemicals to allow you to see where it clings. Other than that, it’s just regular all-purpose cleaner. In fact, your regular all-purpose cleaner will do the job just fine.

So next time you run out of toilet bowl cleaner, don’t run to the store to replenish your supplies. Your potty can be perfectly clean without it. And don’t give in to those ’sanitary’ flush-able disposable toilet cleaners (they don’t work; they literally assault and kill all the good things that help your nose work the way it should; and they’re rotten for the environment and your house too.) They’re not even sanitary – they just give the illusion.

My favorite toilet bowl cleaner? Buy one of those kitchen shakers – I like the kind that you would use to sprinkle flour on the counter before you roll out a pie crust (yes, a little assumption there that you do roll out pie crusts – but if you don’t maybe you’d use one to sprinkle powdered sugar over your store-bought pound cake), but a regular salt shaker works fine too. Fill it with Borax (20 Mule Team brand Borax is sold at most grocery stores with the powdered detergents) and sprinkle some into your toilet bowl at night. The next morning give it a little swish-swish, making sure to get up around the underside of the rim, and you’re good to go!

Need to tackle it fast before your guests make their way from their car to your front door? Sprinkle the borax, pour in a healthy splash of vinegar or lemon juice, and swish until the doorbell rings.

Comments(6) Bathroom, Cleaning tips

Comments

By Lana G! on July 18th, 2007 at 6:08 am

Love it! Love your site. Love the title – Definitely going into the favorites!

By April on July 18th, 2007 at 7:52 am

I will definitely have to try this – I try to not have so many cleaners around the house with little ones underfoot! thanks for the tip.

By T with Honey on July 18th, 2007 at 8:23 am

Thanks! Just last night we were and Target when Honey remembered that we were out of toilet cleaner. I went over, checked ingredients and prices and couldn’t bring myself to pick one up. After staring at bottles for a few seconds I wandered back over and asked if it would be OK if I simply tried using the all-purpose cleaner we have at home. Now I’m a little more confident about my decision.

By Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry on July 18th, 2007 at 3:57 pm

I love this idea! Now, if I can just remember to do it every day or so, then no worries!

By Lisa on July 18th, 2007 at 9:31 pm

This is great – I’ve been looking for a ‘natural’ toilet bowl cleaner for a couple of months now. Thanks!

By Jennifer, Snapshot on July 23rd, 2007 at 11:35 am

Love this tip. Thanks.