Your cleaning day just got easier with these lemon-scented homemade toilet cleaning bombs. Made with all-natural ingredients, these cleaners will leave your toilet sparkling with little effort.
Cleaning the toilets isn’t the most pleasant job, though if you were here when I got out the toilet brush, you would think differently. All my kids LOVE to scrub the toilets.
Yes, they are weird! But I know this is partly because they are little, the brush looks exciting, and it appears that we are playing in the water. In a few years, I will have to beg someone to clean the toilet. 😉
If you don’t have 4 little helpers, as I do, I have an easy solution! Heck, even with all my help, I prefer to use these homemade toilet cleaning bombs over getting the scrub brush out.
Less mess and no one has to fight over whose turn it is.
This toilet bomb recipe is simple to make, and they work so well!
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Safe toilet bowl cleaner alternative
Most conventional, if not all, toilet cleaners are loaded with toxins and chemicals. I try to get these ingredients out of my house just in case a child would get into them. And so they can help me clean without me having to worry.
Plus, kids love to touch everything and put everything in their mouths. I don’t want to spray all the surfaces in my home with dangerous ingredients.
Before making my own products, I remember having to wear a mask over my face when I would clean. I couldn’t stand breathing in all the toxic fumes, and it oftentimes gave me a headache.
Now that I clean with natural ingredients, I don’t have to worry, and my house is still getting cleaned.
Good news! You don’t need dangerous chemicals to keep your toilets clean. This DIY toilet cleaner is made with all safe ingredients, and they work so well! Plus, they are hands-off!
HOW DO HOMEMADE TOILET CLEANING BOMBS WORK?
Similar to bath bombs, when these hit the water, the baking soda and citric acid will have a reaction causing a “fizzing action,” if you will.
That is why you will see in a minute, we need to use as little water as possible when making these.
As the ingredients fizz, it will naturally clean your toilet and work to remove dirt and grim. When using these, you won’t need to use a toilet brush; however, I wouldn’t get rid of the brush for good.
Every once in a while, I like to use my toilet bowl cleaner and perform a deep scrub when needed.
Toilet bomb ingredients
Citric Acid
Citric acid is a must in toilet cleaner bombs. It can be found in lemons and limes, which is what gives them the tart flavor. However, citric acid is found in many cleaning agents in a manufactured form.
It is used as a disinfectant and can kill several bacteria and viruses. The environmental working group (EWG) gives it an A rating!
Baking Soda
Baking soda is great for absorbing odor 
and removing stains, making it a go-to for your natural cleaning. It is a mild alkali and can cause dirt and grease to dissolve easily in water.
Baking soda is a great deodorizer. Using baking soda in the toilet is a great way to maintain clean pipes and drains. It can also help to unclog drains!
Liquid Dish Soap
The recipe calls for a small amount of liquid dish soap. I prefer to use my homemade dish soap, but you can really use whatever kind you have on hand.
My homemade soap consists of water, castile soap, and essential oils.
When adding the liquid soap, I like to use a spray bottle and mist it. However, getting the ingredients too wet will cause the bombs to not hold together.
Adding essential oils for the toilet bombs
This is always the best part about DIYing your own cleaning products, or any products for that matter; you get to choose the scent. I personally prefer citrus oils for cleaning; lemon is my favorite!
You can also use tea tree, lime, wild orange, rosemary, or lavender. All these essential oils have cleansing and purifying properties, making them a great option for cleaning toilets.
HOW DO I USE MY HOMEMADE TOILET CLEANING BOMBS?
When the toilet needs a little refresher or when it starts to look grimy, simply drop one tablet into the toilet. Watch it fizz; well, this part is optional! 😉
Let it sit in the toilet for a few minutes before flushing if the toilet is extra dirty. If your toilet needs additional love, you can break out the toilet brush and give it a scrub.
I am not a plumber, but I feel like it is best to let it completely dissolve before flushing it down.
You can use these as needed. I personally add one to the toilet about twice a week. As it fizzes, you will smell the essential oils, which will help to freshen the bathroom.
If you are having guests over, just drop one in the toilet before everyone arrives, and then you will have a clean toilet and a fresh, clean-smelling bathroom.
HOMEMADE TOILET CLEANING BOMBS
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup citric acid
- 1 tablespoon liquid soap (You can use my homemade kind or any brand you have on hand.)
- 30 drops essential oils (My favorites are lemon and wild orange.)
You will also need some molds. I use bath bomb molds because I love the way they look!
Bath bomb molds or silicone molds
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix the baking soda and citric acid in a mixing bowl and stir well.
Add essential oils to the bowl and mix well.
Pour the liquid soap into a spray bottle and mist the powder mixture with it. You want to get the mixture wet enough that it holds together when you squeeze it together but not soaked.
