The Microbial Inefficacy of Toilet Cleaning Tablets

The Microbial Inefficacy of Toilet Cleaning

Tablets: A Scientific Review of

Antimicrobial Limitations and Regulatory

Gaps
 

Consumer products such as in-tank drop-in cleaners, rim-mounted dispensers, and automatic

bowl cleaners have become a multi-million-dollar consumer category due to marketing

campaigns promoting ease of maintaining hygienic toilets with continuous antimicrobial

protection.

However, a survey of current, peer-reviewed, microbiological literature; current, EPA-mandated,

standards for testing antimicrobial products; and comparative efficacy studies demonstrate a

clear difference between what is claimed in advertisements and what actually occurs in the real

world.

The primary conclusions drawn in this white paper are based upon scientific data demonstrating

that toilet cleaning tablets do not reliably kill microorganisms under realistic usage conditions.

Specifically:
 

Biofilm resistance to continuous chemical contact with antimicrobials: Pitts et al.,

demonstrated that bacterial biofilms can be formed and maintained in the presence of chlorine

concentrations of 9-27 mg/L for extended periods of time, much longer than the duration of

typical tablet releases. These biofilms can become thick enough to provide structural barriers

that protect embedded bacteria from antimicrobial agents and can increase their resistance by

10 to 1000 fold compared to free-floating (planktonic) bacteria.

The Microbial Inefficacy of Toilet Cleaning Tablets