People think they can use chlorine tablets to clean their toilet tanks because of their disinfecting and sanitizing properties.
Can You Put Chlorine Tablets in Toilet Tank? You should not put chlorine tablets in toilet tanks because of their low water levels, pool-like smell, leakages in tanks, corrosive nature, discoloration of the bowl, damage to the septic tanks and plumbing system, and cause the degradation of plastic and rubber parts.
Many toilet cleaning products are available, from liquid bottle clear to powdered and tablet form ingredients. Choosing them wisely after checking their ingredients is essential so they cannot damage the fixtures.
Can you add chlorine tablets to toilet tanks?
Chlorine tablets are solid materials that vary in size depending on their dose. Their main active ingredient is calcium hypochlorite, known as the bleaching agent.
These are used to kill water-based pathogens, bacteria, and viruses. People mostly want to use them inside toilet tanks to kill algae and other bacterial species so they cannot affect the functioning of internal components.
These are not safe for the cisterns and lead to leakages and damaged parts. These products are designed for pools and hot water tubs to disinfect and sanitize water.
Moreover, these also prevent the algae growth on the pool’s side walls that cause slipperiness, leading to fall accidents.
Why you should not put chlorine tablets in toilet tanks?
Researchers say that chlorine tablets are not the safer choice for toilet cleaning because of their delicate manufacturing material.
Less water capacity
Do not use these products in water tanks because of their less water capacity. These tablets contain a high chlorine and calcium hypochlorite concentration, which can lead to damage.
You can only use them in pools and tubs that have more water capacity and can easily dilute their content. Low water levels of the cisterns cannot dilute them, and it remains in their concentrated form.
These can concentrate the water inside the cisterns and damage the side walls when they remain there longer.
On average, most of these fixtures have water capacities ranging from 1.28 gallons per flush to 1.6 gallons per flush, which is insufficient to dilute these tablets.
Pool like smell
One of my friends used the chlorine tablet to reduce the algae growth on the side walls of the toilet water tank. He complained about the pool and pond-like smell from the bathroom, which is irritating.
You cannot dilute them well in water because of the low water concentration in cisterns, and their concentrated form makes your bathroom smelly.
You can also feel the smell from your room if these are attached to the bathroom. I also did the same with my guest bathroom for disinfection, and the smell in the hallway lasted for 4 to 5 days.
You can feel the smell from your interior and hallways because of their oxidizing properties. These produce chloramines after killing bacteria and pathogens through an oxidation reaction.
These chloramines produce a strong off-gas chlorine smell which can make you nauseous.
Leakage of tanks
The ingredients present in these tablets cause slow but irreversible deterioration of side walls, which can lead to leakages.
Some people prefer using them according to the size of the cisterns and their manufacturing material. These produce harmful effects after some days of use, and you can see water leakage.
It is better to avoid their use because of the high chlorine concentration. It is not safe for cement, porcelain, and plastic because of the deterioration effect.
It causes a slow degradation of cemented, porcelain, and plastic material, which can also lead to cracking.
Corrosive nature
Chlorine tablets are not manufactured for toilet water tanks because of their corrosive properties. Cisterns contain metal parts that are helpful in the flushing mechanism.
These products can corrode the metal parts, including the float, fill valve, and flush valve and hinder their normal functioning. Moreover, it can also damage the other metal parts, including the screws and bolts.
Rust eats these metal parts, and you can see the shaking of toilets and tanks because of their damaged screws that can no longer hold them.
The highly corrosive nature also eats the flush lever, made of metal and plastic materials. Corrosion increases the wear and tear of metal parts, and you can face issues while flushing solid waste.
These cannot allow enough water for flushing, leading to weak or irregular flush.
Discoloration of the toilet bowl
I see the discoloration patches of porcelain material in the toilet bowl after using chlorine in my toilet tank. Algae builds up on the side walls of the cistern, and I want to clean it.
It contains more detrimental effects rather than providing benefits. High chlorine concentration damages the glazing layer of porcelain bowls and leaves discoloration patches there.
The issue comes when you flush the toilets and treated water moves to the bowls. It can also increase friction and disturb the smoothness of the surface.
It triggers the unhygienic condition because poop cannot move quickly on a rough surface.
Damage to the septic system
Septic tanks are present in a home not connected to the sewage system. These contain the wastewater from your bathrooms, kitchens, and other things.
The solid waste in these tanks accumulates on the ground surface, and grease residues come on the upper side. It contains bacteria that cause the decomposition of solid waste.
The chlorine in toilet tanks damages your home’s septic system. The treated water from toilet flush enters these tanks and kills the beneficial bacteria.
Hinderance in the degradation process because of the killing of beneficial bacteria leads to smell from your septic tanks.
Affect plumbing system
Toilets are connected to the plumbing and drain pipes to move the solid waste into the sewage system. These pipes are made of plastic and metal material, depending on the oldness of your home.
Avoid adding chlorine tablets in the toilet cisterns because it can affect the plumbing and drain pipes. It can lead to a corrosion reaction if these pipes are made of metal material.
Rust eats the metals and leaves visible holes, cracks, and stains on the affected area. In addition, it can also decrease the strength and flexibility of plastic pipes.
These become more brittle because of the high concentration of bleaching agents and can develop cracks easily.
Degradation of plastic and rubber parts
The corrosive nature of chlorine can damage the rubber and plastic parts of the internal toilet assembly. Avoid adding these tablets in the cisterns because it causes damaging consequences.
Rusting elements make the rubber and plastic seals brittle, and these can crack easily. In addition, a brown layer builds on their surface, which affects their normal functioning.
You can see tank-to-bowl leakage because of the broken flapper seals made of rubber material. In addition, it also leads to water wasting and a weak flushing mechanism.
What are safe methods of cleaning toilet tanks instead of chlorine tablets?
Avoid using chlorine tablets that contain bleaching properties for toilet cleaning. You can use other products that have anti-bacterial and cleaning action for them.
These products remove the bacteria, fungus, and calcium buildup from the side walls and internal assembly. Moreover, I prefer to use home-based ingredients because these are more effective, safe to use, and eco-friendly.
You can use vinegar and lemon juice in the toilet tank due to their anti-bacterial and cleaning action. In addition, you can also use commercially available toilet cleaners that contain less harsh chemicals.
Prefer to use products that are easy to handle and need less preparation. These tablets are difficult to handle because of their harsh nature and also produce fumes that are toxic to the environment.
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