How To Use Bleach To Clean Toilet

An expert's warning telling people to never put bleach in your toilet has divided the Internet.

The furious debate started when Aussie mum Clare shared advice she'd received from an expert, who claimed that cleaning your loo with bleach 'destroys the porcelain'.

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But while many agreed with the expert's opinion, others vehemently disagreed - sparking a good-natured debate amongst Facebook users.

Sharing her tip on the Mums Who Clean Facebook page, Clare wrote: 'I've just bought a new toilet seat and I happened to mention that I clean my toilet with bleach.

'The lady told me I should never use bleach as it destroys the porcelain. She said eventually the toilet will not flush properly as the bend will be so scarred that it traps the paper. Has anyone else heard this before?'

Many others agreed with the advice, with several plumbers echoing the concerns.

Bleach or no bleach? Credit: Michael Heim / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

'My son is a plumber and always told me to never use bleach in the toilet,' said one. Added another: 'Hubby a plumber and has always said never use bleach.'

Said a third: 'Bleach destroyed our toilet so badly it was uncleanable and had to be replaced. I'll never use it again. It DOES damage the porcelain and the scoring is impossible to clean after that.'

'Bleach destroyed our toilet so badly it was uncleanable and had to be replaced'

Said one more: 'I worked in a hotel after many years this happened many needed replacing for this reason.'

However many of the group's followers disagreed with the advice, with scores revealing they'd been using bleach in their toilets for decades with no issue.

'My mum has been cleaning the toilet with bleach for over 24 years and no problems yet,' said one. Added another: '50 years....been using beach....! Never had an issue...'

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Said a third: 'Using bleach in the loo for over 30 yrs...no drama at all.'

Added another: 'I have used bleach gel all of my life no issues and my mum cleans hers daily with it for 20 yrs and she has 2 in the house so i think she is telling a porky.'

Said one more: 'What a load of Twaddle. 20+ years of using bleach in/on and around the same toilet and it's still flushing just fine - and the porcelain is still white'

Housemaid wearing yellow rubber glove and using brush cleaning in the toilet Credit: Kritsana Karakate / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

So, who's right?

So who's right? Plumbing website PlumbingSupply.com agrees that bleach can definitely be problematic on some types of porcelain and toilet systems.

'Bleach, among the most revered of cleaning products and one that most people have readily accessible, can wreak havoc on your enamelled fixture.' they say. 'While generally safe with straight porcelain and fireclay, chlorine bleach can oxidize the iron of an enamelled fixture to create terrible rust stains. With coloured porcelain enamel, the effect can be even worse: in addition to rust, the colour will fade.

'As a general rule, do not use regular chlorine bleach on a porcelain-enamelled fixture. When used on straight porcelain or fireclay, follow the dilution directions on the bottle, don't let it sit for too long, and be sure to rinse well and dry after cleaning.

'As always, never mix cleaners, and be extra-cautious with bleach (especially if you've used ammonia-based cleaners previously). If your home has a septic system instead of municipal sewage, steer clear of bleach as it can quickly destroy the natural waste-disposing ecosystem of your septic.'