Greener Toilet cleaning

Since we were young, toilet cleaning was/is a major priority in house cleaning. This is the one place that we pay particular attention to and like to keep germ free. Has anyone ever stopped and thought about what we are putting in our toilet, yes it may be cleaning our toilet but is it cleaning what it is supposed to? Do the chemicals from these cleaning agents affect or bodies? How about our eco-system?

Many toilet cleaning products have chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric acid as ingredients, all of which are highly corrosive to our tanks. Also while these agents are killing all the bad bacteria in out toilets, it is also killing all the good ones, the bacteria that later helps break down our waste further along the system.

Here are some ingredients in some cleaning products to keep an eye out for (if these are on the label, I suggest NOT to use them):

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether - volatile organic compounds harmful to aquatic organisms

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate - very toxic to aquatic organisms - can cause long-term damage in the environment

Chlorinated phenols - respiratory and circulatory toxins

Triclosan - a cumulative toxin, primarily used for anti-bacterial purposes, but can also damage plant, animal and aquatic life.

Greener toilet cleaners

Hygiene is very important in our society. Believing that everything thing needs to be sterilized and 100% germ free is futile, no matter what the marketers may try to convince you of. There are many products out there that are on citric and acetic acid. In using these products they act on killing the bacteria within that immediate area that you want to clean, and will not damage the other bacteria that is later down the system.

Earth friendly toilet cleaning products will be more likely to list their ingredients in order to satisfy eco-savvy customers, so check the label of a "green" cleaning agent you're considering purchasing and do some research of the ingredients on the Internet.

Environmentally friendly toilet cleaning

The best way to keep your toilet clean is to do it the old fashioned way, the regular use of a toilet brush can help reduce the buildup of gunk and breeding zones for bad bacteria. Do it one or two times a day and you will make a significant difference!

Once a week you can sprinkle baking soda in your toilet bowl scrub it around with your toilet brush. The baking soda acts as an abrasive and does not scrape the porcelain.

For treating stains:

~Borax with lemon juice. Alow to sit for a minute then scrub down with toilet brush - leaves toilet smelling lemony fresh!

~Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then spray with vinegar. Allow to sit for a couple of minutes then apply the toilet brush - helps remove odors.

For keeping the toilet smelling fresh on a ongoing basis, I've had suggestions made from friends to use 10 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle filled with water; then spray around the bowl and let sit.

Fun Fact: Vinegar can be used in the bathroom and kitchen acting as a disinfectant!

I can only hope that all this information and cleaning tips will help everyone live and clean with green in mind!

Stay green! ;-)