So, where does all that water go after we flush the toilet?
Unless you have a septic system, it flows through the sewer and to our communities water treatment center where it is treated and then released back into local waterways like rivers. We then use that water again for things like drinking water and the waterways support aquatic life, so all wastewater from our homes ends up back in the environment and ultimately, back into our bodies. When I look at the ingredients in commercial toilet bowl cleaners i see things like bleach, disinfectant, synthetic colors and fragrances, harsh detergents, chemical preservatives…and other ingredients known to be toxic to humans and aquatic life. I’m going to address the most important harmful chemicals commonly added to toilet bowl cleaners and share why (I believe) they are unnecessary.
Bleach: Bleach, imo, is not the worst thing in the world. At least we know exactly what it is. I’m not going to recommend using it at home much but if mold is present, or in public places, especially hospitals, it is sometimes necessary. Bleach can remove stains in the toilet bowl but it doesn’t work very great for that in my experience. I think its important to know if we clean the toilet bowl regularly, stains wont have as much of a chance to develop inside the toilet bowl in most cases. Bleach also kills mold. Sometimes wood toilet seats get moldy…then that mold can kind of move into the toilet bowl and live there too until you brush it out from under and around the toilet bowl lid! Wood is porous and can collect bacteria, fungus and mold. I do not recommend wood toilet seats.
Disinfectant: These are extremely hazardous products to have out around the toilet when it comes to our pets and children. In 2020 calls to poison centers due to disinfectant poisonings rose over 20%! Around this time the CDC also informed us that the best way to protect ourselves from viruses was to wash our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer which is not as effective. With surfaces as well, we have a choice to wash away germs and bacteria with a soapy solution or douse in chemicals to kill germs and bacteria, or both. I believe disinfectants are unnecessary in most circumstances and the best option you have is to just clean this area regularly.
Synthetic fragrance and color: Often times synthetic fragrance is masking the smell of other toxic chemical ingredients. We will only get the benefit of fragrance in the toilet bowl one time until we flush it out into the world, so why use it? If the bowl itself is stinky, it’s probably because it needs to be washed. Other than that the toilet bowl gets flushed regularly so it is somewhat self cleaning. If there is still a smell after cleaning inside the bowl, the problem may lie on or around the toilet, on the floor, or on items around the toilet. Lets just be real, not everyone uses a toilet correctly all the time. There are so many little things we can do to have a positive impact on our environment. Happy toilet cleaning!
♡M