Can You Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner in the Shower?

Most people think of toilet cleaner as a substitute to clean showers and sink surfaces. However, you can also utilize toilet cleaners on surfaces such as porcelain toilet bowls but not on large surfaces like showers.

Consider using natural products like tile stain removers or tile cleaners as they’re safer than toilet bowl cleaners for showers.

It’s not advisable, though, to use toilet bowl cleaners in showers due to the effects caused when your feet come into contact with the toilet bowl cleaner as they contain lethal substances.

Furthermore, you shouldn’t use hydrochloric acid in a bathtub as the acid will tamper with the chrome plating.

But the main question that I’ve seen on most discussion platforms is, can you use toilet bowl cleaner in the shower? This post will answer your question and even walk you through some alternatives to toilet bowl cleaners to keep you safe from the toxic nature or toilet bowl cleaners.

Can You Use Toilet Cleaner in the Shower?

Yes, you can use a toilet cleaner in the shower, though they are not meant to be used on large surfaces like showers and, even worse, not recommended.

While toilet cleaners might work in the showers, it’s not the most recommended method since they’re corrosive and emits toxic fumes.

Toilet bowl cleaners clean off dirt, mineral deposits, and particles stuck inside the pipes by breaking down any organic matter they come to contact with—to ease scrubbing, so you don’t have to use harmful chemicals.

Hydrochloric acid attacks the sink drain or everything that’s at the bottom of the tub or shower. Using it on large surfaces like showers and bathtubs with poor ventilation can be hazardous as you inhale them. That said, you should only use bleach in small areas such as toilets.

You can, however, use tile stain remover or tile cleaners in the shower which are safer than toilet bowl cleaner.

Can I Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner Elsewhere?

You should only use dedicated cleaners on particular surfaces, including toilet bowls, showers, among other things. Using dedicated cleaners on other surfaces could corrode, thus lowering their quality. However, dedicated cleaners can be an excellent option if you are looking forward to deep cleaning.

• Bathroom cleaners should be indicated safe for use on porcelain
• Choose the most appropriate products if you’d want to use them on glass
• For countertops, make sure that the cleaner you purchase is labeled as safe for natural stone, laminate, among others
• For sinks, find cleaners that can blend well with porcelain, acrylic, or any other faucet materials
• For showers and tubs, be sure to select cleaners that are suitable for ceramic tile, porcelain, vinyl, among others

Ingredients

Most bathroom cleaners depend on several other ingredients to be effective—natural, traditional, and germ-killing. Let’s discuss each of these:

• Traditional cleaners feature potent grime as well as stain-lifting chemicals. Others have volatile compounds, artificial fragrances that can be helpful with specific conditions, such as allergies.
• As for natural cleaners, they’re usually made from natural ingredients, such as lactic acid, essential oils, among others. These cleaners are usually very powerful but are not toxic and non-corrosive
• You can find germ-killing cleaners in both green and traditional versions. They usually feature antibacterial properties and are the best when you want to kill germs in the bathroom. If you need the best results, it’s best to choose a germ cleaner with a 95 percent or higher guarantee.

Can You Use Toilet Cleaner in the Bathtub?

Toilet bowl cleaners contain strong products like hydrochloric acid, which can damage your bath. No doubt, toilet bowl cleaners have excellent cleaning results, but they’re also highly lethal.

For example, they can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. Research says that toilet cleaners have severe aquatic toxicity, meaning they will negatively impact your health, such as your skin.

The reason toilet bowls don’t react with toilet cleaners is that they’re resistant to hydrochloric acid, which bathroom surfaces don’t have (acid-resistant materials) thus can get ruined.

Most people prefer using toilet bowl cleaners to clean bathtubs and sinks. However, can it be used with bathtubs, and is it safe?

It’s not recommended to use toilet cleaner to wash a bathtub. Sure, they can clean the debris and easily removes stains on bathtubs, but not just recommended.

Can You Use Toilet Cleaner on Grout?

Many toilet cleaners have sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. The two chemicals remove stains and grime on porcelain or tile surfaces and grout. However, large amounts can be toxic, though they will get the job done for you.

Grout soaks up dirt and grime like a sponge, thus discoloring easily if the sealant has worn off. Grout’s porous nature shows that solutions like toilet bowl cleaners and vinegar can corrode the grout, can damage your surface. 

Mix ½ cup baking soda, ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 1 tsp dish soap. Spoon the solution onto the grout and wait for 5-10 minutes, then use a brush to scrub the grout lines. You should scrub hard to agitate the grout and clean the mixture to break up any hard stuck dirt.

Can You Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner on Fiberglass?

Yes, you can use a toilet bowl cleaner on Fiberglas because it removes scums. Toilet bowl cleaner is manufactured with muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid, a strong chemical—so you must protect yourself when carrying out this process.

How Do Toilet Bowl Cleaners Work?

In-tank toilet bowl cleaners dissolve in water in the tank and fill the bowl with cleaner every time you flush to maintain freshness and prevent stains from sticking to the sides of the bowl.

The tablets take a few flushes to work though dropping them in the bowl isn’t easy. They will help reduce the number of times you have to clean your toilet.

Keep in mind that, although manufacturers say the toilet water containing the drop-in tablets isn’t harmful to kids and pets and doesn’t spoil the plumbing or septic systems.

However, you should prevent your pets from drinking any toilet water with drop-in tablets, and you have only to use the tablets in frequently flashed toilets as this reduces the build-up of the concentration of cleaner in the tank and risks destroying the parts.

The process should take about 15 to 20 minutes, but the timing differs with the type of bowl cleaner you’re using. Some brands instruct to let it sit for 10  minutes, but you can try to wipe down the outside parts of the bowl as the disinfectant does its job.

The toilet bowl cleaner has to be undiluted to sanitize the porcelain, so you must drain the water in the toilet first. The easiest and quickest way is to use a bucket or empty storage bin, fill it with half-gallon of water, and pour it quickly into the toilet while aiming at the back where the water leaves the bowl. This will trigger the flushing action, drain the water, and prevent water from filling in the tank.

Alternatives To Clean The Shower

First, you need to mix 0.25 cup ammonia, same with white vinegar, 0.5 cup of baking soda, and seven cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray down the shower, then observe as a cleansing, bubbling foam is foamed.

You just need a few TLC  and pantry items for your shower to look clean and wake up to the sight of mold-free tiles.

You shouldn’t think of a refreshing bathing experience if the shower looks or even feels dirty. No hard scrubbing is essential if you want to keep the tub, tile, grout, liner, or door impeccably clean.

Ensure to use homemade shower cleaners after every use. Homemade shower cleaner is easy to make, and you only require a few accessible ingredients. Additionally, you only have to be consistent with the cleaning and can get by with light cleaning.

Lastly, no matter how frequently you clean the shower, there are times you’ll have to clean thoroughly. And we have tricks of handling that here.

Frquently Asked Questions