Ditch the store bought cleaners full of chemicals and clean your bathroom with these homemade toilet bombs. They’re an easy no-scrub option to keep your toilet sparkling clean!
If there’s one thing I despise cleaning it’s the bathroom. I mean, is there anything in the bathroom that’s fun to clean?
I’m always finding toothpaste and hand soap all over the girls’ sink and don’t get me started on the shower! Although, cleaning the shower is a little easier when I use my daily shower spray.
But everyone’s least favorite is probably the same as mine… the toilet!
I mean, does anyone really like cleaning a toilet? Of course, I love when my toilet is sparkling clean, but the scrubbing to get it there is definitely not how I want to spend my day.
But what if I told you there’s a way to clean your toilet without scrubbing!? It’s true and I’ve been loving these DIY toilet bombs since I made them the first time over 2 years ago!
Yes, I did say toilet cleaner bombs. Now, these aren’t going to make your toilet explode, but they will fizz and keep your toilet clean with no scrubbing!
What are toilet bombs?
While the name can be a bit odd, toilet bombs are named that because they literally burst [or fizz really] when you put them in the toilet water.
They are to be used inside the actual toilet bowl, not the toilet tank.
Do toilet bombs really work?
Toilet cleaner bombs really do work! They are best used regularly in between deep cleanings. And will keep those deep cleanings to a minimum.
The ingredients in the toilet bombs are what does the work – the citric acid is what makes them fizz and the baking soda and corn starch actually do. the scrubbing and shining for you!
If you like to DIY anything, you’re going to appreciate just how easy these are to make and appreciate even more how easy they are to use!
How to Make DIY Toilet Bombs
I started making my own homemade cleaners years ago for a couple of reasons – to save money and to control the ingredients of what I was using. These toilet cleaner tablets came from a desire to keep our bathroom cleaner and fresher on a daily basis.
You probably have everything you need to make these homemade toilet bombs already, except for 1 ingredient – citric acid. While you can find citric acid in most stores, near the canning products, I buy mine on Amazon.
It’s a great price, plus I have extra to make even more DIY products with citric acid like bath bombs and !
Here’s what you need to make homemade toilet cleaner bombs:
- Citric Acid
- Baking Soda
- Corn Starch
- Water
- Essential Oils [optional]
- You will also need a silicone mold and small glass spray bottle.
The full tutorial on how to combine the ingredients is below.
Tips for making these toilet cleaner bombs
A couple of notes on combing citric acid with liquid – the key is to combine slowly. When citric acid comes into contact with a liquid, even water, it fizzes.
That’s the desired finish, but not what you want when you’re making the bombs. Add water slowly with a small spray bottle to prevent premature fizzing.
Once you remove your toilet bombs from your mold, be sure to store in an airtight jar. If your jar is not airtight, your molds might melt together.
While the ingredients to make these toilet cleaner tabs always remains the same, you can change up the design!
You can use different molds to make them different shapes and styles. I’ve even used K-cups [that have been emptied after using] for molds! It’s a great way to recycle K cups and make this DIY even green-er.
While your toilet will still need a decent scrub every now and then, these DIY toilet cleaner bombs are great for in between cleanings and refreshing when you have guests over, especially at the holidays.
If you’re looking to green your bathroom routine, I’d highly recommend making your own plastic-free cleaning products like these toilet cleaner tabs! Since they aren’t in packaging, they are waste-free too!
DIY Toilet Cleaner Tabs
These DIY toilet cleaner bombs are easy to make and work great! Add in your favorite essential oils for a more natural, scrub-free, way to clean your toilet!
Materials
- 1/2 cup Citric Acid
- 1/2 cup Baking Soda
- 1/2 cup Corn Starch
- 1 tsp Water
- 30 drops of Essential Oils of your choice
Tools
- Silicone Mold or K-Cups
- Glass Bowl
- Wooden Spoon
- Small Glass Spray Bottle
Instructions
- Mix your dry ingredients in a glass bowl.
- Mix your favorite essential oils [my favorites to use are Tea Tree, Citrus Fresh, Lavender, Peppermint...] with water in a glass spray bottle.
- Slowly spray the liquid on the dry ingredients. You do this slowly, otherwise your mixture will fizz now instead of waiting for when you put them in the toilet.
- Spoon mixture into molds and place in freezer for 3-4 hours until set.
