The Best Toilet Bowl Cleaners of 2023
The EPA recommends that septic system users limit their use of household cleaners that have a label of “Danger,” “Caution,” or “Warning,” including those that contain bleach, ammonia, and hydrochloric acid.
Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner – 24oz/2ct
POWERFUL STAIN REMOVAL: This cleaner powers through tough stains and toilet bowl rings in seconds to leave your toilet bowl sparkling clean.
GERM KILLING FORMULA: The thick clinging gel coats the entire bowl and rim; powering through the toughest toilet stains and bowl ring to leave you toilet clean and sanitized.
FAST ACTION GEL LIQUID CLEANER: Easy to use angled bottle makes it easier than ever to clean and reach tough stains in tricky to reach areas. Powerful formula means no scrubbing needed.
LEADERS IN DISINFECTION: Looking for some of our other best disinfectant products? Try our Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, Lysol Disinfectant Sprays and Lysol All Purpose Cleaners.
Description
Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner cleans and disinfects toilets. The thick formula sticks to the bowl for better cleaning. Lysol liquid toilet bowl cleaner kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria with complete clean power. The angled bottle targets hard to reach areas, including under the rim, to leave your entire toilet bowl sparkling clean, deodorized and disinfected.
The Best Toilet Bowl Cleaners of 2023
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel Toilet Bowl Cleaner
An excellent disinfectant cleaner that’s easy to use, kills germs, and leaves nothing but a sparkling clean toilet behind. Read More
Pros
- Clings to bowl
- Disinfects
- Cleans well
Cons
- Lingering bleach smell
- Not safe for kids and pets
Better Life Toilet Bowl Cleaner
A natural formula that’s a conscientious choice and does a great job cleaning stains. Read More
Pros
- Environmentally friendly formula
- Septic safe
- Cleans well
Cons
Lysol Clean and Fresh Toilet Bowl Cleaner
A pleasant-smelling disinfectant cleaner that leaves a fresh, clean bowl. Read More
Pros
Cons
Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Leaves your toilet disinfected with an overall sparkling clean, but harsh chemicals mean it’s not always septic-safe. Read More
Pros
- Disinfects
- Cleans well
- Fresh scent
Cons
Method Antibac Toilet
A less harsh alternative to bleach, Method is a septic-safe way to clean and disinfect. Read More
Pros
- Disinfects
- Septic-safe
- Pleasant smell
Cons
- Contains skin irritants
- Formula does not cling to bowl
Updated September 23, 2021
There are dozens of toilet bowl cleaners on the market, making various claims to disinfect, remove hard water stains, or just leave a sparkling bowl.
Using our winning toilet brush, we decided to put 12 of the best-selling liquid toilet bowl cleaners to the test, and not just a test of how well they cleaned. We conducted smell tests to see which are pleasant scents and which are just plain offensive, we investigated which ones are safe for septic systems, and we researched their active ingredients to find out which ones disinfect—i.e. kill germs. We also evaluated them for ease of use, because not all toilet bowl cleaner bottles are created equal.
While many of the products left our bowls looking shiny and clean, there was one that stood out above all the rest for both its disinfecting properties and its ease of use, Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel Toilet Bowl Cleaner (available at Walmart for $11.49) , which has a unique spray nozzle applicator, and promises to disinfect surfaces by killing over 99% of germs it comes into contact with. For those who want a product that’s gentler on the environment but still provides an exceptional cleaning experience, Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner (available at Amazon) came out on top as our Best Eco-friendly option.
The Clorox Clinging Bleach Gel thicker gel formula really does adhere to the sides of the toilet bowl, which allows proper disinfection to take place.
The clinging bleach really sets this cleaner apart from others, including its cousin, the liquid Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach. A thicker gel formula really does adhere to the sides of the bowl, and for proper disinfection to take place, surface contact is key.
Clorox offers a unique and effective applicator nozzle that squirts a wide spray of cleaner over the surface of the bowl, covering it in a blanket of liquid, rather than relying on the formula to drip down, as many other brands do. This cleaner left my bowl spotless and bright white.
As with all bleach products, we took care to avoid splashes and drips—we spot-tested this cleaner on dark cotton fabric and it did stain. And as for the scent, there’s almost no way to mask the smell of bleach, even if this one does call itself “Ocean Mist.”
Instructions recommend using 8 ounces of product for each cleaning. If you’re planning to disinfect your toilet frequently, that much bleach can be potentially damaging to septic systems—even, as the EPA points out, when products claim to be “septic-safe.”
Pros
- Clings to bowl
- Disinfects
- Cleans well
Cons
- Lingering bleach smell
- Not safe for kids and pets
Better Life plant-based cleaner uses citric acid and soapbark for stain-fighting power.
Better Life Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner has a smell that screams, “I bought this at the organic food co-op!” That smell is courtesy of tea tree and eucalyptus oils, and it’s a pleasant, not-at-all-harsh scent.
