Our toilets become dumping (excuse the pun) grounds for much more than our own waste. In our efforts to create a hygienic environment, we're often killing much more than the bacterial nasties.

I was brought up to believe that for a toilet to be truly clean, not only must ever single bacterium must be destroyed, it must smell like a field of flowers and the water needs in the bowl also needs to be blue. It was just a psychological association I made.

My mother was extraordinarily house-proud and our cleaning closet was full of all sorts of cleaning potions. My mother's fastidiousness came from a good place - a desire to maintain a clean and healthy environment for her family.

The toilet received particular close attention. Whatever breakthrough product hit the market for keeping toilets looking and smelling cleaner; we bought it :). I continued this habit for some years; but I've recently learned, particularly since owning a blackwater recycling system, that what I was doing really had no advantage. In fact, I was creating problems for the environment.

Many toilet cleaning products have chlorine, ammonia and hydrochloric acid as ingredients, all of which are highly corrosive and can shorten the lifespan of the valve in the cistern. Additionally, while these agents kill bad bacteria, they also kill helpful bacteria further along the system that can assist in breaking down our waste. Chlorine can react with other organic substances in the environment and generate hazardous compounds such as furans and dioxins.

Another chemical that may be found in toilet cleaning products, used mainly in chemical toilets for camping and RV's, is formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic also shown to cause mutations in animals.

I researched some popular toilet products and found these other environmentally damaging ingredients:

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether - volatile organic compounds harmful to aquatic organisms

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate - very toxic to aquatic organisms - may cause long-term damage in the environment

Chlorinated phenols - respiratory and circulatory toxins

Triclosan - a cumulative toxin, primarily used for anti-bacterial purposes, but can also damage plant, animal and aquatic life.

Many of the descaling ingredients used in toilet cleaners are based on petrochemicals, i.e. crude oil.

The big problem with identifying environmental toxins in your toilet cleaner is in many countries, companies are not required to disclose all of the components. Some products may also be tested on animals while in development.

In addition to all the chemicals, there's the plastics and packaging for these products; particularly the plastic cages used in rim blocks. The cages are used once, then thrown away - multiply that by millions of people who use these products and it becomes quite a substantial amount of non-biodegradable waste.

Greener toilet cleaners

Good hygeine is important, but as with other aspects of modern life; attempting to overdo it and maintain a sterile environment in the average home isn't possible or beneficial for that matter. Regardless of what the marketers might tell you, our attempts at disinfecting the average home are futil and only help to breed stronger bugs while killing beneficial bacteria.

There are many earth friendly products available now based on citric (e.g. orange oil) or acetic acid that act on bacteria within the immediate area, then quickly lose their potency to prevent damage to other organisms not being targeted further down the system.

Earth friendly toilet cleaning products will be more likely to list their ingredients in order to satisfy eco-savvy customers, so check the label of a "green" cleaning agent you're considering purchasing and do some research of the ingredients on the Internet.

If the label vague, call or write to the company asking for clarification. Also try to find products that use packaging made from recycled materials.

Environmentally friendly toilet cleaning

One of the best ways to keep your toilet looking clean is through a bit of elbow grease - regular use of a toilet brush helps to prevent buildup of gunk and breeding zones for bad bacteria. It only takes a few seconds to do each day. It's a prevention vs. cure scenario.

Once a week, sprinkle baking soda in the bowl and use the toilet brush to scrub. The soda acts as an abrasive without scratching the porcelain.

For treating stains, sprinkle baking soda into the bowl, then spray with vinegar. Allow to sit for a while and then apply the toilet brush - this method also helps remove odors.

For keeping the toilet smelling fresh on a ongoing basis, I've seen it suggested to use 10 drops of tea tree oil in a spraybottle filled with water; then spray around the bowl and let sit.

While our toilet is now a little more green (I don't mean the water), I somewhat miss the psychological reassurance of our blue loo water. Maybe I'll just add some food coloring to the cistern from time to time .. hrm.. I wonder what's in that; would probably stain the bowl anyway. I'll just have to let go :)