I’ve cleaned and disinfected my toilet before writing this, so I feel a little bit better. My colleagues are equally convicted, informed, and motivated — in that order. Please understand, once you learn what we have, there’s no going backward.

Yes, you may think you clean your toilet. But is what you’re doing actually killing bacteria, germs, and mold, or is it just “curb appeal”? You may spray, wipe, scrub a little, and swish:

But how often and how deeply do we need to clean our toilet bowls?

Read on, and you’ll find out that when we ask if you really need to clean that, we may just be redefining what you think is “clean.”

Sanitizing and disinfecting: weekly, more depending on the number of users

Descaling: Monthly. This regimen of removing the mineral deposit in water receptacles is necessary to remove mineral buildup inside. The ‘scale’ of calcium, limescale, and other minerals is a breeding ground for viruses, germs, and bacteria.

Pro tip: According to the City of Moline (Illinois) website, even though you may disinfect with bleach, you do not want to leave bleach in your toilet as it can damage your plumbing seals and valves.