Better Life is a line of plant-based cleaners, and the toilet bowl cleaner we tested touts a healthy ingredient list free of sulfates, parabens, petroleum-based solvents, and other harsh chemicals you might find in other cleaners. Instead, it uses citric acid and soapbark for stain-fighting power.
While citric acid has antibacterial properties and can kill germs, we should note that Better Life’s toilet bowl cleaner doesn’t make any broad claims about killing off viruses or any specific percentage of germs. Despite that fact, we found that our toilet was sparkling clean after scrubbing.
Given the lack of corrosive chemicals that could pose harm upon skin contact or inhalation, we feel it’s the conscientious choice for a general-purpose cleaner if you clean your bowl regularly, as you’re not flushing down any harsh chemicals.
The biodegradable formula is also completely safe for septic systems, and we found that the thick gel formula clung to the sides of the bowl and provided a surprising lather that reached under the rim and all over the bowl to help remove stains.
Pros
- Environmentally friendly formula
- Septic safe
- Cleans well
Cons
How We Tested Toilet Bowl Cleaners
The Tester
I’m Liz Kocan, a mother of two young boys. I spend the majority of time cleaning up after these wonderful, filthy humans.
We are an “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down” family, meaning that some days, we dare our toilet to see how long it can stand being peed in without getting flushed. And while that’s great for water conservation, it means that we usually get a lot of mineral and residue buildup in our bowls, and it’s not pretty.
As a homeowner and a human, I care just as much about the environmental and health impact of the household products I use as I do about their effectiveness and cleaning power. With that in mind, I spent just as much time researching the ingredients in these products as I did squirting them in my toilet.
The Tests
In our tests, we spread a thin layer of miso paste (an industry-wide stand-in for feces) on our toilet bowls, under the rims, and deep into the cavity of the bowl and let it sit for one hour.
Over the course of several days, we tested 12 different toilet cleaners. In our tests, we spread a thin layer of miso paste (an industry-wide stand-in for feces) on our toilet bowls, under the rims, and deep into the cavity of the bowl and let it sit for one hour.
We followed the package instructions for each cleaner and scrubbed the debris away with our winning toilet brush. We then flushed, checking under the rim, on the bowl, and in the cavity to ensure a proper cleaning.
Per EPA guidelines, cleaners that promise to kill germs, generally require at least 10 minutes of surface contact to properly disinfect. If you’re not letting those germ-fighting chemicals sit for at least that long, there is no guarantee that they will effectively rid your toilet of bacteria.
What You Should Know about Toilet Bowl Cleaners
There Is a Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
Cleaning your toilet is different from sanitizing it, and different yet again from disinfecting it. The EPA offers an easy-to-understand chart that breaks it all down.
Generally speaking, to clean means to remove any visible stains, like dirt, soil, and hard-water stains. Homes with hard water—water with a high mineral content—can lead to discoloration and buildup known as limescale, which can be especially hard to clear away.
Toilet bowl cleaners that specialize in breaking down hard-water stains and limescale often contain harsh ingredients like hydrogen chloride or sulfamic acid, which can also pose problems for septic systems and should be used in well-ventilated areas.
Unlike cleaning, sanitizing means reducing the amount of bacteria on your cleaning surface using a chemical cleaner. Sanitizing does not eradicate viruses.
Disinfecting, though, does. By disinfecting a surface, you will kill or inactivate bacteria and pathogens that cause viruses. Cleaners that contain chemicals strong enough to kill viruses need to be left to sit, and remain damp, for 10 minutes or longer, depending on the product’s instructions.
Products with ingredients like bleach, citric acid, or quaternary ammonium can have disinfecting properties, but it’s important to read labels to determine for sure.
Are Toilet Bowl Cleaners Safe for Septic Systems?
The presence of bacteria is necessary in order for a septic system to break down the waste that flows through a septic tank. By using antibacterial or disinfecting cleaning products often, you run the risk of killing off this good bacteria, which can upset the balance of your system.
All products we tested claim to be “septic-safe,” but according to the EPA, this term can be unreliably used for marketing purposes and is not EPA-approved.
The EPA recommends that septic system users limit their use of household cleaners that have a label of “Danger,” “Caution,” or “Warning,” including those that contain bleach, ammonia, and hydrochloric acid.
Can You Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner in the Shower?
Due to the corrosive nature of many of the chemicals used in toilet cleaners, covering a large surface, like a bathtub or shower, can be harmful without proper ventilation.
When cleaning showers, tubs, and sinks, look instead for sprays and formulas that specifically call themselves bathroom, tub, or tile cleaners rather than letting your toilet cleaner do double duty.
Other Toilet Bowl Cleaners We Tested
Lysol Clean and Fresh smells very soapy and clean, not unlike Palmolive dish detergent. It claims to kill 99.9% of viruses, including COVID-19, thanks to its active ingredient quaternary ammonia, or quats, which can break down the cellular walls and membranes of bacteria and viruses to kill them or render them inactive. This means it’s not an ideal match for septic systems.
The product was an efficient disinfecting cleaner that clung well to the sides of the bowl, though it did leave a bit of green residue behind after flushing it away.