Cleaning the toilet. It's Time To Get Piss(ed) Off...
- Cheryl Siders
- May 30
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 21
By It's Time To Go Natural, LLC
There’s a right way—and a not‑so‑right way—to clean a toilet. Most of us just pour some cleaner into the bowl, give it a quick scrub, flush, then spray and wipe the tank and seat. That’s fine for a quick spruce‑up, but it doesn’t tackle the grime and odor that build up over time. If you want a truly clean, fresh‑smelling toilet, you need to go a bit deeper. I'll spare you the lecture of how to clean the toilet seat and outside tank, there's really nothing too complicated about that. But let's get down to the dirty details of how to properly clean that toilet.
Going beyond the quick spray and wipe down of the toilet seat. Understanding where the grime and smell collect and linger.
Let’s talk about that infamous little toilet rug — you know, the one sitting right in front of the toilet. Honestly, it should have never been invented. Whose toes are so delicate that they need a fuzzy landing pad while sitting on the throne? And if you’re sitting
there long enough for the floor to feel cold… we may have bigger issues to discuss.
Here’s the real problem: that rug is a magnet for everything you don’t want lingering in your bathroom. We’re talking urine splashes, mud, dirt, dead skin, maybe a little blood, the occasional vomit splash, and yes… microscopic bits of fecal matter. It’s basically a cozy little cesspool pretending to be décor.
Giving it a quick vacuum might make it look cleaner, but it doesn’t remove the grime hiding deep in the fibers. And every time you step on it, you’re tracking that invisible “ick” around the house.
My honest recommendation? Toss it. Don’t look back. Liberate your feet. But if you absolutely insist your toes need a soft place to land, at least wash it weekly — twice a week if you have a busy household or if shoes are worn inside (which is a whole other conversation).
The connectors that hold the toilet seat to the bowl—usually covered by small plastic caps—tend to collect grime, especially on older toilets where those caps are often missing. When the caps are gone, the plastic or metal screws are exposed, and if you’ve
ever sat on a wobbly toilet seat, this is exactly where the screws need tightening.
Whether the caps are in place or not, this area is a hotspot for buildup and unpleasant odors, so it should be cleaned regularly. To clean it, lightly spray the area before removing the plastic cap, then use a dry cloth to wipe behind the seat and around the connectors. Avoid spraying directly into the screw opening, since moisture can get trapped and defeat the purpose of cleaning.
If you maintain this area often, it stays easy to manage. But if this is the first time you’re giving it attention, you may need a small scrub brush—like a grout brush or an old toothbrush—to remove the initial grime.
Next, let’s talk about the sides of the toilet at the base. This area gets ignored constantly, and it makes a huge difference in how much odor lingers in your bathroom. Everything gross that ends up on that little bathroom rug also ends up here—so this spot is a must‑clean every time you tackle the toilet. This is especially true if you have
kids or anyone who stands when they pee. (And yes, some women hover and never actually sit.)
This area should be generously sprayed and wiped down with a clean, dry cloth. Make sure you get into all the curves and crevices; mold loves to hide in those spots, especially in homes without air conditioning or with poor ventilation. There’s also another set of screws in this area. Make sure to clean thoroughly around and under the caps (if the caps are still there), because grime loves to build up in this spot.
Many newer toilets are designed with straight, smooth sides instead of all those curves. It’s a brilliant improvement, and I’ve silently thanked the designer more times than I can count. But even with the newer style, this area still needs to be sprayed and wiped—it’s just much quicker and easier to clean.
At the base of the toilet is another hot spot for the grime to collect, even on newer toilets, but especially on any toilet over 10 years old. The base of the toilet is usually secured with a sealant underneath that you don't see. One purpose of this sealant is hygiene and odor control. That seal keeps urine, mop water, and all the mystery splashes from seeping underneath the toilet. If liquid gets under there, it becomes a dark, damp, impossible‑to‑clean space… which turns into a long‑term odor factory. The caulk blocks that gap so nothing can get trapped. But over time, that caulk can begin to break down and what you begin to see is a build-up of dirt and grime forming around the rim of the toilet base. This is an area you don't have to clean everytime. But when you start noticing a brown or even orange/brown color forming around the base, it's time to give it attention. It's important not to spray directly up into the rim line of the toilet as this can cause excess moisture to collect under the rim and further deteriorate the sealant. Instead spray onto a clean cloth and wipe around the rim to remove any grime. You can also use an old toothbrush or grout brush to gently remove any grime that is stubborn or not easily removed with a cloth. “It’s Time To Get Piss(ed) Off” works great here too — just apply it to your cloth instead of spraying upward.
