Does Bleach Damage Toilet Bowls?

While bleach is a highly corrosive chemical that could cause severe damage to your toilet, but it depends largely on how you use it. Using bleach in the toilet bowl is usually safe, especially if your toilet is porcelain. 

 

How Does Bleach Damage the Toilet Bowl?

There are a number of ways that bleach could damage your toilet, but this damage is only likely to occur if you leave bleach in the toilet for too long.

If you are doing a quick clean, then using bleach and leaving it to soak in the toilet bowl for 10-15 minutes, it should be excellent at removing germs without damaging the toilet bowl.

You could even leave the bleach a bit longer if you feel that the toilet has some particularly stubborn stains and needs some extra cleaning but be sure to keep an eye on it and try not to leave it longer than overnight.

You can also try diluting bleach with water so that it is not as strong when you use it to clean the toilet bowl.

Diluted bleach is still effective, but is less harsh and is less likely to cause harmful fumes.

Under no circumstances should bleach be used in the tank of your toilet, as it could corrode the inside of the toilet.

The corrosive properties of the bleach can wear away at the internal parts of your toilet, such as rubber seals, and cause leaks or other potentially permanent damage.

 

What Can Be Used Instead of Bleach?

If you’re worried that bleach will be too corrosive to your toilet, there are a few other ways that you can efficiently clean your toilet bowl and be sure that it’s shiny clean and germ-free.

1. Branded toilet cleaning products

The first method is buying products specifically designed for toilet cleaning – see our roundup of the best toilet cleaner products. Brands including Ecover, Harpic, and Method have designated products that are created specifically to effectively clean your toilet and eradicate any bacteria lingering in the bowl.

These products are relatively risk-free and will come with full instructions for use, which will ensure that you do not risk any damage to your toilet.

2. Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda

Another option is to use ingredients that you likely will already have in your kitchen cupboards. These are two of the most classic go-to cleaning ingredients, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.

Pour a cup of vinegar into your toilet bowl before adding a handful of bicarbonate of soda and then use your toilet brush to swirl the mixture around.

Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 15-30 minutes and then scrub the inside of the toilet with your brush. This mixture should successfully eradicate any stubborn stains that may have been lingering in your toilet bowl.

3. Disinfectant wipes

Turning to a basic household disinfectant is also an effective method of cleaning your toilet bowl.

Find a disinfectant spray that you trust and spray it evenly all over the toilet before leaving it to soak for a while and then wiping it down properly.

Alternatively, you can use your trusted brand of disinfectant wipes and wipe down the entirety of your toilet with them, destroying any germs that have built up. This method is not particularly effective against stubborn stains or marks.

 

Conclusion

Bleach is a highly effectual method for cleaning your toilet bowl and can be relied on to quickly remove stains and eradicate pesky germs. However, it’s recommended to be aware of how you are using the bleach and keep an eye on how long you leave it in your toilet bowl.

If you are uncertain if bleach is safe for your specific toilet, then it may be better to pick one of the other options on our list!