DIY Bathroom Cleaners
To learn more about the health and safety click on the ingredient's name
To find out if the products were effective in lab testing click on the link in the Lab Tested column. The links will bring you to the lab's CleanerSolutions database website. The Lab Tested column header link summarizes the testing process.
Keep in mind that the DIY formulations that did not work in the lab can still work at home under modified conditions.
For example:
- longer cleaning time
- more "elbow grease"
- rinsing
See a formulation that you want us to test? Email the lab and we will test it for you. Please include Formulation number in email.
| Ingredients | Notes | Effective in Lab | Lab Tested |
| Toilet Bowl | |||
| Baking soda and vinegar | Sprinkle baking soda in bowl, then squirt with vinegar and scrub. Cleans & deodorizes | No | See Results for Formulation 17 |
| Borax and lemon juice or vinegar make a paste | Removes stubborn stains like toilet bowl ring For a tough stain flush toilet to wet the bowl and then apply the paste to the stain and let sit for 2 hours | No | See Results for Formulation 18 |
| Denture tabs are good substitute for toilet cleaner | Drop 2 tablets in the bowl and scrub as usual | Yes | See Results for Formulation 19 |
| Liquid castile soap and baking soda or borax | Scrub toilet | No | See Results for Formulation 20 |
| Baking soda and Murphy's oil soap | Sprinkle baking soda in the wet bowl. Add a couple drops of soap and scrub bowl. Flush toilet to rinse. | No | See Results for Formulation 21 |
| Tub & Tile Cleaners | |||
| Baking soda | Sprinkle it on the tub/tile and scrub with a damp sponge | No | See Results for Formulation 22 |
| Vinegar and baking soda | Will remove film buildup on the tub. Apply vinegar on a sponge and wipe tiles. Use baking soda as you would a scouring powder. Rinse thoroughly | No | See Results for Formulation 23 |
| ¼ cup vinegar in gallon water | Use on surfaces that have films or need more cleaning | Yes | See Results for Formulation 24 |
| Baking soda and water paste | To clean grout. Put paste on grout with toothbrush or sponge, scrub grout and then rinse | No | See Results for Formulation 25 |
| Half a lemon dipped in borax | Rub area to be cleaned rinse well and dry with soft cloth | No | See Results for Formulation 26 |
| Baking soda and Murphy's oil soap | Use baking soda in place of scouring powder. Sprinkle baking soda on wet tub and rub. Then add some soap and continue scrubbing. Rinse well | No | See Results for Formulation 27 |
| Liquid castile soap (medium amount) and baking soda/borax | Not Tested (Formulation 30) | ||
| Fixtures: General | |||
| 2 tablespoon baking soda in 1 quart water | Clean plumbing fixtures. Wipe on then rinse | Not Tested (Formulation 31) | |
| Vinegar soaked paper towels | Hard lime deposits can be removed by putting on the deposits for about an hour | Not Tested (Formulation 32) | |
| Fixtures: Porcelain | |||
| Cream of Tartar | Sprinkle on a damp cloth | Not Tested (Formulation 33) | |
| Fixtures: Shower head | |||
| ½ cup vinegar and one quart water | Metal (hard water deposits) Put shower head in mixture and boil water for 15 minutes | Not Tested (Formulation 34) | |
| 1 pint white vinegar and 1 pint hot water | Plastic Soak shower head and soak for about an hour | Not Tested (Formulation 35) | |
| Fixtures: Drain Cleaners | |||
| ½ cup baking soda, 1 cup white vinegar, 1 gallon boiling water, ½ a used lemon | Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, follow with the vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for a few minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water. For slow drains, use once a week to keep drains fresh and clear | Not Tested (Formulation 36) | |
