A clogged toilet can cause overflow in your toilet bowl. It can happen if the waste residue does not go down and block the pipe, which is a worse experience.
Can You Use Drain Cleaner to Unclog a Toilet? You can use drain cleaners to unclog a toilet, but they have to be enzyme-based or bio-cleaners. They are inexpensive, easy to apply, and can unclog it because of the excessive use of toilet paper, cotton balls, wipes, and toilet paper.
A bathroom that keeps clogging is inconvenient and frustrating as it restricts usage and takes more time to unclog it.
Why would you use a drain cleaner to unclog a toilet?
You can use drain cleaners to unclog it, but it needs some precautions, and it is better if you use a natural enzyme cleaner.
There can be various reasons your toilet gets clogged more often, and you need to take immediate action to avoid embarrassing situations.
Excessive use of toilet paper is one of the common causes of clogging because human waste and tissues get stuck in the pipes and clog the drainage.
In addition, these papers do not dissolve quickly, and their excessive use leads to blockage in the pipes.
The drains can get clogged if you use 2-ply tissues instead of 1-ply, which are harder to dissolve when combined with other waste materials.
However, the chemicals and acids in these products can allow the tissue papers to dissolve rapidly and unblock the pipes.
Different non-flushable materials like facial tissues, cotton swabs, paper towels, and cotton balls can also clog the drainage and are difficult to remove because they block the pipes and require more time and hard work to remove them.
They contain sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite, which react to dissolve the clogging material.
Moreover, it is inexpensive to remove clogging as it can cost more if you hire a professional to do this job. You do not need special skills to use it because it is one of the easiest ways to unclog the drains.
The enzyme cleaners are less harmful and more environmentally friendly than other cleaners because they do not use harsh chemicals to clean the drains.
How do you use a drain cleaner to unclog the toilet?
You can easily unclog the pipes by taking some precautions and carefully reading the label on the product.
Then, take enzyme-based cleaner or bio cleaner, hand gloves, eyewear, protection gear, and a brush.
Shut the water supply because it is already overflowing with water. Put the newspaper around the toilet area as it will make floor cleaning easy.
Wear gloves and remove as much water as you can from its bowl before applying it. Carefully read the label for the quantity of solution required to pour into it.
Leave the cleaner overnight or as recommended in the instruction to dissolve the waste that clogs the pipes. Turn on the water and flush the solution to see if the clogging is removed.
You can flush it down 2-3 times to clear the blockage and push the waste to the sewage lines. Use a plunger or plumbing snake to push the clogging waste through the pipes into the sewage.
Is it safe to use a drain cleaner to unclog a toilet?
All drain cleaners cannot be used in toilets but can work for the other bathroom and kitchen drains.
They contain many toxic chemicals that are much safe to use because the reaction of these chemicals with waste products can cause harmful fumes to rise from the toilet bowl.
Many products use hydrochloric acid, which is a dangerous chemical for your skin if you accidentally drop it on your hands or feet.
The vapors from these chemicals can cause health problems if you smell them directly without any mask because they release toxic gases.
The fumes can also cause eye irritation if you mix them with other cleaning products, which causes harsh reactions.
You need to take many precautions if you are using them because the water is standing in the clogged pipes, and the cleaner can react with it, which causes an oxidation reaction and creates health issues for the users using it directly.
What are the disadvantages of using drain cleaners to unclog a toilet?
They use chemicals that can damage the pipes and porcelain because they are harsh and abrasive.
Direct contact with the exposed metal surfaces can distort the internal parts of the plumbing system.
It works through sharp reactions, which can unclog the pipes but cause cracks and holes, especially if they are old.
It can also affect the PVC pipes because the chemical reaction releases heat which can warp them as it needs many hours to clean them.
They are an inexpensive option for the house owner but can cost more if the internal pipes and plumbing system get affected due to their use.
The enzyme cleaners are a good choice, but they are not much effective and take more time to unblock the drainage, while a long time exposure to the pipes can cause damage to fittings, caulking, and sealing.
The toxic chemicals eat away the clogged materials, and the pipes and corrosion can cause them to burst, which leads to flooding in your bathroom.
In addition, it cannot work for all kinds of clogging, such as mineral buildup and rust on the pipes.
It can contaminate the underground water if the chemicals cause holes and leakage in the pipes.
In addition, it is not safe for the environment, such as soil and other humans using underground water.
Things to consider while unclogging the toilet
You can face the frustrating situation of toilet clogging due to different reasons if you ignore its cleaning and maintenance.
It is better to take precautions while using chemical products to unclog the drains.
Do not use un-flushable materials like paper towels, wipes, cotton balls, and Q-tips because they soak water and block the pipes. Instead, throw them in a dustbin or trash box.
You can use homemade solutions instead of chemical cleaners, but if the homemade cleaners do not work, you can use enzyme drain cleaners as they are safer to apply in the toilet.
Do not use excessive toilet paper; educate your kids and family members about the adequate amount of tissue to use because it will prevent pipe blockage.
Also, ensure that the kids do not take toys with them in the bathroom because they can drop them into the toilet.
Wear gloves, eyewear, and protection gear to avoid splashes or fumes on your body and eyes.
Keeping its bowl covered is better because you can accidentally drop any item into it, especially if you have a cabinet above it.
Do not leave the solution for more than the recommended time to avoid any damage to the drainage system.
Pour the quantity of solution as mentioned on the instruction label because a large quantity can affect the internal parts of pipes. Do not use it excessively, and you can consult a plumber if the clogging is severe.
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