Potty Humor

Which natural toilet-bowl cleaner wins with a flush? 10

Woman with toilet brushSure, you’ve greened your bathroom – fixing leaks and retrofitting for low-flow flushes – but what happens when you clean your bathroom? Are you undoing all your good deeds by flushing toxins down your toilet?

Many conventional toilet bowl cleaners contain corrosive ingredients like hydrochloric acid and chlorine bleach that can irritate eyes, skin, and the respiratory tract, and can be fatal if swallowed. Phosphates, which can cause harmful algal blooms, are also commonly used in bathroom cleaning products.

Natural toilet-bowl cleaners replace these harsh chemicals with plant- and mineral-based ingredients that are nontoxic and biodegradable. But are these eco-products worth a shit? I decided to find out. (Hey, it’s my potty, and I’ll try if I want to!)

I gathered eight different eco-options and wielded a toilet-bowl scrubby brush against the evils of long-mellowed toilet bowls near and far. Here are the results:

Biokleen Soy Toilet ScrubBiokleen Soy Toilet Scrub
Eco-claims: Environmentally friendly with no negative effects on rivers, streams, plants, or wildlife; kind to those with chemical sensitivities and allergies; no artificial fragrance, colors, or preservatives; 99 percent VOC free and ozone safe; contains no phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, SLS or SLES, EDTA, DEA, No SARA Title II, CA 65, or EPA priority pollutants; no materials listed by the ACGIH as hazardous; no animal testing or animal ingredients
Scent: Mint
Price: $4.99 / 32 fl. oz.

This soy scrub is a thick, white paste; add that to the minty scent and it feels a bit like you’re squirting the toilet with kaopectate. It does cover the bowl well, but the opaque white coloring makes it hard to see where it’s been squirted – and also where there might be extra dirty spots to scrub. It works OK, and it’s one of the few that doesn’t require a soaking or wait time, which is nice if you’re in a hurry to freshen up before a surprise visit from the mother in law.

Clorox Green Works Natural Toilet Bowl CleanerClorox Green Works Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Made with plant- and mineral-based ingredients; biodegradable; not tested on animals; contains no phosphorus or bleach
Scent: Original (lemony)
Price: $2.59 / 24 fl. oz.

Don’t let the Clorox name on this one scare you – there’s no bleach in this product. Like the other Green Works products, it carries the Sierra Club logo and promises natural ingredients. It delivers on Clorox cleaning power, though – producing the cleanest bowl of the bunch. The thick green liquid fully covers the toilet bowl and the mild lemony/lime scent is pleasant. My only complaint would be that it produces long-lasting bubbles that don’t go away, even with a second flush.

Ecover Ecological Toilet Bowl CleanerEcover Ecological Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Plant-based ingredients—not based on petrochemical ingredients; no chemical residue; optimum level of biodegradability (far exceeds legislative requirements); safe for river and marine life; no animal testing
Scent: Pine
Price: $3.99 / 25 fl. oz.

I like that the bottle notes that Ecover’s ecological factory is built using a grass roof for insulation, wood beams from sustainable forest, and bricks made from coal mine waste. However, the contents are less likable – the strong piney scent almost made me gag as I scrubbed the toilet. And the color-less liquid made it hard to see which parts of the toilet bowl were covered.

Seventh Generation Natural Toilet Bowl CleanerSeventh Generation Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Nontoxic; biodegradable; no dyes; not tested on animals; no animal ingredients
Scent: Emerald cypress and fir
Price: $3.59 / 32 fl. oz.

While the Ecover product left a strong artificial piney scent, the Seventh Generation cleaner had much more natural pine scent to it, leaving the bathroom smelling like a forest rather than a Pine-Sol crime scene. Unfortunately, it was not as strong a cleaner as some of the other options – getting the bowl only about 80 percent clean after a hefty scrubbing down.

Method Lil\\' Bowl BluMethod Lil’ Bowl Blu
Eco-claims: Nontoxic, naturally derived, biodegradable; not tested on animals
Scent: Eucalyptus mint
Price: $5.49 / 24 fl. oz.

