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If you've looked up your toilet bowl cleaner on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning, there's a good chance the grade wasn't what you expected. Lysol Professional Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner receives a D. Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner earns a D or F. Scrubbing Bubbles products land across the C to F range. The Environmental Working Group, an independent nonprofit, rates household cleaning products A through F based on ingredient hazard data — and toilet bowl cleaners are among the worst-performing household cleaning categories in that database.
The switch is straightforward. A handful of A and B-rated alternatives are available on Amazon, do the same cleaning job, and skip the ingredients that drive those low EWG grades. This guide covers which conventional toilet bowl cleaners receive D and F from EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning (and why), then three non-toxic toilet bowl cleaners rated A or B by EWG, all verified in stock. For a full product comparison across the category, see our EWG-rated toilet bowl cleaner guide.
What EWG's Guide Rates on Common Toilet Bowl Cleaners
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning (ewg.org/cleaners) rates cleaning products on a letter scale from A (lowest ingredient hazard concern) to F (highest concern). For conventional toilet bowl cleaners, EWG's ingredient assessments flag three main concerns:
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl): A corrosive acid used in several conventional toilet bowl cleaners as a descaling and disinfecting agent. EWG flags HCl for skin, eye, and respiratory hazard concerns, as well as environmental aquatic toxicity.
- Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach): EWG flags chlorine bleach for respiratory and skin irritation concerns, reactive chemical interactions, and environmental aquatic toxicity. It's the primary active ingredient in many conventional toilet bowl cleaners.
- Synthetic fragrance: EWG notes that fragrance formulas can contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, including suspected hormone disruptors and allergens. Products that disclose specific fragrance ingredients fare better in EWG's assessment than those listing generic "fragrance."
Here's how common conventional toilet bowl cleaners rate on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. These grades reflect EWG's ingredient hazard assessments, not clinical safety determinations, and not our own independent testing or claims:
| Brand / Product | EWG Grade | Primary Flagged Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Lysol Professional Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner | D | Hydrochloric acid, synthetic fragrance, lauramine oxide |
| Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner | D–F | Sodium hypochlorite (bleach), synthetic fragrance, synthetic colorants |
| Scrubbing Bubbles (multiple products) | C–F | Quaternary ammonium compounds, synthetic fragrance, phosphoric acid |
EWG grades individual product variants, not brands as a whole — Scrubbing Bubbles, for example, has products across a range of grades depending on formulation. If you want to check your specific product, search at ewg.org/cleaners by exact product name. These grades are EWG's independent assessments published at ewg.org/cleaners.
3 Non-Toxic Toilet Bowl Cleaners Rated A or B by EWG
All three picks below were verified available on Amazon as of September 2026. Each earns an A or B from EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. None contain hydrochloric acid or chlorine bleach. EWG's grades reflect ingredient hazard assessments; they are not safety certifications, and we make no health claims of our own.
1. Aunt Fannie's Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Eucalyptus — EWG Guide A-Rated
Price: $13.99 (Subscribe & Save: $13.29) | Size: 24 fl oz | EWG Status: EWG Guide A-rated (top-rated by EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning)
Aunt Fannie's earns an A from EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning — the highest rating in the category. The formula is vinegar-powered and eucalyptus-scented, with no chlorine bleach and no hydrochloric acid. Vinegar (acetic acid) provides the acidity needed for mineral deposit and stain removal without the corrosive hazard concerns EWG flags for HCl. Aunt Fannie's is the highest EWG-graded toilet bowl cleaner we found on Amazon with strong in-stock availability: 30-unit max order capacity and Subscribe & Save eligible. At $13.99 for 24 fl oz, it's the best value among A-rated options on this list.
Aunt Fannie's Toilet Bowl Cleaner Eucalyptus on Amazon →
2. Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Fresh Mint (4-Pack) — EWG Guide B-Rated
Price: $16.76 (Subscribe & Save: $15.92) | Size: 4 × 24 oz | EWG Status: EWG Guide B-rated (data updated June 2026)
Seventh Generation's Fresh Mint toilet bowl cleaner earns a B from EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning, with ingredient data updated as recently as June 2026 — making it the most recently verified rating on this list. The formula is plant-derived with no chlorine bleach and no ammonia; the mint scent comes from 100% essential oils. The 4-pack on Amazon at $16.76 works out to under $4.20 per 24 oz bottle, making it the best per-ounce value on this list. Subscribe & Save brings it down to $15.92. Strong in-stock depth at 27-unit max order capacity. A practical family-sized choice for households that want to buy ahead.
