Clean & Disinfect Your Toilet With A Lesser-Known Oil

No one likes having to use a bathroom that smells bad or looks gross, but you probably also don't like nose-burning bathroom cleaning chemicals like bleach. Having a hygienic bathroom is important — you dispel mold, bacteria, germs, and pests. However, conventional cleaners aren't always the best way to achieve this goal. One natural cleaner that might be worth testing in your bathroom is tea tree oil. There are tons of ways you can use tea tree oil in your home, and cleaning and disinfecting your toilet is one of them. This versatile essential oil often features in DIY cleaner recipes, making cleaning with it simple, affordable, and practical. You won't have to sacrifice performance by making the switch.

Whether you are used to using store-bought cleaners or prefer to use only verified homemade mixtures, learning more about tea tree oil will serve you well. After all, you're cleaning one of the grossest parts of your home — the toilet. Although it is not included in the Center for Disease Control's list of chemical disinfectants for public use (in, for example, healthcare facilities), tea tree oil is recognized as a possible disinfectant agent and the subject of numerous scientific studies. It's a promising antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral solution. It is, for example, an essential oil that can help target mold on bathroom tile. Of course, it is important to prepare and store any solution containing tea tree oil correctly to ensure it's effective.

DIY tea tree oil cleaning solutions for toilets typically combine water and tea tree oil at minimum — you need to dilute tea tree oil when using it for cleaning. You'll get more life from a single bottle, and it also reduces the chance of contact skin irritation. Here's the simplest solution you can make for cleaning a toilet's exterior: Mix 15 drops of tea tree oil with one quart of water in a dark amber or blue glass spray bottle. Tea tree oil breaks down in sunlight, so the dark container is vital. Shake the bottle to combine the liquids. Spray the solution onto the outside of your toilet, wipe the surfaces with a cloth, and then rinse everything thoroughly with fresh water. If you think you'll use the solution within a week, keep it. If not, discard it.

To clean inside the toilet bowl, combine half a teaspoon of tea tree oil and one cup of distilled white vinegar in a similar type of glass spray bottle. Spray the solution into the toilet bowl and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Sprinkle half a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl. It will likely start foaming due to a reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda. Scrub the bowl thoroughly with a toilet brush and then flush the toilet. Wipe away any remaining solution with a clean cloth. Use the leftover solution within a month. Experiment with different ratios of tea tree oil and other natural cleaning ingredients you'll want a healthy stock of in your home. Keep products like Castile soap, rubbing alcohol, lemons, and table salt on hand.