Citric acid toilet cleaner: The three-ingredient solution for a squeaky clean loo

CITRIC ACID can be used as an effective cleaning product, but how can you create an efficient three-ingredient toilet cleaning solution?

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Citric acid cleaning solutions have become more popular in recent years as households attempt to use more natural products in their homes. Citric acid effectively kills bacteria, mould and mildew - all issues which can be particularly ferocious problems in bathrooms.

Cleaning your toilet is often considered by many as one of the worst household chores.

Many typical toilet cleaners include a list of many toxic chemicals.

However, some households are trying to alleviate toxic chemicals from their homes and instead of trying to use natural ingredients.

Most of the chemicals included in household cleaning products end up in the water system, which can cause serious damage to marine life.

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Citric acid toilet cleaner: Cleaner

Citric acid toilet cleaner: How to use citric acid to effectively clean your toilet bowl? (Image: GETTY)

Citric acid toilet cleaner: Cleaning items

Citric acid toilet cleaner: Many normal toilet cleaners contain toxic chemicals (Image: GETTY)

Citric acid is found in citrus fruits, with the highest volumes in lemons.

A manufactured form of citric acid is commonly used as an additive in food, cleaning agents and nutritional supplements.

Citric acid is an effective disinfectant against a variety of bacteria and viruses.

It can be sold as a general disinfectant and cleaning agent which attacks soap scum, hard water stains, lime and rust.

Citric acid toilet cleaner: Toilet

Citric acid toilet cleaner: Citric acid is found in citrus fruits (Image: GETTY)

How to make the three-ingredient citric acid toilet cleaner


  • One cup of baking soda
  • A quarter cup of citric acid
  • One tablespoon of washing up liquid
  • A silicone ice cube tray
  • An airtight container.

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Citric acid toilet cleaner: Lemons

Citric acid toilet cleaner: You can use three ingredients to make an effective toilet cleaner (Image: GETTY)


To make this cleaning solution, add your baking soda to a large bowl with the citric acid.

Add the washing up liquid and mix it all together well until it has fully combined.

Press the mixture into your ice cube tray, making sure to remove any excess.

Allow these to set for at least four hours or overnight.

Finish by putting these tablets into an airtight container.

When you want to clean your toilet, simply toss one of these cleaning tablets into your toilet bowl and wait for the product to fizz, meaning it is doing its work.

Citric acid toilet cleaner: Loo bowl

Citric acid toilet cleaner: The cleaning tablet may fizz in your loo bowl (Image: GETTY)

You can also use citric acid alone to remove stains from your toilet bowl.

Most products tend to lighten the colour of stains in the bowl, but citric acid can effectively remove this.

To use this method, pour a bucket of hot water down your toilet and then another one once the first lot has drained.

Next, add a 250g packet of citric acid into the toilet bowl and then leave it in the toilet for an hour or overnight.

You may or may not hear a fizzing noise in the toilet bowl, but there is no need to worry if this is the case.

Use a stiff toilet brush and scrub the bowl to remove any loosened limescale and repeat this process if required.