How to Clean the Toilet: A Hygienic & Sparkling Cleaning

Cleaning the toilet may not top anyone’s list of favourite chores, but it’s one of the most important for maintaining a healthy and hygienic home. As one of the most frequently used fixtures in any household, the toilet can quickly become a hotspot for germs, bacteria, and viruses—especially in homes with children, seniors, or those with weakened immune systems.

A quick wipe-down might make the surface look clean, but true protection means going beyond cleaning to disinfecting. Using a trusted solution like Lysol^® bathroom cleaners kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria^*, helping ensure your bathroom is not just clean but hygienically safe.

With the right products and a simple routine, you can tackle tough stains like rust, hard water, and limescale while eliminating the unseen germs that can linger on surfaces. Follow our guide to learn the most effective way to clean and disinfect your toilet—leaving it fresh, germ-free, and sparkling.

Toilet cleaning, but first!

Remember to follow the tips mentioned below before starting the toilet cleaning process to ensure you get the desired results.

1. Gather cleaning supplies

Make sure to keep yourself well-equipped for the cleaning job by having these essential toilet cleaning tools and products: Toilet brush, Microfiber cloth, Sponge, Lysol^® Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power, Lysol^® Bathroom Foam Cleaner Spray - Summer Fresh, and Lysol^® Disinfectant Wipes.

2. Prepare the area

Remove everything from the top of the toilet tank and anything on the floor around the base of the toilet. Then, close the toilet lid and flush the toilet before putting on the rubber gloves.

How to clean the toilet

1. Toilet bowl

1. Flush the toilet with the lid close to wet the toilet bowl.
2. Directly place the Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power nozzle under the toilet bowl. Squeeze the bottle gently to apply 120mL of the cleaner to the entire toilet bowl surface, including the hard-to-reach areas, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. With its 10X cleaning power, this disinfectant cleaner eliminates 99.99% of viruses and bacteria^* and removes hard water stains, rust stains, and mineral deposits.
3. Next, scrub the toilet bowl using a stiff brush (either made from nylon or plastic bristles). Start under the rims and work your way down to the drain hole. Pay special attention to areas with a high volume of stains and mineral deposits.
4. Let the cleaning solution/form sit in the toilet bowl for 10 minutes, and scrub the bowl a few more times until the stains are gone.
5. Flush the toilet a couple of times to thoroughly rinse the toilet bowl. Repeat the process as necessary for stubborn stains.

2. Toilet bowl exterior

1. Wipe down the entire toilet bowl exterior with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove dirt, dust, and grime.
2. Spray the Lysol^® Bathroom Foam Cleaner Spray - Summer Fresh on the tank lid, the sides of the tank, the flushing handle or button, and the entire outside surface of the toilet bowl, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
3. Wipe each area thoroughly with a sponge before rinsing it thoroughly with water.

3. Toilet bowl seat and lid

1. Wipe the toilet seat with a fresh, clean, and damp microfiber cloth to remove any traces of cleaning solutions from its surface.
2. Next, lift the toilet seat and use Lysol^® Disinfectant Wipes to clean the top, bottom, and lid thoroughly.
3. Place the toilet seat back on the top of the bowl once you've finished.

Cleaning toilet brush and holder

After cleaning the toilet, always spray Lysol^® All-Purpose Disinfectant Spray on the toilet brush and its holder to disinfect and sanitize them. This spray eliminates 99.99% of viruses and bacteria^*.

Additional tips

• Attach the Lysol^® Click Gel Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner applicator to the inside of your toilet bowl. This discrete, single-use, self-sticking gel will offer continuous cleaning and freshness.
• Put Lysol^® In Tank Toilet Bowl Cleaner in your toilet tank to clean your toilet with every flush. It sanitizes the toilet bowl water, eliminating 99.99% of viruses and bacteria^* with each flush, resulting in a clean, clear, and odour-free toilet.
• Always close the toilet lid before flushing to prevent water droplets (carrying bacteria and viruses) from spreading into the air, reducing the likelihood of cross-contamination.

^*When used as directed.

FAQs

How often should I clean my toilet?

To maintain a hygienic bathroom, toilets should be cleaned and disinfected at least once a week. Germs, bacteria, and stains can build up quickly on frequently used surfaces, so using a powerful disinfectant like Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power—which kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria^*—helps ensure your toilet stays fresh, safe, and sparkling clean between deep cleans.

How to remove tough grease, rust, and soap scum stains from the toilet?

Spray Lysol^® Hydrogen Peroxide Bathroom Cleaner on the grease, rust, and soap scum stains, scrub them using a sponge or toilet brush, and rinse thoroughly with water. This cleaner’s powerful formula releases active oxygen microbubbles, which penetrate and remove grease, rust, and soap scum and eliminates 99.99% of viruses and bacteria^*.

How do germs spread through toilets and how can I prevent it?

Toilets can harbour harmful germs that spread through splashes, aerosols, and contact with surfaces like the seat, flush handle, and surrounding areas. Regular disinfecting with trusted products like Lysol^® helps break this cycle by killing bacteria and viruses, keeping your bathroom safer for everyone.

How can I prevent unpleasant odours in the toilet?

You can prevent unpleasant odours in the toilet by:

• Regularly clean toilet bowl, tank, and lid with Lysol^® Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Power, Lysol^® Foam Bathroom Cleaner Spray - Summer Fresh, and Lysol^® Disinfectant Wipes.
• Neutralize odour and the germs that cause them using Lysol^® NeutraAir 2in1 Air Freshener.