9 Tips to Clean Your Toilet Without a Brush
Whether you’re missing cleaning supplies or avoiding unsanitary tools, here are effective ways to clean your toilet without a brush. Put on gloves and try these alternatives.
Dislodge Gunk with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar are powerhouse cleaners on their own. Baking soda provides the gentle abrasiveness to scrub away grime, while vinegar’s high acid content breaks down dirt and deodorizes. Combined, baking soda and vinegar create a foaming action that can help clean the inside of a toilet bowl.
Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the sides of the toilet bowl above the water line. Then, pour white distilled vinegar directly over it and shut the toilet’s lid. Allow the mixture to fizz for ten minutes before flushing.
Spot Clean with an Old Toothbrush
There will be some instances where scrubbing your toilet is required. If you’re not a fan of brushes that sit in a caddy filled with germ-infested water, opt for an old toothbrush. Put on rubber gloves, scrub the toilet with the toothbrush, disinfect it with bleach, or toss it in the trash.
Flush the Toilet A lot
Preventing the toilet from getting too dirty goes a long way when you don’t have a toilet bowl brush. Do this by flushing a lot to prevent buildup.
Dump in a Pot of Boiling Water
Help kill germs and dislodge buildup by dumping a pot of boiling water in your toilet bowl. Aim to get the water on the sides of the bowl near the rim. You can also do this before scrubbing with an old toothbrush to help loosen grime.
Wipe it Down with Paper Towels
Put on gloves, spray the inside of the toilet bowl with cleaner, and wipe it down with paper towels. Do this at least once per week to prevent the toilet from accumulating too much gunk.
Fill the Toilet Bowl With Ice
Fill the toilet bowl so that ice is well above the water level—squirt toilet bowl cleaner on the ice and under the rim of the toilet. As the ice slowly melts, it will flush out dirt and grime. Flush the toilet once the ice is fully melted.
Let Toilet Bowl Tablets Do the Work
Drop-in toilet cleaner tablets (like bleach tablets or enzymatic cleaners) help reduce grime over time. They’re not a deep-cleaning solution but help with maintenance when you can’t scrub regularly.
Use a Plastic Bag Over Your Hand
As a last resort, you can wrap your gloved hand (or bare hand) in a thick plastic bag, apply cleaner to the bowl, and scrub manually. Throw the bag away immediately after use.
Keep a Spray Bottle of Vinegar Handy
Spraying vinegar around the toilet bowl regularly (daily or every few flushes) can help break down stains and slow buildup between deeper cleans.