Seventh Generation Fresh Mint Toilet Bowl Cleaner 4-Pack on Amazon →
3. Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Pine Fresh — EWG Guide B-Rated (Probable)
Price: $19.90 | Size: 25 oz | EWG Status: EWG Guide B-rated per our conservative assessment — check ewg.org/cleaners for current grade
Ecover is a European-origin plant-based cleaning brand with a long track record of favorable EWG ingredient ratings. Different indexed sources show this product as EWG A or B-rated — a discrepancy we flag here transparently. The most recent EWG entry for this product (EWG #2238) shows "SOME concerns" for asthma and respiratory irritation, which maps to a B in EWG's scoring; our conservative assessment is B-rated. Ecover's formula is plant-derived with no chlorine bleach. The 25 oz bottle is listed as "available soon" on Amazon rather than immediate ship — confirm current availability at checkout. For the current official grade, verify at ewg.org/cleaners.
Ecover Toilet Bowl Cleaner Pine Fresh on Amazon →
Quick Swap Summary
| Product | EWG Grade | Price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lysol Professional Toilet Bowl Cleaner | D — swap out | ~$5–8 | — |
| Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner | D–F — swap out | ~$4–7 | — |
| Scrubbing Bubbles | C–F — swap out | ~$5–9 | — |
| Aunt Fannie's Eucalyptus (24 oz) | A ✓ | $13.99 | Buy → |
| Seventh Generation Fresh Mint (4-Pack) | B ✓ | $16.76 | Buy → |
| Ecover Pine Fresh (25 oz) | B (probable) ✓ | $19.90 | Buy → |
How to Read EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning Grades
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning rates cleaning products A through F based on ingredient hazard data, disclosure transparency, and research quality. The grades reflect EWG's independent assessment — not safety certifications and not our own health claims. EWG is not affiliated with NonToxicFinder; NonToxicFinder is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with the Environmental Working Group.
- A: Lowest concern — EWG's assessment found minimal or no ingredient hazard concerns with adequate disclosure.
- B: Some concern — one or more ingredients have low-to-moderate concerns; still significantly better than D or F products common in this category.
- C: Moderate concern — multiple ingredients of concern or moderate hazard levels.
- D–F: High concern — significant ingredient hazard flags. F products may have the most serious concerns or limited disclosure. Many conventional toilet bowl cleaners land here.
For the broader bathroom cleaning category (tub, tile, and sink cleaners), see our non-toxic bathroom cleaner guide. For a full product comparison in the toilet bowl cleaner category including DIY options, see our EWG-rated toilet bowl cleaner guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do conventional toilet bowl cleaners get D and F ratings from EWG?
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades conventional toilet bowl cleaners D or F primarily for three ingredient categories: hydrochloric acid (used in Lysol's formula as a descaling acid), sodium hypochlorite — chlorine bleach — (used in Clorox and others), and synthetic fragrance (which EWG notes can contain undisclosed chemicals including suspected hormone disruptors). EWG's grades reflect ingredient hazard assessments, not clinical safety determinations. To see exactly which ingredients drove your product's grade, search by exact product name at ewg.org/cleaners.
Do EWG A-rated toilet bowl cleaners actually clean the bowl?
Yes. Aunt Fannie's uses vinegar (acetic acid) as its primary cleaning agent — it dissolves mineral deposits and light staining without the corrosive hazard concerns EWG flags for hydrochloric acid. Seventh Generation's plant-derived surfactant system is formulated for toilet bowl cleaning. Neither product makes EPA-regulated disinfection claims ("kills 99.9% of bacteria" — those are EPA-regulated). For routine toilet bowl cleaning, both perform the task. For heavy hard water deposits, a brief soak may help.
What's the difference between EWG Guide A-rated and EWG VERIFIED® for cleaning products?
An EWG Guide A rating means EWG's ingredient assessment found low or minimal hazard concern. EWG VERIFIED® is a formal certification requiring the brand to apply, fully disclose all ingredients, and pass EWG's independent review — a higher transparency bar requiring active brand participation. As of 2026, EWG VERIFIED® toilet bowl cleaners are rare in the category. An A rating is a strong positive signal from EWG's assessment. Check ewg.org/cleaners for current certification status on specific products.
Can I check my current toilet bowl cleaner on EWG's database?
Yes. Go to ewg.org/cleaners and search by exact product name. EWG rates thousands of cleaning products in its Guide to Healthy Cleaning, showing the A–F grade, specific ingredients assessed, and concern level per ingredient. For the most accurate result, use the full product name as it appears on the label. EWG's grades are their independent assessments, not our own claims.
Is there a non-toxic toilet bowl cleaner that also disinfects?
Disinfection claims are regulated by the EPA and require EPA registration with tested efficacy. EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades ingredients for hazard — not for disinfection performance. Some cleaning products carry both EWG-favorable grades and EPA registration for surface sanitizing; check the specific product label for an EPA registration number if disinfection matters for your use case. The A-rated products on this list perform routine toilet bowl cleaning without disinfection claims.
