DIY Toilet Cleaning Gel
This DIY toilet cleaning gel is nice and thick and sticks to the bowl just like the commercial versions but without the toxic ingredients. It is perfect for those that like to get a cleaner right up under then rim which just can’t be done easily when using other DIY toilet cleaners like our fizzy DIY toilet cleaner tablets.
The main ingredient in this DY toilet cleaning gel is citric acid. The final product is approximately 20% citric acid solution, giving this gel wicked cleaning power. And, whilst I do think that the fizzing toilet bombs work, as there is no base (like bicarb) in this recipe to neutralise the citric acid all the acid is available to make help make your toilet bowl sparkle.
DIY Toilet Cleaning Gel
What You Need
100g Citric Acid
400ml Boiling Water
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
1 tsp Vegetable Glycerine (Optional)
30-40 Drops Essential Oil (Optional)
1 drop food
Squeezy sauce bottle or empty clean toilet cleaner bottle
What To Do
- Mix xanthan gum and glycerine together if using
- Mix boiling water and citric acid together until citric acid is completely dissolved
- Add xanthan gum and colouring if using and whisk/shake until well incorporated
- Leave to cool and fully thicken for a few hours before using
How To Use
- Squirt Gel into toilet bowl and spread around using toilet brush
- Leave for 5-10 mins
- Scrub with toilet brush and flush
NOTES
- Glycerine is used to help wet the xanthan gum to assist with dissolving but is optional. Just allow more time for the xanthan gum to fully absorb water and shake/whisk periodically until all dissolved if you don’t have any glycerine.
- Some great essential oils to give a fresh scent to your gel are lemon and peppermint but choose whichever oils take your fancy
- You can recycle empty commercial toilet cleaner bottles so you have the bendy neck to get the gel right up under the rim. The very end of the bottles can be removed to allow you to clean out the bottle and to fill with your DIY gel.
- I found a sauce bottle in
kmart to use for my DIY loo gel. Whilst not perfect it does allow me to get the gel up under the rim somewhat. - The food colouring is totally not necessary but did help me demonstrate the thickness of the gel in the images and is helpful in showing spots you have missed during use.
This is the best recipe ever, squeaky clean toilet every time
So glad you like it Jodie. Its always a good day when we can get someone excited about cleaning their loo hehe
Is this safe for septic tanks?
From what I can citric acid which is the main active ingredient is safe for septic tanks. If you are worried though after you clean the loo just add a sprinkle of bicarb to neutralize the citric acid
How can make this into tablet form that you put in a ‘cage’ to hang on the inside of my toilet bowl to refresh every time I flush?
Hi Hannah,
Sorry this recipe is just a gel for cleaning. We have tried creating a recipe for what you are looking, but so far no luck!
Jenny
Hello, thanks for fhis recipe! Do you know how long it lasts? Will it keep in my cleaning cupboard ok?
Hi Anthea!!
This recipe seems to last for as long as you need to use it up. I have used some months after it was made and it appeared fine still. The citric acid acts as a preservative. As it is being used in the toilet and not on the body, personally I am not too concerned about microbial growth. That being said if you can visibly see any growths, or it smells gross its probably best to ditch it and make a fresh batch. As always go with what you are comfortable with.