Are you someone who regularly cleans your toilet? Chances are, you are. Most people reach for traditional toilet cleaner, but there's a surprisingly effective alternative you may not have tried yet: using regular laundry detergent powder to clean your toilet.
How Does It Work?
It's simple. First, flush your toilet to wet the bowl. Then, sprinkle about half a cup of washing powder inside the toilet so the surface is well covered. Let it sit and work its magic for 15 to 20 minutes.
Why Is Laundry Detergent So Effective?
Laundry powder has a powerful combination of surfactants to loosen grime, water softeners that attack limescale and urine scale, and mild bleaching agents for antibacterial effect. In other words: you get a fresh, clean toilet without aggressive chemical cleaners.
Unlike traditional toilet cleaning products, laundry detergent contains a powerful blend of surfactants, water softeners, and mild bleaching agents. When these ingredients combine, they attack limescale, stubborn stains, and odor-causing bacteria in your toilet bowl. Surprisingly, laundry detergent can clean just as thoroughly (if not more!) than specialized cleaners.
The Complete Step-by-Step Process
Start by flushing your toilet once to moisten the surface. Next, take about half a cup of your favorite powdered laundry detergent and sprinkle it generously inside the bowl, making sure to coat all sides. Let the detergent sit and work its magic for 15 to 20 minutes — this gives the ingredients time to break down grime, stains, and even mineral buildup.
After waiting, take your toilet brush and give the bowl a good scrub. The detergent will have loosened up most of the dirt, so this step should be quick. Finally, flush again to rinse away any remaining residue. The result? A sparkling clean toilet without the overpowering smell of chlorine or chemical residues.
Important Tips for Best Results
Some important tips: always use laundry powder, not liquid detergent, as the powder tends to work better on tough toilet stains. And avoid using products with added fabric softener, as this isn't necessary and could leave slippery residues.
Why Are People Making the Switch?
Why are people choosing this hack over regular cleaners? In addition to being effective, laundry detergent is usually cheaper and easier to find in stores. It's also less aggressive, meaning fewer harsh fumes while you're cleaning, and it's often safer for your plumbing and septic system compared to some bleach-heavy products.
More and more homeowners are sharing their results on social media, and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. The next time you're cleaning your bathroom, give this simple tip a try. You might be surprised at just how well it works—and how pleasantly fresh your bathroom smells afterwards!
Give it a try on your next cleaning day—the laundry detergent trick might just become your new favorite bathroom hack.