How to Clean a Toilet With Borax Powder

Whether you're committed to using all-natural products or DIY cleaning solutions in your home or you just need a straightforward solution that works effectively on toilets, be sure to have a box of borax on hand. This naturally occurring mineral is a powerful stain remover, disinfectant and deodorizer, and it's safe for all surfaces as well as septic systems. Borax works well on tougher stains, including mineral residue from hard water. It's also handy for regular cleaning of the toilet bowl and exterior toilet surfaces. There are various ways to use borax to clean the toilet, so choose the option that best suits your needs.

Borax can irritate the skin, so wear protective gloves and avoid contact with bare skin and especially the eyes. It can also harm the respiratory system if inhaled, so take care not to do so. Always keep borax out of the reach of children.

Borax, or sodium borate, comes as a white powder that works effectively as a stand-alone cleaner. For the inside of the toilet bowl, sprinkle approximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup of borax powder around the surfaces of the bowl. Dampen a toilet brush and scrub the inner toilet surfaces with the powder, angling the brush to scrub under the rim. Flush the toilet to rinse away the borax and traces of grime and repeat if necessary. Alternatively, sprinkle borax directly onto the toilet brush and then scrub and rinse in the same manner.

For the outer parts of the toilet, dampen a microfiber cloth, sponge or scrubber and sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of borax onto it. Scrub the outer surfaces of the toilet, sprinkling more borax on the cloth, sponge or scrubber as needed. Rinse the cloth, sponge or scrubber with plain water and wipe down the toilet surfaces to remove any traces of borax. For shinier surfaces, spray down the toilet with white vinegar in a spray bottle and wipe all over.

An alternative way to clean a toilet with borax is to prepare a cleaning solution in a spray bottle. Add 12 ounces of warm to hot water to a spray bottle, add 1/2 cup of borax powder, screw on the spray top and shake vigorously so that the borax dissolves in the water. Use this solution as you would any other cleaning spray, spraying liberally on the surfaces to be cleaned and then scrubbing inside with a toilet brush and outside with a cloth, sponge or scrubber.

For more effective stain removal, let the solution sit on the surfaces for five to 10 minutes before scrubbing. Wipe the exterior surfaces of the toilet with plain water or white vinegar to rinse away the borax.

Many DIY toilet cleaner and all-purpose cleaner recipes include borax as an ingredient. A two-ingredient option is equal parts white vinegar and borax to form a paste, which you use with a toilet brush to scrub the bowl and a cloth, sponge or scrubber to clean the exterior. Rinse with water after scrubbing. Another borax-based cleanser comprises one quart of warm to hot water, a generous squirt of dish soap, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of borax, all shaken together in a spray bottle. Use this as you would any other spray cleaner.

For badly stained or very dirty toilets, allow extra time for the cleaning power of Borax to work its magic. At night or any other time the toilet won't be needed for a while, turn off the water connection to the toilet and flush it so the bowl is mostly empty of water. Sprinkle straight borax powder around the bowl, apply a paste of borax and water or borax and vinegar, or spray a borax-based solution all over the dirty surfaces. You can also apply borax or a borax-based solution to the exterior surfaces at this time if you wish. Let the cleaning product sit undisturbed for several hours or overnight.

Scrub and rinse the bowl and exterior solution after that time. It should be relatively easy to scrub away stains, including hard water stains. Repeat the process if needed for really tough stains.