Toilet Bowl Cleaners
Product Comparisons
Corrosive ingredients in conventional toilet bowl cleaners, such as hydrochloric and sulfuric acid and lye, can cause severe burns if splashed in eyes and on skin, and some ingredients, like ammonia, threaten aquatic populations when flushed. The best way to ensure the safety of toilet bowl cleaners--and to save money--is to make one at home. Pour a little baking soda and distilled white vinegar or lemon juice into the bowl, scrub with a toilet brush and flush. See "DIY Household Cleaners" for simple cleaner recipes utilizing inexpensive ingredients found in your own home. Below is a list of toilet bowl cleaners that are safer for human health and the environment. Also, check the label of your favorite all-purpose cleaner, which may be suitable for toilet bowls.
GG Rating
All products reviewed are preferable to their conventional counterparts, but have been ranked "good," "better" and "best" based on contents and the availability of precise and detailed ingredient information.
Good: These products contain one or more potentially harmful ingredient and may contain other unnecessary petroleum-based ingredients solely for aesthetic purposes, such as synthetic dyes or fragrances. Products also received "good" ratings if manufacturer's labels used vague terms to describe ingredients, such as "biodegradable surfactants" and "sugar-based cleaning agents," which prevent consumers from confirming that the product is free of hazardous ingredients, and did not make ingredient lists readily available on packages or online.
Better: These products may contain one or more potentially harmful ingredient but do not contain unnecessary petroleum-based additives. Products also received "better" ratings if manufacturer's labels used vague terms to describe ingredients, such as "biodegradable surfactants" and "sugar-based cleaning agents," which prevent consumers from confirming that the product is free of hazardous ingredients, but ingredient lists are readily available on packages and/or online.
Best: These products do not contain any potentially harmful ingredients or unnecessary additives. The manufacturer lists specific ingredients and makes ingredient lists readily available on packages and/or online.
Wondering what these table headings mean? They're the criteria we used to choose and evaluate the products in the chart below. Learn more about their importance in What To Look For.
| Name | GG Rating | Ingredients | Packaging | MSRP | Purchasing Information | Reader Rating |
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| AFM SafeChoice Safety Clean | good | water, nonionic surfactants, phosphoric acid, monoethanolamine, water softeners, sodium percarbonate | #2 HDPE | $11.18/32 oz. | www.greenbuildingsupply.com, 800-405-0222 |
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| BioShield Toilet Bowl Cleaner | better | citric acid, plant alcohol (ethanol), sugar-based cleaning agents, sodium chloride, essential oils, water | $6.50/25.5 oz | www.bioshieldpaint.com, 800-621-2591 |
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| Borax | best | boric acid | check your local drugstore |
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| Earth Friendly Toilet Kleener | better | water, cedar oil, citric acid, xanthun gum, and coconut oil derived surfactant. does not contain SLS or cocamide DEA | $3.10/24 oz. | www.ecos.com, 800-335-ECOS |
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| Ecover Natural Household Products Toilet Cleaner | better | water, vinegar, citric acid, citrate, natural gum, scent from plant material | #2 HDPE | $3.99/25 oz. | www.herbtrader.com, 800-669-3275 |
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1 Reader Comment Rate/Review This Product |
| Heinz White Vinegar | best | white vinegar | #2 HDPE | $2.95/64 oz. | www.drugstore.com |
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| Mrs. Meyers Toilet Bowl Cleaner | good | water, plant derived surfactant, xantham gum, certified color, lactic acid, essential oils, fragrance | #2 HDPE | $4.99/32 oz. | www.mrsmeyers.com, 877-865-1508 |
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| Naturally Yours Clinging Toilet Bowl Cleaner | better | distilled fruit oil, xanthum gum, plant-based nonionic surfactant, water, citric acid | #2 HDPE | $7/32 oz. | www.naturallyyoursclean.com, 888-801-7347 |
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| Seaside Naturals Bathroom Cleaner | better | filtered water, vinegar, borax, a blend of pure essential oils if scented, alcohol (from grain), and polysorbate 20 (derived from sorbitol, which is found in berries and fruits), naturally derived cleaning agent (vegetable-based surfactant) | #1 PET | $6.99/32 oz. | www.seasidenaturals.com, 800-870-1697 |
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1 Reader Comment Rate/Review This Product |
| Seventh Generation Natural Mint Toilet Bowl Cleaner | better | organic salt cleaning agent (modified amine surfactant), natural thickener (xanthane gum), dye (for visibility), natural fragrance (mint oil), water | #2 HDPE with a minimum of 25% post consumer recycled content | $5.39/32 oz. | www.drugstore.com |
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| Sound Earth Fizzn' Floor Booster Floor & Toilet Bowl Cleaner | best | baking soda, borax, salt, essential oils | #1 PET | $7.99/20 oz. | www.soundearth.com, 888-608-9678 |
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1 Reader Comment Rate/Review This Product |