Here are the six best toilet bowl cleaners our editors love.
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The 6 Best Toilet Cleaners, According to Editor Testing
Updated on Dec. 28, 2023
Let’s be real. Nobody enjoys cleaning a toilet—it’s a smelly breeding ground for bacteria and seems to be the one spot in the bathroom that gets the dirtiest fastest. But keeping toilets clean is a necessary chore to ensure you and your family stay healthy and hygienic, and the best toilet bowl cleaners can help make quick work of a gross task.
The best toilet cleaners are powerful, fast-working and germ-killing—bonus points if they also leave your bathroom smelling like fresh citrus or flowers. Choosing the right toilet bowl cleaners can help limit exposure to harmful bacteria and unpleasant odors. Below, we’ve compiled our favorite editor-tested toilet cleaners to help keep your bathroom sparkling clean.
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Best Overall Toilet Cleaner
Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner Clinging Bleach Gel
For a toilet cleaner from a brand known for killing germs, our top pick is Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel. It kills 99.9% of germs thanks to its disinfecting, bleach-infused gel formula. Plus, the gel formula clings to the toilet bowl longer than liquid formulas to help remove tough stains, mildew and mold.
Senior Shopping Editor Caitlyn Fitzpatrick says, “I never have to put much elbow grease into cleaning my toilet when I use this Clorox gel, and I appreciate that it doesn’t leave a lingering chemical-y, just-cleaned smell in my bathroom.”
We love that the Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel doesn’t leave a lingering chemical smell yet still works to eliminate odor-causing bacteria in your toilet. When you let this cleaning gel sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing, it has time to remove thick, stubborn messes and leaves your toilet bowl shinier and brighter.
Pros
- Kills 99.9% of germs
- Deep-cleaning gel formula stays in place while scrubbing
- Inexpensive
- Non-abrasive
- Easy-dispense nozzle
- Cool wave scent
Cons
- For extremely stubborn, set-in stains, you may need to add bleach or a product with higher bleach content
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Best Wand Toilet Cleaner
Clorox ToiletWand Disposable Toilet Cleaning Kit
The Clorox ToiletWand is a favorite of several editors, including Associate Shopping Editor Madi Koetting, who refuses to use traditional toilet bowl cleaners. “I mean, who wants a used or wet toilet brush sitting in their bathroom all day? I love the ease of use of this toilet cleaner and wand,” she says. “You just stick the wand on the cleaning pad, then dispose of it when you’re finished. The wand can be washed after each use, and I love that the part that does the actual cleaning isn’t hanging around in the bathroom for longer than its welcome.”
This ToiletWand starter kit on Amazon comes with one reusable wand, one caddy and six disposable scrubbing pads pre-loaded with Clorox cleaning agents, so you don’t have to add any additional toilet bowl cleaner.
In fact, the disposable pads are loaded with so much cleaner that I’ve used them to deep clean my sinks and faucets before moving onto the toilet bowl!
Pros
- Kills 99.9% of germs
- Disposable scrubbing pads eliminate lingering germs
- Pads are preloaded with Clorox cleaner
- Cleans hard-to-reach areas in toilet bowl
- Fresh scent
Cons
- More expensive than traditional toilet bowl cleaners
- Each scrubber is single-use
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Best Toilet Cleaner for Stains
Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel
Hard water isn’t just tough on your skin and nails; it can be rough on your toilets and sinks, too. Limescale buildup can lead to water rings and stains in your toilet bowl, which can be a pain to clean. Cue: Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel, comparable to our best overall toilet cleaner Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel.
“I’ve tried most of the toilet bowl cleaners in the cleaning aisle, but I keep returning to Lysol,” says Executive Editor Megan Wood. “It clings to the sides of the bowl and lifts hard water stains without hard scrubbing. The scent and blue color give me ‘I cleaned the bathroom’ satisfaction, but don’t make my eyes water.”
This toilet bowl cleaner not only lifts hard water stains but also kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
Pros
- Works on tough water stains
- Kills 99.9% of germs
- Deep-cleaning gel formula stays in place while scrubbing
- Inexpensive
- Easy-dispense nozzle
Cons
- Requires scrubbing
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Best Tablet Toilet Cleaner
Scrubbing Bubbles Drop-Ins Toilet Cleaning Tablets
If you’re looking for a hands-free toilet cleaner option, in-tank toilet tablets are a great “drop and forget” cleaning tool. The Scrubbing Bubbles Drop-Ins dissolve in the water in the tank at the back of your toilet and keep the bowl clean with every flush. We like to use in-tank tablets for keeping stains at bay in between deeper cleans that require a bit of elbow grease. They’ll also likely help cut down on the number of cleanings your toilet requires.
Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Tablets keep your toilet clean for up to four weeks per tablet, and they’re good for reducing hard water stains caused by limescale buildup. However, if you have a fur baby who likes to drink from the toilet, we don’t recommend using in-tank tablets.
Pros
- Easy, hands-free use
- Cleans toilet bowl with each flush
- Keeps toilet cleaner longer
- Provides odor protection in between cleans
Cons
- May not be good if you have pets that drink from the toilet
- Not a substitute for deep cleans
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Best All-Natural Toilet Cleaner
Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Most toilet bowl cleaners are made with heavy-duty cleaning agents to kill bacteria and germs. But if finding a toilet bowl cleaner formulated with plant-based ingredients is a priority, then the Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner is our top recommendation.
The eco-friendly solution is free from bleach and other harsh chemicals, the bottle is 100% recyclable, and the product is not tested on animals.
The Ecover Cleaner cleans well, too. It’s a liquid formula with a fresh pine scent from essential oils. It will work on stains, odors and calcification, but you may need some additional scrubbing power with this cleaner.
Pros
- Plant- and mineral-based formula
- Fresh pine scent
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- Pricey
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Best Automatic Toilet Cleaner
Lysol Click Gel Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
In addition to in-tank tablets, click-gel automatic toilet cleaners are another hands-free option. We love the Lysol Click Gel Cleaner because it keeps your toilet hygienic and odor-free for up to two weeks per application. All you have to do is dispense one gel tablet to the side of the toilet bowl using the applicator. Like in-tank tablets, toilet bowl gels clean and freshen your toilet with every flush. Click gels also aren’t really a substitute for scrubbing and deep cleaning your toilet. However, they will cut down on the number of cleanings your toilet requires.
We love the Mango & Hibiscus scent that keeps your bathroom smelling super fresh for days on end. We also love that Lysol has a whole Mango & Hibiscus line of cleaning products, including a liquid toilet bowl cleaner, all-purpose cleaning spray, disinfectant wipes and sanitizing spray. That way, you can streamline the fresh, clean scent of your bathroom from toilet to shower to counter.
Pros
- Easy-to-use click applicator
- Cleans toilet bowl with each flush
- Keeps toilet cleaner longer
- Provides odor protection in between cleans
- Mango-hibiscus scent is pleasant and pairs with other mango-hibiscus Lysol cleaning products
Cons
- May not be good if you have pets that drink from the toilet
- Not a substitute for deep cleans
Is it ok to put bleach down the toilet?
Generally, it is okay to use bleach in your toilet. In fact, if you decide to use toilet cleaner with bleach, it can be a surefire way to disinfect your toilet. However, if you have a septic tank, using bleach too often can cause your septic tank to back up.
