Are you tired of harsh chemicals leaving your toilet less than sparkling? The point of using those harsh chemicals is to deeply clean dirt and grime, but if they don’t work as intended, they’re pointless.
Interestingly, some other household items can do the trick – in fact, denture tablets are an unexpected yet effective cleaning solution. They are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and can be safely used around pets or children (unlike harsh chemicals).
So, in this article, we will be exploring the use of denture tablets to clean toilets. We will discuss how they get the job done, and provide you with a stepwise guide on how to use them in your toilets.
Let’s jump right into it!
Why Use Denture Tablets to Clean Your Toilet?
Denture tablets contain mild abrasives and cleansing agents that break down stains and residue. Though they are non-toxic in nature, these abrasives are excellent at tackling mineral deposits, limescale, and general toilet bowl grime that builds up with frequent use.
Benefits of Using Denture Tablets for Cleaning
There are many benefits of using denture tablets for cleaning your toilet. First and foremost, they are easy to use. Just drop the tablet in the bowl, let it work its magic, and voila! Denture tablets are notoriously cheap and easy to find in stores, such as drugstores.
Finally, they are non-toxic, when compared to traditional toilet bowl cleaners. Traditional chemical cleaners can infiltrate the water supply, which is bad for the environment. Denture tablets use chemicals that are safe to flush down the toilet, as those chemicals become inert when disposed of.
How Do Denture Tablets Clean the Toilet?
Denture tablets have unique ingredients, such as baking soda and citric acid, that aid them in cleaning toilets deeply. Here is a look at some of the actions that dental tablets take against toilet grime when dissolving.
Key Ingredients in Denture Tablets
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) acts as a mild abrasive and deodorizer, offering a scrubbing effect when dissolved in water. Citric acid can break down mineral stains, such as rust. Additionally, some denture tablets contain mild bleach, which can disinfect the surface and make your toilet incredibly clean.
Science Behind Denture Tablets as Cleaners
All of the denture tablet ingredients, when combined with water, produce an effervescent (or fizzing) reaction that loosens dirt and mineral deposits around the toilet bowl. As mentioned above, the mild bleaching agents sanitize the surface of your toilet, disinfecting it entirely.
Step-by-Step Guide: Cleaning Toilet with Denture Tablets
Fortunately, it is incredibly simple to clean a toilet with denture tablets, so long as you follow the steps below.
1. Preparation
In order to clean your toilet bowl with a denture tablet, you will need certain materials to get started. First, check to see if your toilet is in need of regular cleaning, or if it has some mild discoloration – this is the best time to use this method. To begin, essential items include a toilet brush and your denture tablets. Feel free to use gloves, but they are not needed.
2. Drop Denture Tablets in the Bowl
Usually, 1-2 denture tablets per bowl will do the trick. However, if your stains are more severe, you may add an additional tablet for a greater fizzing and loosening effect. Drop the tablets in and allow them to fizz and dissolve in the water.
3. Let the Tablets Sit
Now, it’s a waiting game. It is ideal to wait about 15-30 minutes for maximum tablet effectiveness, but you can gauge how complete the reaction is by looking at your toilet. If you’re unsure, wait the entire 30 minutes before the next step.
4. Scrub the Bowl
Once your denture tablet has worked its magic, use a toilet brush to fully loosen any dirt and grime from the bowl. Make sure to focus on the water line and under the rim of the toilet to provide the deepest clean.
5. Flush the Toilet
As the final step in this cleaning process, flush the toilet to rinse away loosened dirt and residue kicked up by the tablets or the brush.
6. Inspect and Repeat if Necessary
At this point, your toilet bowl should look and smell squeaky clean. If stains persist, there’s no harm in doing a second round of the above steps, as using more denture tablets might provide a deeper clean.
Tips for Maximizing Results with Denture Tablets
Now that we’ve covered the basic steps for using denture tablets, let’s discuss some additional tips that can enhance your resulting clean.
Pre-Cleaning the Toilet Bowl
If you wish, you can quickly wipe or brush the toilet before adding tablets, especially if your toilet is very dirty. However, don’t use any cleaning products before using denture tablets, as it can produce a harmful reaction. Just run the toilet brush around the bowl to loosen thicker grime.
Use of Hot Water
Hot water can speed up the reaction of denture tablets and enhance their cleaning power. However, do not use boiling water on your porcelain toilet– basic hot water from your sink will work well.
Frequency of Use
Use this method as frequently as your toilet becomes dirty, usually every week to every month. You may find that this method cleans your toilets so well that you can reduce the amount of time spent cleaning it!
Are There Any Precautions to Consider?
Using denture tablets to clean your toilet is generally safe, and is assumed to be safer than using traditional bathroom chemicals, but the process does not come without small considerations.
Compatibility with Toilet Materials
Most toilet bowl materials are safe to use with denture tablets, but some materials can be altered due to the acidic nature of the product. If your toilet includes natural stone, plastic parts, or metal fixtures, be sure to avoid those areas. Porcelain bows are completely safe to interact with denture tablets.
Allergies and Sensitivities
If you have a skin allergy or sensitivity to any of the ingredients in denture tablets, it is advisable to throw on some gloves beforehand. It is advisable to use gloves anyway, as disinfecting a toilet can be a bit more involved than cleaning other household furniture.
Avoid Mixing with Other Cleaners
When you use denture tablets, make sure that you do not use any other cleaners or bleach alongside the product. This is to ensure that you prevent harmful reactions that can occur when mixing the active ingredients in denture tablets with those in bathroom cleaners or other products.
Conclusion
Most people don’t think to use denture tablets to clean toilets, but it is an incredibly convenient, cost-effective, and non-toxic alternative to toilet cleaner. Just grab a tab, drop it in the toilet, and let it fizz– that’s it! Next time your toilet needs a good clean, try this easy method and share your experience with us. Take care!
