The correct way to clean a toilet is to apply cleaner inside the bowl, let it sit, clean the outside from top to bottom, then scrub the bowl and disinfect every surface people touch. Most people clean the bowl well and skip the seat, hinges, flush button and floor around the base, which is exactly where smells and germs linger.
What you need
- Rubber gloves
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Toilet brush
- Disinfectant spray or wipes suitable for bathroom surfaces
- Two cloths or paper towels, one kept only for the toilet
- A pumice stone or old toothbrush for the rim (optional)
Ventilate before you start. Open the window or switch on the exhaust fan, and keep the door open if the bathroom is small.
Safety first
Never mix cleaning products. Many toilet bowl cleaners are acid-based, and mixing them with bleach releases chlorine gas, while bleach mixed with ammonia releases chloramine gas. Both are dangerous in a small, enclosed bathroom.
If you want to switch products, flush the toilet first and check both labels before applying the second one. If you are unsure whether they are compatible, use one product only. Keep products out of reach of children. Our guide to cleaning products you should never mix explains which combinations are dangerous and what to do after an accidental mix.
Cleaning a toilet step by step
- Put on gloves and flush the toilet with the lid closed.
- Squirt toilet bowl cleaner under the rim and around the bowl so it runs down the sides.
- Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes, or as long as the label says. This contact time does much of the work for you.
- While it sits, spray the outside with disinfectant: cistern lid, flush button or handle, outer lid, seat (top and underneath), hinges and the outside of the bowl. Leave the disinfectant for the contact time on its label.
- Wipe the outside from top to bottom, from the cistern down to the base, so dirt is not dragged onto areas you have already cleaned.
- Lift the seat and pay attention to the hinges and the gap where the seat meets the bowl. An old toothbrush helps here.
- Scrub the bowl with the brush, working under the rim and down into the outlet.
- Flush with the lid closed and rinse the brush in the clean flush water.
- Wipe the floor around the base and the wall behind the toilet, where splashes collect.
- Dry the seat and handle, then wash your gloves and hands.
Do not skip the seat and handle
The flush button, seat and lid are touched every day, yet they are often the last parts to be cleaned. Treat them as high-touch surfaces and wipe them with disinfectant at least every few days, and daily if someone in the home is unwell.
Removing stains and rings
Brown or grey rings at the waterline are usually mineral or urine scale. Apply an acid-based toilet bowl cleaner, leave it, then scrub. For stubborn rings, lower the water level by turning off the inlet valve and flushing, so the cleaner can work directly on the stain.
A wet pumice stone can lift hard rings from vitreous china without scratching, but test it on a small area first and do not use it on plastic seats or coated surfaces.
Finding the source of bad smells
If the toilet looks clean but the bathroom still smells, check these:
- The floor around the base and the grout lines: urine splashes soak in here. Scrub with a brush and disinfectant.
- Under the seat hinges: residue builds up out of sight.
- The floor trap: many HDB and condo bathrooms have a floor trap that relies on a water seal. If it dries out, drain smells come straight up. Pour a jug of water down any floor trap that is rarely used, about once a week.
- The seal at the base: a smell that returns soon after cleaning, or water around the base, may mean the seal under the toilet needs a plumber.
- Mould in the sealant: black spots in the silicone around the base may need resealing if they come back after cleaning.
Air fresheners only mask these problems. Fix the source and the smell goes with it.
Keep the toilet brush clean
After use, rest the brush between the seat and the bowl so it drips into the bowl and dries. Once a week, soak the brush and holder in a suitable disinfectant, rinse them and let them dry. Replace the brush when the bristles are flattened or stained.
How often to clean a toilet
- Daily: a quick wipe of the seat and flush button in busy households.
- Weekly: a full clean of the bowl, outside, floor and brush.
- Monthly: scale removal, hinge cleaning and checks on the floor trap and sealant.
Wet bathrooms in Singapore stay damp for hours, so squeegee the floor after showers and keep the window open or the fan running. Turn pails upside down after use, as standing water can breed Aedes mosquitoes.
KleanSG’s residential cleaning includes bathroom and toilet cleaning as part of regular home upkeep, with weekly, fortnightly, monthly or one-time sessions on weekdays and Saturdays.
