How to Clean Your Toilet with Little Effort

Sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria, and because of their porous nature it’s hard not to feel like the germs are spreading even as you’re using it. After you’re done, nobody wants to touch the sponge that cleaned the toilet, now or the next time it needs to be cleaned. Instead, use disinfecting wipes (separate ones for each section of the toilet) to quickly wipe down the seat, cover, and tank, and then toss them in the garbage never to be seen again.

There are lots of products on the market that claim to be the best at making your toilet sparkle, but some of the most effective ones were originally intended for other purposes and don’t contain the potent chemicals that typical cleaners do. Try dropping one or two denture or Alka-Seltzer tabs into the toilet. Let them dissolve and then give the bowl a quick scrub with your toilet brush – or sprinkle baking soda into the bowl and let sit for 20 minutes before quickly scrubbing it. A less conventional method is to use orange flavored Kool-Aid, which contains citric acid that helps break down the grime. Pour a packet of it into the bowl and let it sit overnight or for a few hours during the day, and then give it a scrub with your toilet brush.

The biggest trick to making toilet cleaning as effortless as possible is to do it frequently. Avoiding the buildup of germs and grime makes the job much easier and means you won’t have to scrub too hard to get it clean. Do a quick wipe down twice a week, and give the bowl a light scrub with your cleaner of choice at least once a week so the job never gets too cumbersome.