This one definitely gets points for creative design and marketing – the curvy bottle is cute enough to leave out and the wordsmiths at Method are as punny as (some) Grist staffers. The blue liquid cleans fairly well, but the strong piney-eucalyptus scent fumes are long lasting and too strong to be pleasant.

Earth Friendly Products Toilet KleenerEarth Friendly Products Toilet Kleener
Eco-claims: Does not contain phosphates, dyes, or perfumes; does not contain SLS or Cocamide DEA
Scent: Natural cedar
Price: $2.99 / 24 fl. oz.

This one has a mild smell – more burnt orange than cedar. My main complaint about it (aside from the Kute product name!) is that it is so thick that it doesn’t flow down the bowl to cover it. Instead, the thick, clear get clings right where you squirt it. You’re supposed to leave it there 5-10 minutes, but I’m not sure the purpose, as it will only clean the thin line where it lands until you scrub.

J.R. Watkins Natural Home Care Toilet Bowl CleanerJ.R. Watkins Natural Home Care Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims:  Biodegradable; no animal ingredients; free of ammonia, benzene, boron, butyl cellosolve, chlorine, dye, ether, formaldehyde, isopropanol, kerosene, mineral spirit, toxin, perfume, petrochemicals, phosphate, phosphoric acid, propylene glycol, SLS, sulfate, sulfuric acid
Scent: Lemon, natural cedar
Price: $4.99 / 24 fl. oz.

This cleaner had a mild lemon scent – not too overpowering – and got the bowl mostly clean, though it recommends soaking overnight for tough stains. It was a clearish, cloudy color, which made it hard to see what parts of the bowl it covered. Bonus points for the “Gristy” labeling on the bottle boasting its “conscience cleaning power” and “guilt/anxiety-free contents.”

Mrs. Meyer\\'s Clean Day Toilet Bowl CleanerMrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Cruelty-free, not tested on animals; septic safe; biodegradable; no chlorine or solvents
Scent: Lemon verbena
Price: $4.99 / 32 fl. oz.

The “lemon verbena” scent was piney rather than being citrusy, but it still offered a bit of a “pick-me-up” effect. The toilet bowl was nice and white after scrubbing the blue cleaner away. This is a good choice, though more expensive than some of the other options.


The bottom line: The best clean for the least green was the Clorox Green Works Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner. For about a dollar more, Mrs. Meyer’s is also a good option.

Sarah van Schagen is Grist’s Seattle editor.

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  1. amazingdrx's avatar

    amazingdrx Posted 7:57 am
    20 May 2009

    We plumbers (pro/am) implore you! No dye please!! That stuff is disgusting and stains the hands.Best to give a link ot two to composting toilet articles in this sort of piece though.  Stop the sludge!http://twitter.com/amazingdrx

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  2. lyrivyzy Posted 8:41 am
    20 May 2009

    I put half white vinegar half water with 20 drops of peppermint essential oil in a one quart spray bottle. I spray this and use a rag to wipe the seat. Then, I pour some baking soda and vinegar in the bowl and use a brush on it. It works great and it's cheap!

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  3. IsadoraN. Posted 10:53 am
    20 May 2009

    I've used most of the products tested for this article, and I have to agree with most of the results the tester found.  Personally, I don't like the Clorox brand, which still uses a dye that I don't trust to be environmentally friendly.  Not to mention the majority of Clorox products are questionable or harmful to people and the environment, and I don't like supporting even the "environmentally friendly" arm of the company.Instead, I stopped buying a separate toilet bowl cleaner all together.  I use whatever all-purpose cleaner I'm using on the rest of the bathroom (usually biokleen all-purpose or my own recipe) on the tank and seat, and either borax or baking soda in the bowl.  Vinegar works better on hard-water stains than any bowl cleaner, and it can work with either borax or baking soda on tough stains.  I add essential oils to all of my home made cleaners to add fragrance and germ-killing power.  My essential oils of choice tend to be eucalyptus, tea tree, cinnamon, or lavender, depending on the job and my mood.

