Best toilet cleaner: keep your loo germ free with these fresh picks

Finding the best toilet cleaner is essential for maintaining a fresh and fragrant bathroom. Eliminate limescale and grime with one of these top buys

Best toilet cleaners: clean bright white toilet overhead shot
(Image credit: Getty)

In search of the best toilet cleaner? Smart thinking. Arming yourself with some quality toilet cleaner is crucial in keeping your bathroom as welcoming and hygienic as possible. Granted, no one gets excited about cleaning the toilet or toilet seat, but it's a job made far easier with the right gear. When your loo smells fresh as a daisy, you'll thank us.

Because there are so many different options out there to pick from, we've done the honours of rounding up the very best money can buy. Some of you might prefer the standard liquid option in a bottle. Alternatively, you might opt for a powder or tablet choice, both of which come in handy when taking down limescale-ridden toilets. Perhaps, too, you're after something that will keep the lavatory sweet and fragrant 24/7? In which case, a rim block, which works its magic every time you flush, could be ideal. And if you can't stand the cleaning process at all, there's a zero-effort option out there that slots into your toilet's tank.

Of course, all of this is down to personal preference, so we'll let you decide on your favourite. As you read on, be sure to check out some of our specs – what's best for what, cleaner type and size – as well as our pointers on what makes the product special and any potential downsides. Oh, and while you're here, why not complete your whole bathroom cleaning arsenal by checking out our comprehensive guide on the best bathroom cleaners? Squeaky-clean loos, this way...

The best toilet cleaner

Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Astonish Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets

(Image credit: Astonish)

1. Astonish Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets

Best toilet cleaner you can buy: these cleaning tablets will leave your toilet fresh and sparkling

Specifications

Best for: All-rounder
Type: Tablets
Size: 10 tablets

Reasons to buy

+
Less plastic
+
No effort required
+
Cruelty free and vegan

Reasons to avoid

-
Tablets cannot come into contact with bleach

To be used as often or as infrequently as you like, the Astonish Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets will blast any limescale, rust or calcium in your toilet bowl so it looks (almost) brand new. They're cruelty-free and vegan, and no scrubbing is required to get good results. Simply remove the tablet from its packet, pop it in your toilet and leave for 20 minutes. Then, brush and flush. For a deeper clean, leave overnight or use two tablets together. It should be noted that you shouldn't allow the tablets to come into contact with any form of chlorine bleach.

Best toilet cleaner for stains: Harpic toilet cleaner

(Image credit: Harpic)

2. Harpic Power Plus Toilet Cleaner Gel

Best toilet cleaner for stains: when your loo really needs a deep clean, this gel removes the toughest of stains, including hard water and limescale

Specifications

Best for: Giving the toilet a really deep clean
Type: Liquid
Size: 750ml

Reasons to buy

+
Kills 99.9% of germs
+
Tackles tough stains
+
Removes 100% of limescale and rust

Reasons to avoid

-
Strong smell

The best toilet cleaner for stains? It's the Harpic Power Plus Toilet Cleaner Gel. It can give your loo a powerful clean above and below the waterline due to the fact the liquid gel formula clings to the bowl, attacking germs and removing limescale.
It's also very simple to use, removing dirt and limescale with ease and it smells lovely too. With this toilet cleaner, buyers say there’s no need for elbow grease as it does the job simply by being swilled around the loo. Also, it doesn’t leave any marks after use, so you know it’s got right into the dirt.

Best toilet cleaner for limescale: Domestos toilet cleaner

(Image credit: Domestos)

3. Domestos Zero Limescale Ocean Toilet Cleaner

Best toilet cleaner for limescale: the UK’s no. 1 bleach brand, this toilet cleaner kills 99.9% of germs and 100% limescale

Specifications

Best for: Giving the toilet a bleach clean with an ocean fresh scent
Type: Liquid
Size: 750ml

Reasons to buy

+
Kills 99.9% of bacteria
+
Deals with limescale
+
Three times’ thicker than average loo cleaners

Reasons to avoid

-
Some users complain of strong chemical smell

The Domestos Zero Limescale Ocean Toilet Cleaner is great at killing germs and leaving the bowl clean and limescale-free with a fresh scent afterwards. For maximum effect, squirt the toilet cleaner evenly under the rim, leave for 30 minutes then brush if needed. This fresh-smelling bleach works below the waterline for an all-over hygienic clean that kills bacteria while leaving your loo with a lovely fragrance.

Ecozone Forever Flush 2000 Toilet Cleaner

(Image credit: Ecozone)

4. Ecozone Forever Flush 2000 Toilet Cleaner

Best zero-effort toilet cleaner: this no-fuss toilet cleaner is ideal for busy households

Specifications

Best for: Ease of use
Type: Blocks
Size: N/A

Reasons to buy

+
Little to no maintenance
+
Eco
+
Approved by Allergy UK
+
Long lasting
+
Safe for septic tanks
+
Cruelty free and vegan

Lasting for up to 2,000 flushes, the eco-friendly and Allergy UK approved Ecozone Forever Flush 2000 Toilet Cleaner works wonders. Not only does it ensure your toilet bowl is sanitary, deodorised and protected against limescale and nasty stains, but it's cruelty-free and vegan, too. Pop one of the jars directly into your toilet cistern and your toilet water will turn blue, indicating it's clean. Once the colour has gone, it's time for a new one. It's that simple.

