Can You Pour Bleach Into a Toilet Tank? Best Practices for Cleaning Your Toilet Tank Safely and Effectively

Co-authored by Chris Willatt

Last Updated: January 19, 2024 References

When it comes to cleaning toilets, cleaning the toilet tank often gets overlooked. However, keeping the tank clean actually helps keep the bowl cleaner and helps prevent bad smells and stains. You might be wondering if you can just pour some bleach in the tank to disinfect and clean it. Well, spoiler alert, it’s not a great idea. Fortunately, there are safer, more effective options, and we're here to tell you all about them.

Question 1 of 6:

Does bleach harm toilet tanks?

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Bleach doesn’t harm the porcelain, but it can do damage inside the tank. Putting bleach in your toilet tank can damage the rubber seals and corrode the metal parts over time. This can lead to leaks or rust stains in your toilet. Don’t pour bleach in your toilet tank and avoid toilet tank cleaning tablets that contain bleach.
- If you’re cleaning the inside of your toilet tank with a disinfectant spray or wipes, check the ingredients list to make sure they don’t contain bleach first.

Question 2 of 6:

Should you clean the inside of your toilet tank?

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Yes, it’s recommended to clean your toilet tank 2 times a year. This prevents the buildup of mold, mildew, rust, and other grime that can cause bad smells and toilet bowl stains. To clean the tank, first shut off the water supply and drain it. Scrub the inside walls and parts with a soft-bristled scrub brush and white vinegar or a bleach-free all-purpose cleaning spray.^{[1]
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- Once you finish cleaning, refill the tank and flush the toilet. Repeat this until the water runs clear, signifying that all the loosened gunk and grime is long gone!

Question 3 of 6:

What can I put in my toilet tank to keep the bowl clean?

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Vinegar is a safe, effective, and natural option. To clean the toilet tank, turn off the water supply by turning the valve behind the tank all the way to the right. Then, flush the toilet until all the water is out of the tank. Fill the tank back up to the overflow valve with white vinegar and let it sit for 12 hours, then flush it out and refill the tank with water. The vinegar kills mold, mildew, and stain-causing bacteria in the tank, which helps keep your toilet bowl clean.^{[2]
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- The overflow valve is the tube with an opening near the top of the tank, which drains into the toilet bowl in order to prevent overfilling the tank and making a big mess!
- You can also pour a cupful of vinegar directly into your toilet bowl every month and let it sit to kill bacteria and help keep it clean.

Question 4 of 6:

What can I put in my toilet tank to make it smell better?

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Bleach-free toilet tank cleaning tablets. A non-corrosive drop-in toilet tank tablet can maintain the freshness of the tank. Look for tablets that are nontoxic and say “natural” or “bleach-free” on the packaging. Drop 1 in the tank every few months or whenever they run out.^{[3]
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- Cleaning your tank with vinegar every 6 months or so, as per the method above, also makes it smell better. Toilet tank tablets are just a set-it-and-forget-it option that doesn’t require much work.

Question 5 of 6:

How can I whiten my toilet bowl?

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You can use a bleach solution to clean it, just don’t pour bleach into the tank. Make a dilute bleach solution.^{[4]
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Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview} Mix about 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of bleach with 1 gallon (3.78 L) of water in a spray bottle. Spritz the solution all over the inside of the toilet bowl, scrub the bowl with a toilet brush, and let the solution sit for 5 minutes. Finally, flush the toilet once or twice to rinse all the solution out of the bowl.^{[5]
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- Make sure to open windows and doors to the bathroom so it’s well ventilated whenever you clean anything with bleach.^{[6]
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  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}
- It is better to wear clothes that you don't mind spoiling.^{[7]
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  Chris Willatt
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}
Expert Answer

Q

Can I use store-bought bleach directly?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

EXPERT ADVICE

Answer from Chris Willatt:

The bleach that you buy from the store may be a concentrated product. You should add water to it and make a dilute solution.

Question 6 of 6:

What happens if you pee in a toilet with bleach?

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Chlorine gas can be released. Never pee in a toilet bowl if there is bleach in the tank or in the bowl. Bleach reacts with the ammonia in urine and creates pungent chlorine gas that can cause watering of the eyes, a runny nose, and coughing.^{[8]
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- If you or someone in your household made the mistake of putting bleach in the toilet tank, make sure to flush it all out thoroughly before you use the toilet. Otherwise, the water that comes into the bowl from the tank is actually bleach!

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Question

What precautions should I take while using bleach?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is a House Cleaning Professional based in Denver, Colorado. Chris is the owner of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency that he founded in 2015. Chris is on a mission to elevate what it means to be a cleaning professional and has built up Alpine Maids with that goal in mind. Chris has been featured in USA Today, Forbes, and Readers Digest. Alpine Maids received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row from 2016-2018. They were also awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018 and were featured on the Inc. 5000 Company List.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Work in a ventilated area and open the windows. Wear clothes that you do not mind spoiling while using bleach.

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