How to clean a toilet, according to a toilet experts

When asked, “Do you know how to clean a toilet?” most people will immediately respond, “Of course I know how to clean a toilet!”

Cleaning a toilet is, as the saying goes, not rocket science — and you probably already have a pretty good idea of how to do so. But do you know the truly correct way to clean a toilet? Perhaps not! Which is why we enlisted a true toilet pro, Bill Strang, the president of corporate strategy, e-commerce and customer experience at Toto USA, to break down, step by step, the correct way to clean a toilet.

How often to clean a toilet

The question of how often to clean a toilet has a clear-cut answer, as well as a more open-to-interpretation one. “It really depends on your use pattern,” Strang says. “If it’s a guest bath and it’s used infrequently, your cleaning is going to be less frequent than if it is a very heavily used bathroom.”

Your primary toilet or toilets, as well as any other toilets that are used regularly, should be cleaned once a week.

Toilets that are used less frequently, such as those in guest bathrooms, do not need to be cleaned weekly but still should be cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of waterborne bacteria and mineral deposits. Infrequently used commodes will also accumulate dust on the exterior that should not be left overly long without being cleaned. Cleaning an infrequently used toilet once a month is a good guideline.

Finally, the design of the toilet itself — is it a box-rim toilet or a rimless design? — may dictate the frequency with which you clean it. “Box rims are the ones that have all the little holes around the top that flush straight down,” Strang explains, “and a rimless design does not have that box rim. It has instead just a cup around it, and water spins around the bowl. The box rim tends to be unglazed or has a lower level of glaze underneath it, and it is a great place where stuff wants to collect and hang out.” Because the design encourages buildup, Strang recommends cleaning the toilet more frequently if you have a box-rim model. “You’re going to want to make sure that you get that area up underneath the box rim,” Strang says, “where all the little small holes are, that then gets adhesion of whatever was going on in the toilet, uh, for that week.”

What you need to clean a toilet

Before you get started, make sure you have the following items on hand to ensure the toilet is cleaned properly.

Gel toilet rim cleaners are a more viscous formula than their liquid counterparts, allowing them to cling to the sides of the bowl. Strang says that gel toilet cleaners are “formulated to dissolve tough stains and mineral buildup.” There are a number of toilet cleaners available, including formulas that range from gel and liquid to powder cleansers and drop-in tablets. To help you sort out which product is best for your needs, check out our guide to the best toilet cleaners.

Disinfectant spray or wipes can be used to clean the toilet’s exterior surfaces and the area around the toilet, such as the tank, seat, bowl’s exterior and floor. If you use cleaning wipes, Strang cautions against flushing them after use. “Please do not flush them,” he says. “They will cause havoc to your plumbing system and for municipalities.” Place used cleaning wipes in the trash, not in the toilet.

A toilet brush is essential for scrubbing the bowl.

“Cleaning a toilet can be messy,” Strang says, “and rubber gloves can protect your hands from germs and bacteria.”

A microfiber cloth can be used to wipe down the outside of the toilet, the lid and the seat.

Paper towels are helpful for wiping away residue left behind after cleaning, leaving the toilet looking sparkling clean and polished.

How to clean a toilet

Strang broke down the steps for cleaning a toilet, including the order of operations in which to work. This may surprise you, but cleaning the bowl is actually one of the last steps, As Strang explains, “The bowl is the last thing you clean, but for me, it’s the first thing I address.” Here’s what to do.

Step 1: Introduce cleaner to bowl

The first step in cleaning a toilet is to introduce the bowl cleaner of your choice to the bowl. The idea is to apply the cleaner and then allow it time to work while you turn your attention to the rest of the toilet.

Step 2: Clean top and sides of tank

Using an all-purpose disinfecting spray and a microfiber cloth, or a premoistened cleaning wipe, wipe the top and sides of the tank to remove buildup and bacteria, paying particular attention to the flusher.

Another area to be aware of, on two-piece models, is any joints where buildup can occur. “On a two-piece toilet with a tank and bowl,” Strang says, “get in there and clean where that bowl and tank come together. There’s a demarcation there, a crevice there. You’ve got to keep it clean.”

Step 3: Clean toilet seat and ring

Next, clean the toilet seat — including the top of the seat, the underside of the seat and the ring where the seat rests and where splash back can pool — using an all-purpose disinfecting spray and a microfiber cloth, or a premoistened cleaning wipe. “When you’re cleaning around the seat,” Strang says, “it’s important that you open the seat up and then you make sure that you clean around the seat and the bolts that are used to hold it in place.”

Step 4: Clean base/skirt, floor and walls

One way to remember the order in which to clean a toilet is that it is a top-down job, meaning that you start at the top (the tank top) and work your way down (the floor around the toilet). “When you’re cleaning the toilet, that is not just the toilet you’re cleaning,” Strang says, “but also the area around the toilet.”

Using an all-purpose disinfecting spray and a microfiber cloth, or a pre-moistened cleaning wipe, wipe the skirt or base of the toilet, as well as the floor and walls around the toilet.

Step 5: Clean bowl

Finally, use a toilet brush to scrub the bowl, paying particular attention to the lip if you have a box-rim-style toilet.