Make these fizzy DIY toilet bombs to quickly freshen your bathroom when needed. You'll love how easy they are to make!
I am always looking for ways to make cleaning bathrooms a quick and easy job. These fizzy toilet bombs I made recently are making my cleaning routine much easier.
What are Toilet Bombs?
Toilet bombs are essentially like bath bombs but a toilet bomb will freshen up your toilet!
These fizzy toilet bombs are made with just three ingredients, plus essential oil if you'd like to add a scent.
They are super easy to make You just mix everything together, let them set, and you're good to go.
I just love them, and I know you're gonna love them too. *This post contains affiliate links.
How they work
Just throw one toilet bomb into the toilet bowl whenever there is an unpleasant smell or you feel like your toilet could use some freshening up.
The bomb will fizz up, remove smells, and help dissolve unwanted 'leftovers' from your toilet bowl the next time you flush.
How to Make Toilet Bombs
Toilet Bomb Instructions
- Add baking soda and citric acid to a mixing bowl and use a fork or whisk to break up clumps. Baking soda naturally cleans and eliminates odors, making it the perfect base for the fizzies.
- Now SLOWLY drop by drop, add hydrogen peroxide to the baking soda. If you add it all at once, you'll have a big mess due to the reaction between the baking soda and citric acid!
- Now add the essential oil and gently mix. This is just for scent, so you can choose any scent you like. I used lavender. Use a half teaspoon to scoop the mixture into your candy molds, and press in gently with your fingers. You don't want to fill them completely full, because this will expand. Let dry for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Place the dried toilet bombs in a glass jar and keep them sealed near your toilet.
Make sure you label these and keep them out of reach of small children and pets.
I used heart-shaped candy molds to make these because I thought it would be cute (and I think I was right!) but you can also just use a teaspoon or something to shape them. It is up to you.
I like to keep a jar of these in each bathroom! I love the lavender scent personally, but you can use any essential oil to make them smell good.
Toilet Bombs FAQ
How long do fizzy toilet bombs last?
They last 3-4 months and they should keep working as long as you keep them in a sealed container.
*I cannot guarantee how long your fizzy toilet bombs will last.
More Cleaning Hacks
If you make these and like them we would love it if you left a positive comment and rating! They mean so much to us!
Toilet Bombs
Video
Equipment
- Silicone Candy Molds
Materials
- 1 cup baking soda
- ¼ cup citric acid
- 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
- 15 to 20 drops essential oil I use Lavender Doterra
Instructions
- Add baking soda to a mixing bowl and use a fork or whisk to break up clumps. Baking soda naturally cleans and eliminates odors, making it the perfect base for the fizzies.
- Now SLOWLY drop by drop, add hydrogen peroxide to the baking soda. If you add it all at once, you'll have a big mess due to the reaction between the baking soda and citric acid!
- Now add the essential oil and gently mix. This is just for scent, so you can choose any scent you like. I used lavender. Use a half teaspoon to scoop the mixture into your candy molds, and press in gently with your fingers. You don't want to fill them completely full, because this will expand. Let dry for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Place the dried toilet bombs in glass jar and keep them sealed near your toilet. Make sure you label them and keep them out of reach of small children! The next time things get smelly, after flushing, drop in a fizzy toilet bomb and things will freshen up in no time.
Notes
This post was originally published April 19th, 2017 and has been updated with new information, photos, and video.
Brianna E
Can I use these on a septic system? I'm new to septic, so I'm figuring out what we can and cannot use.
Sarah
I'm not sure, I don't have a septic system!
Kelly Motakef
Does it make a difference what type of hydrogen peroxide bc mine was a 3% solution. and maybe that’s why it didn’t work?
Ggg
I don't see in the recipe when to put in the citric acid. Did I miss it?
Bobbie
Hi I am a new person to these great ideas. Is there any measurements to the ingredients ? I'm not good at just throwing things together.
Thanks
Sarah
Yes, the measurements are at the bottom of the page and in the printable instructions!
Kristin
Am I missing something? When do you add the citric acid?
Sarah
I'm so sorry, I recently updated this recipe and that step must have gotten removed by accident! You add the citric acid right at the beginning with the baking soda. I'm glad you commented so I can fix the post ASAP.
Claudia
Well I just found this great cleaning recipe to try and there is no step with the citric acid and I'm seeing it on 2/7/2024.
Molly
22, Dec. 2023 ~ I have made this "recipe" six times this Christmas season. Some of them I used for my Christmas bingo white elephant gift. My mom didn't win them, but really wanted to try them. I made sure to stock her bathroom. This is a very simple recipe to follow, and they pop out of the silicone molds quite nicely. It was hard finding citric acid this time of year with all the canning supplies depleted, so I order a bag on "A". I'm glad I ordered the 2lb. bag since I made more that I originally thought. I will continue using this method as it worked so well for me. Thank you for sharing.
