1. First of all, get your kit together
You will need the following items:
A toilet brush – buy a new one if you have not replaced yours in the last few months. (They tend to get horrible rust stains at the base of the bristles after a while that can be mistaken for something worse. Don’t bother with something fancy – a cheap plastic one, preferably with an integral lid, is ideal as you can replace it frequently).
Rubber gloves reserved solely for cleaning the toilet.
Toilet cleaner for the toilet bowl (or white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda if you want to go the environment-friendly route).
Scouring powder or cream for cleaning under the rim An all-purpose cleaning spray (for the outside of the toilet and the handle).
White vinegar, a plastic scourer and a pumice stone if there are serious limescale marks Paper towel or old rags that you are happy to dispose of after use (and an old plastic bag to dispose of them).
2. Put on your rubber gloves and flush the loo
Then, using the toilet brush as a plunge, push the water in the toilet down the U-bend so that the water lies below the normal water line.
Leave the brush in the toilet and leave the toilet cleaner to work while you move to the next step.
3. Squirt the toilet cleaner around the toilet bowl
Squirt the cleaner under the rim and down the sides of the bowl. Then, using the toilet brush, brush the cleaner around the bowl and as far under the rim as the brush allows.
4. Spray the toilet with the cleaning spray
Spray, the outside of the toilet, then wipe it down using the paper towel. Pay particular attention to the parts that often get missed – the front part of the toilet stand, right underneath the bowl, the part by the hinges of the toilet seat and underneath the toilet seat. Remember also to spray and clean the handle or flush button.
5. Scrub under the rim
I know this isn’t the best bit of the job, but you ‘re nearly there! Use some cream cleaner for this and kitchen paper or an old rag.
6. Flush the loo
When you do this, keep the brush in the bowl to help clean it. Then simply put the brush back in the holder.
What if your loo has not been cleaned for a while?
Sorry but it does happen. Perhaps you have just moved into a new home that hasn’t been well cared for. Or, dare I say, just taken your eye off the ball.
If your toilet has limescale marks (they tend to be round the water line, at the back of the toilet or round the rim), soak some wads of paper towel in white vinegar and place onto the marks. Ideally, you will need to leave these on for a few hours or preferably overnight – then the marks should scrub away easily with your toilet brush or a plastic scourer (don’t use a metal one as this will leave rusty marks). Any residual limescale can be rubbed away gently with a pumice stone. Don’t be tempted to use bleach to get rid of limescale – bleach will turn the limescale white but will not remove it.
If your toilet has horrible yellow stains on the underside of the seat (sorry again, but it does happen), they are very hard to shift even with bleach and scouring powder. The tip that works best is to make a thick paste made from Napisan powder (find it in the baby product aisle of the supermarket) and bleach. Take care as it is a strong chemical mix. Spread it on the offending parts of the seat (and make sure no one uses the loo for a while). After a few hours, scrub the marks and rinse off the paste.