Abstract: A toilet bowl cleaner includes an effervescing, foaming cleaning composition contained within a biodegradable packet or pad and a holder for the packet or pad. The holder includes an elongate rigid handle member having a grip end and a head end, a tongue member pivotally mounted on the head end between a first attached position for attaching the disposable toilet bowl cleaning pad to the handle member and a second detached position for releasing the pad from the handle member, and a lock mechanism for releasably locking the tongue member to the head of the handle member. The disposable toilet bowl cleaning pad contains an effervescing compound for cleaning a toilet bowl which includes a surfactant, an alkali carbonate and an acid. Other ingredients may be added to the surfactant-alkali-acid composition to provide desired properties such as halogen containing compounds for providing germicidal properties and fillers as a carrier for the liquid surfactant.