A sparkling clean bathtub is every homeowner’s dream. The last thing you want to find in your home after a long sweaty day is a bathtub with yellowish layers. A clean bathtub allows you to have a worry-free bathing experience in hygienic conditions. But can you use toilet bowl cleaner on a bathtub and expect the same sparkling results?
If toilet bowl cleaner is the only cleaning agent available in most bathrooms, it is not usual to wonder whether you can use it to clean your bathtub. Well, the issue presents a dilemma to many homeowners. So, keep reading to gain insights into cleaning a bathtub with a toilet bowl cleaner.
Can You Use Toilet Cleaner to Clean Your Bathtub?
The efficacy of a toilet bowl cleaner in cleaning bathtubs is a question that lingers in many people’s minds. Most homeowners consider toilet cleaners to be feasible substitutes for bathtub cleaners. However, using toilet cleaners repeatedly damages bathtubs in the long term. The reactive nature of toilet cleaners causes the deterioration of ceramic surfaces over time.
Toilet bowl cleaners are attractive to homeowners because they are highly effective in getting rid of stains on bathtubs. But you should know that the active ingredients in toilet cleaner are a double-edged sword. Research shows that the cleaner gives homeowners instant gratification but causes damage to bathtubs over time.
Some of the active ingredients in toilet bowl cleaners include hydrochloric acid, benzene sulfonic acid, bleach, and sodium hypochlorite. The ingredients make the toilet cleaner a highly potent stain remover. However, the active ingredients are very toxic and can trigger skin irritation and allergic reactions.
Some residues may persist even after cleaning your bathtub with toilet cleaner and rinsing it off. This may elevate health concerns for bathtub users. Also, the residues can alter your bathtub’s texture, appearance, and color.
A notable advantage of using toilet cleaner on your bathtub is that it obliterates all germs and pathogens. Nonetheless, the strong acids found in toilet cleaner can discolor bathroom tiles permanently. This is particularly so if you regularly deploy toilet cleaner on your bathtub. Continue reading to find out viable alternatives to toilet bowl cleaner.
Alternative to Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Given the undesirable effects of toilet cleaner on your bathtub, it is important to consider alternatives. Ideally, it would be best to use toilet cleaner on your bathtub as a last resort. Here is a list of substitutes for cleaning your bathtub:
Homemade Cleaner
If you have any reservations about using a homemade cleaner to clean your bathtub, you should know it is just as good as commercial cleaners. Also, homemade cleaners give bathtubs, sinks, and other bathroom accessories the sparkle you desire.
To make homemade cleaner, you should utilize an empty discarded container. Begin by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar in the container. It is worth noting that vinegar has natural acids that make it an effective stain remover. Using vinegar also lowers the risk of discoloration in your bathtub.
Next, add some antimicrobial oils into the water-vinegar mixture. Antimicrobial oils help to decimate all pathogens in your bathtub. The mixture’s antimicrobial capabilities make your bathtub safer and healthier for users.
Additionally, antimicrobial oils have an unmatched flagrance that neutralizes foul odors in your bathtub. This makes homemade cleaners just as good as or even better than commercial cleaners.
Vinegar-Baking Soda Mixture
The vinegar-baking soda mixture is a traditional cleaner used to sanitize and remove stains from surfaces. The combination is also ideal for cleaning bathtubs. Here is the list of ingredients you require to concoct the cleaner:
- One tablespoon of fluid dishwashing soap.
- One and a half cups of pristine water.
- Half a cup of white vinegar.
After mixing the ingredients, pour the mixture evenly onto your bathtub and leave it for approximately ten minutes. After that, employ a scrubber to scrub the mixture off. Finish by rinsing your bathtub with clean water. You will notice that your bathtub achieves a bright, sparkling appearance.
Can You Use Toilet Cleaner to Remove Stains from Your Sink?
Using toilet cleaner to remove stains from your sink is not the best idea. Manufacturers ordinarily use stainless steel to make modern kitchen sinks. Given the rust-resistant properties of stainless steel, most individuals mistakenly reckon that using toilet cleaner on kitchen sinks is okay. Well, this could not be further from the truth.
The acidic properties of toilet cleaner make it reactive when it comes into contact with stainless steel. Using toilet cleaner on your kitchen sink repeatedly makes it lose its shiny appearance over time. Scratch marks appear long-term, making your kitchen sink seem old and worn out.
Additionally, the sodium hypochlorite found in most toilet cleaners poses a health hazard to animals and humans. It is thus advisable to use toilet cleaner as a last resort. Remember to use gloves on the rare occasion that you deploy toilet cleaner on your kitchen sink.
Viable Substitutes for Cleaning Kitchen Sinks
Given the harmful effects of toilet cleaner, it is only sensible to look for viable alternatives to remove stains from your kitchen sink. Here are feasible substitutes for sanitizing your kitchen sink:
Commercial Cleaners
There are multiple commercial cleaners available in the market today. The cleaners are suited to the unique cleaning requirements of stainless steel surfaces. They are devoid of reactive acids and pose lower risks to human and animal health.
Vinegar
Vinegar has passed the test of time as a reliable cleaning agent for ceramic and stainless steel surfaces. All you have to do is pour it evenly on your kitchen sink. After leaving it for several minutes, use a soft scrubber to wipe it off. Finish by rinsing your kitchen sink surface with pristine water.
Final Thoughts
Using toilet bowl cleaner to sanitize and remove stains on your bathtub is not the best idea. The active ingredients in toilet bowl cleaner have reactive effects that discolor and damage your bathtub over time. Also, the active ingredients pose a health hazard to humans and animals. Feasible substitutes for toilet cleaner include homemade cleaner and a vinegar-baking soda mixture.