A freshly-scented toilet in minutes: we reveal the dishwashing liquid method

We can carefully wash the sink and bathroom floors every day, spray air fresheners or use natural perfumes, but until the toilet smells and looks clean, the bathroom itself always seems a little "dirty" to us. We might also notice that the toilet is not flushing 100% properly too. So let's go and make sure the loo is clean and working properly. 

And to tackle these toilet chores, we can use a common household resource that can clean, sanitize and deodorize - read on to find out more:

Creativo

You are probably thinking of white vinegar, which always helps in cleaning and deodorizing the toilet and can remove limescale. Or perhaps you thought of Coca Cola, which is also very effective (especially to clear small blockages). But there's also something else that comes in handy in the bathroom: dishwashing liquid. No matter the scent, any detergent capable of degreasing the dishes will be useful for this remedy. In addition, you need a saucepan (or a kettle) and water.

The procedure is really simple:

• Bring 3 liters of water almost to the boil. If you use the kettle, you can boil one liter at a time (or depending on the capacity) and transfer it into a jug. The time it takes to repeat this operation will lower the water temperature the right amount;
• Pour half a cup of dishwashing liquid into the toilet bowl;
• Carefully pour the hot water slowly into the toilet. If it seems that the toilet is filling up too much, you can close the flush valve;
• Wait at least 15-20 minutes, closing the toilet lid.

The dishwashing liquid, together with the hot water, will dissolve the dirt stains and limescale in the bowl, and if there is a small blockage, it will eliminate this too. In fact, after half an hour, you should notice that, when flushing the toilet, the the bowl is cleaner and the water flows more easily. You can also use a plunger to ensure any residual blockages are removed.

And to further enhance this remedy (for stubborn stains), you can mix two tablespoons of the dishwashing liquid with 2 or 3 of baking soda in a small bowl, creating a paste. Then rub this on the stains, leaving it to act for a quarter of an hour and then pour the boiling water into the toilet bowl and proceed as above.

If you often use dishwashing liquid (with or without baking soda), you will have a clean and fresh-smelling toilet without having to buy specialized cleaning products!