For most of us, cleaning the toilet plunger isn’t something we do enough times. Most people don’t even clean their toilet plungers, yet they’re quite dirty from the germs in the toilet. Routine cleaning should keep this important tool clean at all times.
To clean your toilet plunger, pour 2 to 3 cups of bleach into the toilet bowl, then vigorously swirl the plunger in the water. After that, flush the toilet as you rinse the plunger in clean water. Let it air dry, then put it in its place. You should ideally clean the plunger after each use.
The procedures listed below should work for most plungers, so follow them. This applies to accordion plungers, sink plungers, and flange plungers.
How to clean a toilet plunger
There are several ways to clean a toilet plunger, such as the following:
Cleaning a plunger with Bleach or Vinegar
Follow these steps for this procedure:
- Pour bleach into the toilet.
Add 2 to 3 cups of about 470 to 710 ml of bleach to the toilet. One of the best cleaning products for killing bacteria is bleach. After using the plunger, discard it or place it in the toilet and add the bleach. Flush your toilet multiple times to remove any waste that may still be adhered to a submerged plunger.
Instead of using bleach in the toilet, you can also use apple cider vinegar if you attempt to use more natural cleaning products. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use a lot of apple cider vinegar; the bowl’s ratio of vinegar to water should be the same. Most likely, a gallon is about 3,800 ml of vinegar.
- Leave your plunger submerged in water for 3 to 5 minutes.
A full submersion of the plunger’s head and any other components that came into touch with the previously contaminated water is required. Your plunger for the toilet should be clean in a short while.
- Flush the plunger two or three times to rinse it.
When flushing the toilet while the plunger is in the bowl, you can remove the bleach from the plunger by rinsing it with clean toilet water. You might want to flush more than once to ensure no bleach residue is left.
If you just utilized the plunger to clear a blockage, this step also cleans out your pipes. Any toilet paper or garbage pushed into your drains will be broken down by bleach.
- Air dry the plunger over your toilet bowl.
Placing the plunger’s handle over the bowl’s rim and covering it with the seat will keep it hovering over the water. In less than an hour, the plunger ought to be dry. Once it has dried, put the plunger in a plastic bag and keep it in the bathroom cabinet.
Alternatively, you might spread some paper towels for the plunger to dry. Knowing the length of a toilet paper roll tube, never throw a whole roll of toilet paper into the toilet as it’ll clog up the toilet.
Cleaning your plunger with a disinfectant
For this procedure, the steps are as follows:
- Spray your plunger with a disinfectant.
An inexpensive and practical approach to quickly cleanse a plunger is with a spray disinfectant. To completely kill all the bacteria, spray the plunger thoroughly.
You can make use of this technique to clean a toilet brush. Just be careful to spray each of the brush’s bristles fully.
- Give your disinfectant 10 minutes to soak.
The disinfectant will clean your plunger and remove any filth that has adhered to it. Your plunger needs to be sanitized once again after ten minutes.
- Rinse your plunger with water.
You can use clean water from your toilet, a sink, or a shower to rinse the plunger. The water will remove all the dirt that has adhered to your plunger.
Use a garage or outdoor sink if you’re concerned about dirt on other surfaces. If you don’t have one, you can utilize the clean water that fills the bowl after flushing your toilet a few times.
- In your shower or tub, dry the toilet plunger.
It can now be left to soak in your shower or bathtub as it has been cleaned and disinfected. You can put the plunger inside a plastic bag once it has dried. If the toilet placement was done correctly, you should have plenty of space for the plunger to dry.
How often should you clean the toilet plunger?
We recommend you clean your plunger after each use. This will help remove debris remnants that may have clung to your plunger. It will also ensure your bathroom stays clean.
The same goes for any tools you use to unclog a toilet. A bought or DIY toilet snake must also be cleaned after each use.
Toilet plunger maintenance
To keep the plunger in great shape, follow these tips:
- Always keep your plunger in a clean and dry spot. By doing this, the plunger will avoid picking up grit and dirt. Many toilet plungers include a drip tray or storage case. You could get one separately if yours didn’t come with one.
- Regularly check your plunger for any signs of wear and tear. The plunger needs to be replaced right away if there is any damage.
- Make sure you carefully press down with your plunger. Avoid exerting excessive effort because this can harm the plunger. A toilet’s wax seal can be damaged by too much force when plunging, which can cause leaks.
- You might want to clean your toilet plunger after each usage. This will eliminate any debris that might be stuck on the plunger. Additionally, it will guarantee that your bathroom stays tidy.
- Lastly, always dry the plunger entirely before putting it away. This will stop the plunger from developing any mold or mildew.
This way, your plunger will stay in good shape and will serve you for a longer period of time.