Bloo Foam Aroma Ocean Mist Fragranced Powder

(Image credit: Bloo)

5. Bloo Foam Aroma Ocean Mist Fragranced Powder

Best toilet powder: a toilet powder which does a decent job at dissolving limescale

Specifications

Best for: Limescale
Type: Powder
Size: 500g

Reasons to buy

+
Fragrant
+
Does a good job at removing limescale

Reasons to avoid

-
Not to be used with bleach or bleach containing products

Filling your bathroom with fragrance from the first use, the Bloo Foam Aroma Ocean Mist Fragranced Powder is ideal if you have tough limescale on your toilet. A Mrs Hinch fave, simply pour a capful into your basin and watch it fizz and foam. Either flush after a few minutes or leave overnight for a deep clean. Be sure not to use it along with any products that contain bleach, though.

Ecover Toilet Cleaner Pine Fresh

(Image credit: Ecover)

6. Ecover Toilet Cleaner Pine Fresh

Best eco toilet cleaner: an eco-friendly toilet cleaner made from plant-based ingredients

Specifications

Best for: Eco
Type: Liquid
Size: 750ml

Reasons to buy

+
Plant-based
+
Cruelty-free 
+
Biodegradable
+
Doesn't have a chemical smell

Reasons to avoid

-
Nozzle control isn't great so you may end up using a bit too much

Plant-based, cruelty-free and completely biodegradable, this Ecover Toilet Cleaner is our top pick of the best eco toilet cleaner. Not only does it clean your toilet, but it makes sure it's also fresh, limescale-free and great-smelling. All you need to do is squirt some into your toilet bowl and flush. 

Why not swap your current liquid toilet cleaner for this one to be kinder to the environment? It shows you don't need lots of harsh chemicals for a clean loo. Our only improvement would be a slightly less generous nozzle – it sometimes comes out a bit fast meaning you used more than you need.

Best rim block toilet cleaner: Bloo Fragrance Switch

(Image credit: Bloo)

7. Bloo Fragrance Switch

Best rim block toilet cleaner: a rim block that gives you the option of two fragrances

Specifications

Best for: Rim block
Type: Rim block
Size: 50g

Reasons to buy

+
Two fragrances
+
Little to no maintenance

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't smell very powerful

The best rim block toilet cleaner you can buy, the Bloo Fragrance Switch comes in a mixture of two different fragrances: water lily when you flushing and a fresh apple scent when it's dry. This rim block cleans the toilet with every single flush, preventing limescale and dirt build-up. To use, simply pop it on the rim of your toilet so it's facing into your loo. The only downside? In our opinion, it doesn't smell as fragrant as the others on our list.

Buy the best toilet cleaner in bulk

What is the best toilet cleaner?

We rate the Astonish Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets so much so, that we consider them the best toilet cleaner you can buy. They're cruelty-free and vegan, easy to use and they work wonders on any limescale, rust or calcium that may be in your bowl.

How to buy the best toilet cleaner

When it comes to buying the best toilet cleaner, the most important thing is that it kills germs and bacteria, so look for products that promise this at the very least. Some stamp out germs as well as tackling limescale and if you live in a hard water area, limescale is definitely your enemy so it’s worth looking for a loo cleaner that can help with this.

Decide if you want something eco-friendly that uses plant extracts rather than chemicals – a good idea if you have a septic tank or to do your bit for the planet – and whether the smell is important to you. Most toilet cleaners have a nice fresh fragrance such as marine or floral notes, while others have a bleachy odour.

Check the thickness of the toilet cleaner and whether the bottle has an angled head so you can get right under the rim for a really hygienic clean.

How do you clean a badly stained toilet bowl?

Sure, it's not the most luxurious question we've been asked, but it couldn't be more important when keeping a home to be proud of. When it comes to tackling the dreaded bowl, there are many ways to approach the task. One smart method is to use a bleach-based cleaner to disinfect the toilet, beginning below the rim. Then, you'll want to start scrubbing the sides – be sure to wear gloves as you do so. Finally, spray the outside of the toilet bowl with a disinfectant, being careful to cover the lid, chain and tank, too. Once it has been left for 10 to 15 minutes, you can wipe it down using a clean sponge. Et voilà!

For more in-depth advice on bathroom cleanliness, be sure to check out our guide on how to clean a toilet

Annie Collyer
Head Ecommerce Editor

Hi! I'm Annie, and I'm the Head Ecommerce Editor at Real Homes. I've been part of the Real Homes team since 2018, when I joined as Deals Editor. Along with covering major sales events — from Black Friday to Amazon Prime Day — I review home must-haves so that you can buy with peace of mind. Mostly focusing on home fragrance and sleep, as well as a few vacuum cleaners, I've tested pretty much every item you can think of that you need in your home. I live on the outskirts of the city in a two-bed apartment with my husband and my pug, Doug. So I am always searching for compact alternatives and ways to save floor space. What about when I am not typing away? Well, you'll find me enjoying an iced coffee (no matter the season) and trying out the latest brunch spots the city has to offer, or booking my next holiday. Where else can you find my words? Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home, Gardeningetc, and Woman & Home.