Five alternative toilet cleaners

Before you tip flat Cola down the sink, why not use it as a toilet cleaner? Pour into the bowl and leave overnight to remove lime scale. Even if you don’t have flat Cola, a fresh bottle of an economy brand is not only cheaper than bleach but also more environmentally friendly. Quite what it does to your insides is anybody’s guess.

Here are some more natural cleaning products without all the harmful chemicals you find in your typical toilet cleaners.

Sodium bicarbonate – helps control odor and prevents clogging. You’ll need roughly 100g a week to make a real difference. If you’re looking to buy in bulk try a  swimming pool equipment store or chemists.

Borax and lemon juice – this is a good solution for getting rid of stubborn stains. Mix together 100g of borax and 2 fluid oz. of lemon juice until you have a paste. Leave it for an hour, then scrub clean with an old toothbrush. Be careful however with the borax though. Be sure to avoid contact with your eyes and be sure the room is well ventilated and wear rubber gloves.

Sodium bicarbonate and lemon juice – instead of using borax, you can also use sodium bicarbonate in the same way, although it may be slightly less effective.

Vinegar – pour vinegar into the toilet instead of bleach and leave it overnight, this will help remove limescale from hard water. To clean the bowl, use 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar.