The Right Way to Clean a Toilet (Yes, There is a Wrong Way)

Bathroom cleaning is a chore no one wants to do which might explain why it never gets done properly. Your toilet is one of the dirtiest places in your house so disinfecting it thoroughly is crucial. At TNT Group Janitorial + Building Solutions, we believe in educating people so they can avoid the wrong way and use the right way to clean.

First, The Wrong Way

• Cleaning with a Brush that was Put Away Wet

• One of the most common mistakes people make when cleaning their toilet bowl is to use a toilet brush that was put away wet and dirty. Using this kind of implement will spread more germs than it gets rid of.

• Only Cleaning the Inside of the Toilet

The inside of the toilet isn’t the only spot that gets dirty. The whole surrounding area around the toilet, including the outside, base, and floor around the toilet, must be cleaned to properly disinfect the area.

Now, the Right Way to Clean a Toilet

1. Prepare the Area

The first thing to do is ensure you and the bathroom are ready for cleaning. Put on a pair of disposable gloves to safeguard your skin and remove nearby objects. Things such as hairbrushes, toothbrushes and makeup brushes to protect them from potentially harmful chemicals and germs. This is also when you should take your bath towels and bathmats for washing.

2. Remove the Toilet Seat

Taking your toilet seat off completely lets you put it in the shower or bathtub to spray it down with disinfecting bleach cleaner. Let it set there with the product on it for as long as the label says it needs to ensure it is 100% effective.

Toilet seats should be relatively easy to remove. You also have the option to install an easy-to-remove toilet seat that pops on and off for easy cleaning.

3. Squirt the Toilet Bowl Cleaner In

Disinfectants and cleaners must sit on the surface they're cleaning for a set amount of time to be effective. The label specifies how long you should leave the cleaner on a surface. To clean your toilet effectively, squirt the toilet cleaner inside the bowl and let it sit as long as the label says.

4. Clean the Rim

While you’re letting the toilet bowl cleaner sit, this is the perfect opportunity to clean the rim. Spray with a disinfecting bleach cleaner and (after you’ve let it sit for as long as the product recommends) wipe it down with paper towels you can throw away after you're done.

5. Scrub the Toilet Bowl

Now that you’ve let the toilet bowl cleaner do its work, you can scrub the inside. Make sure you get right up under the rim where bacteria can gather, putting your elbow into it and thoroughly cleaning everything.

6. Clean the Outside of the Toilet

Spray down the whole toilet outside, from the base to the tank. Make sure you get all the way down to the floor and you can wipe this down with paper towels as well.

7. Mop the Surrounding Area

The floor around your toilet needs to be cleaned as well. Mopping your bathroom floor with a disinfecting mopping solution is a great way to ensure you've cleaned up all the germs and bacteria.

8. Disinfect Your Cleaning Tools

Almost done! The last step is to ensure you won't be cleaning with dirty tools next time. Disinfect your mop and allow it to dry as you normally would. Your toilet brush can be soaked in disinfected cleaner, then balanced between the toilet seat and rim to drip into the toilet until it dries.

Clean Your Toilet the Right Way

These are the easy-to-follow steps we at TNT Group+ follow to make sure every toilet we clean is cleaned right. For more tips and tricks on getting the perfect clean the first time, visit our website.