choughdancer
Years ago, I was taught by someone in a professional cleaning company the best way to clean a loo. The first thing was to use the loo brush to pump up and down which lowered the water level. This meant that the normal water level where most of the dirt/bacteria were could be properly cleaned with the brush and cleaning substance.
Since then I have always done this; no need for bleach. I use a mixture of vinegar, washing up liquid, water and Tea Tree oil instead of the cleaning liquid used then. I spray the same mixture onto all the surfaces of the loo seat, lid, flush etc., and wipe it off with loo paper. Actually I do that bit first then flush the paper away before doing bowl with the brush.
I don't like the smell of bleach so wouldn't like having the brush sitting in it, but the thorough whooshing up and down in the toilet bowl then leaving to dry seems fine.
It works for me, and no nasties going into the water system.
This is more or less what we do, though I use a small amount of "Toilet Duck" myself. I never use bleach, don't like the smell or the fact that a tiny splash would take the colour out of fabrics.
As JackyB says bleach is not an acid, but an alkali, so exactly the opposite and absolutely no use with limescale which is also alkaline. Although it might make it look clean it is still there unless you use something acidic remove it. You can get an acidic spray gel which apparently works very well.
Fortunately we have softened water so don't need this.