Press the mixture into a small bath bomb or silicone mold.
Allow the mixture to completely dry overnight or until it hardens.
Remove from the mold and allow it to harden for at least 48 hours before storing it in a dark, dry place.
MORE CLEANING RECIPES
- Multi-Surface Bathroom Spray
- Anti-Mold Spray
- All-Purpose House Cleaner
- Furniture Dusting Spray
- Trash Can Deodorizer
- Leather Shoe Cleaner
Homemade Toilet Cleaning Bombs
Equipment
- Bath bomb molds or silicone molds
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- ¼ cup citric acid
- 1 tablespoon liquid soap You can use my homemade kind or any brand you have on hand.
- 30 drops essential oils My favorites are lemon and wild orange.
Instructions
- Mix the baking soda and citric acid in a mixing bowl and stir well.
- Add essential oils to the bowl and mix well.
- Add the liquid soap to a small spray bottle. Mist the powder mixture until it starts to hold together. (you should be able to squeeze it in your hand, and it leaves an imprint.)
- Press the mixture into a small bath bomb or silicone mold.
- Allow the mixture to dry overnight or until completely hard before removing it from the molds.
- Allow the toilet cleaning bombs to harden for at least 48 hours before storing them in a dark, dry area.
- Drop one tablet into the toilet bowl and wait for it to completely dissolve before flushing.
Notes
Homemade Toilet Cleaning Bombs
Equipment
- Bath bomb molds or silicone molds
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- ¼ cup citric acid
- 1 tablespoon liquid soap You can use my homemade kind or any brand you have on hand.
- 30 drops essential oils My favorites are lemon and wild orange.
Instructions
- Mix the baking soda and citric acid in a mixing bowl and stir well.
- Add essential oils to the bowl and mix well.
- Add the liquid soap to a small spray bottle. Mist the powder mixture until it starts to hold together. (you should be able to squeeze it in your hand, and it leaves an imprint.)
- Press the mixture into a small bath bomb or silicone mold.
- Allow the mixture to dry overnight or until completely hard before removing it from the molds.
- Allow the toilet cleaning bombs to harden for at least 48 hours before storing them in a dark, dry area.
- Drop one tablet into the toilet bowl and wait for it to completely dissolve before flushing.
Notes
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Shirley says
We have a septic tank system ~ Are the toilet bowl cleaning bombs safe for the septic system?
And are all your DIY natural cleaning products safe for the septic system?
We’re new to septic systems and I want to make sure whatever I put down the drains and toilet are safe.
Thank you
Laura says
I let it dissolve completely before flushing the toilet and I haven’t had any issues. 🙂
Joanna Bennett says
Ok I’m confused. The liquid soap in a spray bottle. Is it just soap, or soap with water? I feel like the little bit in the recipe is so little it may not go through the spray tube. I played the video, but there was no sound to it and there wasn’t anything saying specifically. Just add the soap. I would like to give that recipe a try.
Laura says
You can add a little water to the spray bottle if needed!
Allison says
Hi!
Can you use liquid castille soap for these?
Laura says
Yes, you can
Joan says
How long (about) do these toilet bombs last? And, this may sound silly but, I imagine you put them in the tank?
Thank you
Laura says
You put them in the toilet bowl.
Marie says
Please can I ask what the liquid soap is for thank you
Clare says
Thank you Laura for another great recipe:)
I would love to make these with my grandkids…..do you make these with your kids?
Michelle says
I can’t get them out of the molds! lol I just made them yesterday. Is there a trick?
Lilla says
Hi there. Thank you for the recipe. There are two types of citric acid. Monohydrate and anhydrous. Which one should I get for this recipe.
Shayna Dorfman says
How many does this make? What size mold should I use? Will silicone ice cube tray work?
Shayna Dorfman says
Sorry, I should have read through comments <3
Laura says
Can you put the. Toilet bombs in the tank?
Drenda says
Hi Laura,
Can I put the toilet bombs in the tank so that once I flush it cleans the bowl too.
Thanks
Drenda..
Sinéad says
This worked brilliantly for me. I have not yet made them into shapes but just threw 1/8 of the mixture into the toilet bowl. It’s shinning now after an hour and we would have lots of limescales in the toilet and it’s now gone! Yay! I’m going to mould the remaining mix.
For people who have issues I would say make sure you are using baking soda or bicarbonate of soda and not baking powder.
Thanks for the recipe
Laura says
Thank you so much for sharing, I am so glad you are enjoying my recipe!
Mrs. Jennifer White says
Do you have a book about your various recipes?
Laura says
Yes, I do. Search our oily house book on amazon and it will pop up!