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  4. KaylenS Posted 1:14 pm
    20 May 2009

    I won't buy 'natural' cleaners that don't disclose their ingredients, so the Clorox product is a definite no for me. (Made 'with' plant- and mineral-based ingredients doesn't preclude most of the ingredients from being petroleum based.)
    I currently use the Seventh Generation product, although I'm thinking of trying Nature Clean's toilet bowl cleaner next.

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  5. Natural5 Posted 6:00 pm
    20 May 2009

    I agree with Kaylens.  i'm suspicious of Clorox and any other cleaner that doesn't list what actually is in the product.I usually use vinegar & baking soda, but will occasionally buy one of the above when I have a coupon because it's easier for the kids to use.

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  6. vesper7's avatar

    vesper7 Posted 9:41 am
    21 May 2009

    I like to make my own cleaners. I use vinegar and baking soda, too!!I've had allergic reactions to some natural cleaners.

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  7. elizahleigh Posted 6:20 pm
    21 May 2009

    Hi Sarah -- this is a fantastic and really thorough review of all of the natural toilet bowl cleaners out there.  I'm going to let my fellow greenies over at Greenwala know about your post. Recently, Greenwala members shared their perspective of what the top natural cleaning products are (you can check out the article here if you're interested --http://tinyurl.com/qxjwud ) but no one could settle on a toilet bowl cleaner, so I'll be sure to share your article with them. If you ever want to join a green social network with a purpose, we'd be happy to have you on board...I like the stuff that you write!! <!--Session data--><!--Session data-->

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  8. greenjewelry Posted 1:55 am
    24 May 2009

     Hey, I heard about a new jewelry company that is launched and have a lot less expensiveness prices then Green Karat. You can check their website http://www.GreenORO.com and find lot of green jewelry pieces that are alike green karat but at very competitive rates. They specialize in green wedding bands and non-conflict diamond rings. The company is as green, environmentally and socially conscious, as a jeweler can be and unique thing is that they are offering three very exciting features which no one is offering right now.1-        Green Box Program
    2-        One Tree & One Ring a Time
    3-        Make Your Own ORO Ring
    4-        ORO Certificate of Authenticity [ Each ring you buy from http://www.GreenOro.com carries a Unique Tag Number ]The head of the company is Shimon Farkas and you can see how extensive her background is in all things green at her current website. http://www.GreenOro.com, He & his family is in jewelry business for three generations and featured on the ABC Morning News and New York Fashion Show. Shimon Farkas is the prime manufacturer of green jewelry all in house and nothing is outsourced to any third party that gives him leverage to cut down his cost and share it with the customers and also with assurance he is offering ORO Certificate of Authenticity with each ring.The aim is to make the pieces extremely affordable AND eco-friendly. Should be a really innovative website too, you can also ask for any Custom Design and that can be made within a matter of few weeks. 

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  9. JMR Posted 4:21 am
    27 May 2009

    Try Coke! Just dump a big bottle of Coca Cola into the toilet bowl, leave it for a few hours, and the bowl will be amazingly clean. Hate to think what it does to our stomachs!

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  10. steveY3K Posted 4:40 am
    28 May 2009

    BORAX, or the vinegar-baking soda combo. See Clean & Green - Annie Berthold-Bond. I've been using it for years. No extra costs; No extra packaging. No extra resources used in manufacture, shipping, disposal, etc.Does not fit into the consumer culture model, but that model is at the heart of most of the climate change conditions we have helped create. It may seem odd to focus on these "green" products for non-use, as opposed to fast foods or infomercial "opportunities" or the cupholder Olympics, but if those who are conscious of the conditions at the root of the dangers only shift their buying habits to new, improved, better objects then the habit remains. See for yourself--search inside the book (see above) at Amazon.
    I understand and appreciate the value of Grist comparing the various market offerings. I appreciate various entrepreneurs coming out with more responsible products. What concerns me is the "need" we have for choice among so many options. Go to the supermarket and buy mustard or dry cereal or salad dressing. Stand back and watch fellow consumers hypnotized by the primary colors. How come supermarket shelves don't sport cupholders for customers' convenience as they stand mesmerized by marketing? End of rant.

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