Now let’s go inside the toilet bowl. We all know how to pour in cleaner and scrub away the yellow stains and splash marks. But tucked up under the rim of the toilet is a slimy little hideout of grime that will make you wish you never discovered it. It’s so well
hidden that even your toilet brush can’t fully reach it.
If you were to put your face down toward the bowl—like you’re about to throw up—and turn your head slightly, you’d see (and smell) exactly what I’m talking about. But honestly, it’s better if you don’t do that. Just trust me: it’s probably there.
Your toilet brush won’t get rid of this buildup. The best method—gross, but effective—is to put on cleaning gloves and generously spray cleaner up inside the rim. Then use a clean cloth soaked in hot water to firmly wipe along the inside edge. If you’ve never cleaned this area before, start with a grout brush or old toothbrush to loosen the buildup, then wipe with the cloth. Keep wiping until the cloth comes away clean and you’re no longer seeing orange or black gunk. You don’t need to do this every time you clean the toilet, but if you peek under the rim and see it, now you know how to safely remove it. For extra scrubbing power, especially in the upper rim, you can also use my gentle scour paste, “It’s Time To Scrub‑A‑Dub Dub,” which helps break down stubborn grime without damaging the porcelain.
Many toilets also develop a “permanent” ring where the water sits. The good news: it’s not actually permanent. You can use a pumice stone to remove it. Just rub the stone along the ring and it will lift right off. It also works on those brown, orange or blue streaks that run down the inside of the bowl—it just takes a bit more scrubbing, but it’s very effective. Just remember to wear cleaning gloves when using the pumice stone so your hands don’t come into contact with the toilet water.
Last—but definitely not least—the floors and walls surrounding the toilet. This is one area most people never even think to clean, and that’s totally okay. No judgment here.
I’m just here to share what I’ve learned.
The floors—and believe it or not, the surrounding walls or the side of the vanity—collect the same splashes as the rug, toilet seat, and toilet base. Most people sweep or vacuum around the toilet and maybe give the floor a quick mop. That’s fine for a fast refresh, but it doesn’t actually remove the grime. Most vacuums can’t reach the tight spaces behind or beside the toilet, and mops often push dirty water into those small gaps, making the buildup worse.
After cleaning thousands of toilets, I’ve learned the most effective way to keep this area clean and odor‑free is to spray the floors (remember: don’t spray directly up into the toilet base rim) and wipe them with a clean, dry cloth. Make sure to get along the baseboards and behind the toilet—it’s a small space, but it matters. “It’s Time To Get Piss(ed) Off” is safe and effective for both the floors and the walls, making this step quick and easy.
You should also spray and wipe the surrounding walls. If your walls are painted rather than tiled, test the cleaner in a small, hidden spot first, since some paints discolor easily. If it reacts, just use a warm, soapy cloth instead. Otherwise, spray and wipe as usual.
The floors should be cleaned every time. The walls can be cleaned as needed—but once you start paying attention to them, you’ll be amazed you never noticed the splashes before.
And one more thing: if you keep a trash can, small stand, or anything else beside the toilet, those surfaces collect the same smelly grime too. Wipe them down as needed.
This might sound like a lot to keep up with for just one toilet—never mind the others you might have in the house. But remember, you don’t need to do every single step every time. If you go beyond the bare‑minimum quick scrub and seat wipe, you’re already on your way to a truly clean, fresh‑smelling toilet. At first this may feel like a lot, but after a few cleanings, you’ll fly through it. A thorough cleaning will take you about a minute, and a full deep clean will take less than two.
So now It's Time To Get Piss(ed) Off and Scrub-A-Dub Dub and clean that toilet correctly! Happy Cleanings my friends!
Sincerely,
Cheryl White
Founder - It's Time To Go Natural, LLC
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