- Store in an airtight jar in your bathroom for immediate use.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Are you ready to go waste free in your bathroom? I hope so because it really is an easy change to live a green-er life. Check out 8 other tips for a waste free bathroom here including more plastic free cleaning products.
Jennifer says
My bombs are blowing up in the mold. Is there another way to incorporate the water so they don’t expand?
Denise M Highfield says
Add your liquid to the baking soda and cornstarch, mix well then add the citric acid.
Janet says
What consistency should the mixture be before you spoon it into the molds? Mine is still very loose.
Lindsey says
You should add more liquid until it sticks together in clumps when you squeeze in your hand.
Shauna says
Could you use this as a powder instead of adding the liquids (and just sprinkle some powder into the toilet bowl when you want to clean it)?
Paula says
Are these ‘septic safe’?? They sound so easy to make.
Geri says
i have used these many times. i did notice the citric acid didn’t work well with anything PVC , rubber, or plastic if used too much. ( learned the hard way. it cleaned the toilet, tank and the lime in the shower head but the acid ate away the thin parts.) so it will depend on what material the tank is made of – metal, fiberglass, PVC, etc…
Noemi jean Rulloda says
Same question is this same for septic tank and toilet flushers?
Lorraine Burns says
Love the gift idea, can’t wait to try them. Where can I source the label you put on the bath bom jars
Lindsey says
Hi Lorraine – hope you love them! I actually made the label with my Cricut machine and black vinyl. You could also use chalkboard labels like these I found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39kcURK
Samantha says
Can I put the mixture into ice cube trays instead to make it go further or do they need to be this big?
Lindsey says
Hi Samantha – I’m sure ice cube trays would be fine. I’m not sure how easy they’ll pop out though as the silicone tray makes it easier to get them out without breaking. Let me know if it works if you try it!
Sarah L says
That’s a great idea. I already have most of the ingredients, just need the citric acid.
Deborah says
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THEY CAN NOT SHIP IT TO ME IN THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN SO I AM GOING TO USE LEMON/LIME ZEST INSTEAD.HOPE IT WORKS.
Toni Sprouse says
These are some really great ideas! I plan to try adding essential oil drops to my toilet paper roll this week! Thanks for the tips!
Laurinda Sidebottom says
How do you add the oil to the paper roll?
Lindsey says
I just add a couple of drops to the middle of the roll, right on the paper. 🙂
sheila ressel says
What awesome ideas! I can’t wait to implement some of these into my bathroom.
rana durham says
I LOVE THEE INGENIOUS IDEAS. THE TII;EY BOMBS SAVE ON CLEANING.
Cytnthia C says
I’d like to try the toilet cleaners. We have well water which makes keeping the toilets clean a challenge.
Shirley Koski says
Try saturating a paper tower with white vinegar (can use several). Circle them around in the toilet bowl covering the mineral deposits. Leave them over night or many hours if you can. In the morning, most of your mineral deposits will be gone. This really works!! Tip: Make sure you close the lid on your toilet and put something on top of it to remind you that paper towels should be flushed.
Lindsey says
This is an awesome tip! I’m definitely going to try as we have a mineral deposit ring around one of our toilets that I just can’t seem to get off!
Thank you, Shirley!
Kat says
Question for how to use the toilet tabs. Are they the ones you put in your tank like the Clorox tabs or are they meant to go into the actual toilet bowl to clean?
Lindsey says
These are meant to be put right into your toilet bowl.
Jason Taylor says
Wow. Thank you, Lindsey, for introducing me and many others with such valuable products. Everybody all the around the globe has been chanting ‘go green!’ for all the apparent reasons. This article is a brilliant way of extending support in our own ways, beginning right from our homes.
babs says
can you share where you purchased your mold?
Lindsey says
I don’t see the exact one, but here’s one that’s very similar – http://amzn.to/2zFXqd5. I bought it on Amazon just by searching “silicone mold”. Thanks for visiting!
pam coles says
you can do away with toilet paper my buying a bidet to attach to your present toilet seat;
We have a cold water wash so no plumbing is required just attach to cold water line at rear of toilet seat..warm water seats are available for those with this preference.They are cheap to buy online and cost about $30 each. (cold).We have used these in our toilets for years now..Couldn’t live without them..Great also for anyone with shoulder problems
Helen says
Yup..we learned to live bidets when we were stationed in Europe. Now we are on septic and anything that gives us longer times between clean outs is a good thing.
Lynn says
Do you put them in the toilet bowl or the toilet tank?
Lindsey says
They go in the toilet bowl.