Toilet cleaning products are formulated to remove stains, eliminate odors, disinfect or kill germs, dissolve organic matter, and break down hard-water, lime, and limescale deposits.
Manufacturers describe automatic drop-in tablets as cleaning with each flush and lasting up to about four weeks before needing replacement.
Disposable scrubbing pads snap onto a wand for cleaning under the rim and on bowl surfaces. After use, the pads are popped off and placed in the trash; product directions explicitly warn not to flush them.
Many products list porcelain and ceramic; several also note suitability for stainless steel, plastic, chrome, and general multi-surface use.