There are tons of toilet cleaning products out there. Many of which, like bleach and chemical disinfectants, contain ingredients that cause harm to people and the environment. It’s no wonder why all-natural and green cleaning products are all the rage these days, but they’re not always the most affordable choices for everyone. 

Fortunately, there are several everyday household products that are safe and effective in cleaning your toilet even though they may not seem like it. These toilet cleaning hacks may be weird, but they work!

You know that a bottle of Coca-Cola is absolutely delicious on a hot day, but you probably don’t know that the same drink can clean your toilet like magic. The acids and carbonations (and sugar) may not do your teeth a benefit, but they work for breaking down buildups, rings, and stains in your toilet bowl.

All you need to do is pour a bottle of Coca-Cola in the toilet, making sure to cover every surface. Leave it to soak for a few hours, scrub the stains away, and flush and rinse. And you’ve got a spotlessly clean toilet!

The toilet isn’t the only thing that can use a Coke bath. Coca-Cola has many other uses you’ve likely never considered.

Baby oil isn’t just for hydrating the baby’s skin. It’s also an excellent product to make household fixtures shine. To use baby oil for polishing, pour several drops on a microfiber towel. Wipe toilet handles and chrome to remove smudges and minor rust. Apply baby oil using the rug all over the toilet tank, and buff until the porcelain is bright and shiny.

You can also use baby oil to polish faucets, showerheads, cabinet handles, and doorknobs so you can make your entire bathroom sparkle with cleanliness.

Nail polish makes your nails look nice and shiny, but that’s not all it can do. Nail polish is also great for preventing rust on bolts, nuts, and screws.

Locate the bolts, nuts, and screws on your toilet, then coat them with several layers of transparent nail polish. This will protect the part from exposure to humidity and moisture and stave off rust, so you won’t worry about a wobbly toilet anytime soon.

Drain cleaners may be the go-to solution for clogging problems, but they’re not the best or the safest option for you, your plumbing system, and the environment. These cleaners typically contain harsh and highly toxic chemicals that can dissolve all kinds of blockages. Traces of these chemicals can be inhaled or absorbed in your body and lead to adverse health effects. 

You don’t need to put your and your family’s safety when there’s a safe, affordable, and accessible solution to unclog your toilet and drains. Boiling water is incredibly effective at clearing clogs too. Just pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain to dissolve blockage and flush the toilet. Voilà! The pipe is clear.

If your toilet is old and has frequently been clogging, that may be a sign that you need a replacement. Consider getting a macerating toilet with water-saving features and upflush system for easy installation, clog prevention, and more savings.

White vinegar is an all-around, nontoxic cleaner. It works for removing stains and germs that stubbornly stick to your toilet.

Prepare toilet paper, and soak it in white vinegar. Apply the damp toilet paper directly on the stain, and let it sit overnight. The following morning, remove the vinegar-soaked toilet paper, then flush the toilet. Your porcelain fixture should be clean with nary a spot of stain.

When choosing your cleaning products, look beyond the price and effectiveness. Common household cleaners may work well and are affordable, but they may do you more harm than good short-term and in the long run.

Invest in products that do their job without damaging your health, your home, and the environment. Or try the strange-but-true hacks above to keep your home clean, safe, and healthy.