Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaners (and plastic-free brushes)

Most toilet cleaners are made with toxic chemicals that harm aquatic life, are tested on animals and sold in plastic packaging. Here are some better brands, plus alternatives to plastic toilet brushes (that leach microplastics down the pan and into the sea).

• Use unscented products for pregnancy/nursing and near babies or pets. Citrus oils in particular are toxic to pets (even if rinsed and dried, residue could be licked from paws).
• Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). 

Use with SEEP plastic-free cleaning cloths and sponges (they also make fair trade rubber gloves in eco packs. Read how to clean floors naturally (without harming spiders).

It’s best to avoid toilet brushes, as most are made with plastic that release microplastics as they are scrubbed around the bowl). Or at least invest in a part silicone toilet brush that is better quality and less likely to ‘lose bristles’ when you brush’. Read below on an alternative to toilet brushes!

Greenscents Organic Loo Cleaner 

Greenscents is a wonderful eco-cleaning company, everything is vegan-friendly with no palm oil, made with natural ingredients, not tested on animals and sold in refillable bottles, which also saves you money! Everything is also made in Somerset with Exmoor water.

Greenscents Loo Cleaner is a powerful product to remove toilet grime, and also kind to the planet. The anti-bacterial blend of organic cider vinegar, neem oil and an exclusive organic surfactant mix helps to remove stains and leave bowls sparkling clean, without synthetic chemicals or harsh fumes.

Available in non-scents, minty or citrus.

Use code GSENGLANDNATURALLY for 15% off entire order (minimum purchase £20)

Also in bulk form, there is also a Nonscents range, ideal for pregnancy/nursing, cleaning near babies/pets (or for their bedding and bowls) and for allergies. All scents are naturally derived, and items are also certified organic. 

Made with 98% organic ingredients, this loo cleaner is far safer than bleach (never mix any kind of vinegar with bleach, it can cause toxic gas). It’s also suitable for composting toilets and septic tanks.

1 500 ml bottle will clean 33 loos, 5 litres over 330 loos, and 20 litres over 1,333 loos (ideal for offices and large buildings like hotels.

How does the refill scheme work?

You can buy 500ml glass amber bottles (don’t handle with wet hands) for everyday use (and retail sale). Then you can buy refillable items in 5 litre and 20 litre containers. Just return empties for sanitising and reuse, as simple as that! You can buy bundle sets to save money, with the refills included with your first order.

Use with one-time purchase pumps for easy use and refilling.

Miniml refillable Toilet Cleaner

Miniml Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaner is sold in a 1 litre bottle with refill bottle. To use, pour around the top of the bowl and allow to run down sides. Let stand for at least 5 to 10 minutes, before flushing. For tough stains, use a sponge or cloth.

Anti-Bac Eco Bathroom Cleaner

Miniml Anti-Bac Bathroom Cleaner again is sold with refill bottles will last you ages! This tackles 99.9% of bacteria, to banish limescale and grim with ease, leaving a cucumber mint scent.

Where to recycle cleaning Products

If you have some toxic products that you no longer wish to use, don’t pour them down the sink, as this can harm waterways. You can recycle empty containers with household waste. With bottles still containing product, your council should be able to collect via the hazardous waste department. The fact that this is where they should be taken, is good reason to switch to a more natural brand!

Lybeka (hygienic toilet wand!)

Lubeka toilet brush alternative may be expensive but it’s designed to last for life, and an ideal purchase for grand homes, hotels, restaurants etc who use it a lot.

Made from Jesmonite stone (an eco-friendly mix of stone and resin) with silicone and steel, there are no dirty heads to clean, nothing to dispose of or even just flush away, and it’s plastic-free.

The unique design is super-hygienic and will never scratch your enamel nor need replacing. And unlike toilet brushes, it does break off tiny microplastics, each time you clean a toilet pan.

The inside is lined with a washable insert made in Southern Italy that is made to last, but also easily recycled.

How to use Lubeka toilet wand

You simply use it with a scrunched-up ball of recycled bathroom tissue to clean the inside of your toilet, then drop and flush away.

You can mount the toilet cleaner on the wall (you get a free mounting kit) or just stand on the floor.  The long firm tongs are sprung with stainless steel, to make them easy to grab and use. They are also super-hygienic, soft to touch and easy to wipe clean.