Jessica
Oh my gosh this made our day! Thanks so much for sharing Molly :)
Julie
Hi
There is a mistake in your recipe, you did not say when to put the citric acid. Is it at the beginning with the baking sida?
Sarah
Yes, it is at the beginning! I'm so sorry for the mistake, I recently updated this and I must have accidentally removed that part but I'm fixing it right now!
Megan
Can I use borax in place of citric acid?
Jessica
No, unfortunately they are not interchangeable here.
Tina Davis
I just subscribed to Pretty Providence! I have a small home business that I make lots of sugar scrubs, bath bombs, shower streamers & a full line of beauty scrubs for face, lips, hands & feet. Basically if you want it I make it.
I am so impressed with you ladies your ideas are wonderful & adorable. Thank you for bring sooo creative, I will be sharing your site with all of my friends.
Jane
You really should put a caution about the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide creating a toxic fume. It might night be very strong when used in small batches, but if someone were to make a large batch it could be dangerous. Aside from that, I will be making these to try, but using one or the other of vinegar or hydrogen peroxode. Hopefully anyone wanting to use this in the future will be smart and read the comments.
Sarah
Hey Jane, thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. I updated the recipe and removed the vinegar from it. I really should have done my research earlier! They had worked fine for me and I did it for years. I'm glad I have readers paying attention to let me know that it was a safety issue. I appreciate you!
Madeleine
Hi these toilet bombs are great. I made a bunch of them but they came out all rough and holey I’m wondering if you HAVE to use silicone. I used a couple of old ice cube trays. Other than the appearance they are great. See picture to show how rough they look.
Alina
you should be very careful on what you recommend to people:
Mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar creates peracetic acid, a corrosive acid that can harm the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. While it's okay to use the two in succession on a surface, don't ever mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in the same bottle.
Sarah
Hush!! It’s fine!!
Leila
I made these and love them. Never had an issue with mixing the vinegar and peroxide!
Verna
Sarah, you should look this up before ignoring it. Alina is correct and her comment is an exact quote .
I looked up Peracetic acid and this is what I found. (I copy and pasted it from the page) "Hush! It's fine" is not the correct answer. Or even a polite answer.
According to 8 sources
When hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are mixed together, a powerful oxidizing agent called peracetic acid is created (also known as peroxyacetic acid). Although it shares some similarities with the reactant acetic acid, peracetic acid is otherwise distinct.
Can You Mix Vinegar and Hy…
diymelon.com
If you accidentally mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs that produces peracetic acid. Peracetic acid is a strong oxidizer, which means that it can react with many different types of materials and compounds. This reaction can lead to a number of po...
What happens if you accide…
coalitionbrewing.com
Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar Combining them creates peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
What happens when you mi…
wisdomanswer.com
Hydrogen peroxide, a known disinfectant, and vinegar, which contains disinfecting properties, is another combination to avoid. This combo creates peracetic acid – a corrosive and highly reactive material.
5 Toxic Chemical Combinati…
coreproductsco.com
Mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar creates peracetic acid, a corrosive acid that can harm the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. While it’s okay to use the two in succession on a surface, don’t ever mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in the same bottle.
What Not To Do With Hydro…
thekitchn.com
Lindsay
Can you use this recipe and skip Hydrogen Peroxide? Wouldn’t vinegar clean good enough?
Sarah
I think you could skip the hydrogen peroxide, but I haven't tried that. I did test it with removing the vinegar and they clean really well without the vinegar so I changed the recipe above to reflect that.
Dallas
It will have a reaction due to the vinegar & baking soda. Like when u make a volcano using baking soda & vinegar to make it bubble up & erupt.
Sarah
Hey Dallas, thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. I removed the vinegar from the recipe. They had worked fine for me and I did it for years. I think it didn't do that eruption because it was such a tiny amount. But I'm glad I have readers paying attention to let me know that it was a safety issue. I appreciate your feedback.
Tina Davis
I think that these ladies are gracious to share their DYI products with everyone. As a small business owner in many scrubs ect.. I do believe we tend to think most people do pay attention or have some knowledge of the making DYI'S . I used to recommend people wear make and read the small warnings I'd place with each product. However, this began to be a thorn in my side and the entire reasons my products are only available to purchase now.
I think your directions very clear. You will never please everyone that's why I stopped DYI'S and removed my site and videos. I truly loved sharing but honestly my business brings in the $$ and this time of the year it triples.
Keep up the great DYI'S PRETTY PROVIDENCE!
Sincerely Mimi T.
Jessica
You are so sweet, thank you so much for that perspective, it definitely makes us feel seen and appreciated :). All the best with your business!
Ashley McDole
Great way to get kids to enjoy doing chores that are easy and safe. Every few days have them put one of these in the toilet bowl. It will check off one thing on my to-do list. I will be adding this to my preteen and teen chore list.