Since Drano does not work quickly on toilet clogs and could cause major problems, it is not advised to use Drano to clear toilet clogs.
It can be tempting to pick up a bottle of Drano when your toilet is clogged in order to fix the issue. After all, it works great on your bathtub and kitchen sink, so why not use it for the toilet as well? There is a very good reason why you shouldn’t use Drano to unclog toilets, however, as it could harm your toilet permanently.
How Does Drano Work?
The two main solutions for dranos are sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and sodium hydroxide (lye). Lye is a caustic chemical that produces a lot of heat when it comes into contact with water. The obstruction is eventually burned away and removed. The bleach breaks the clog down into chemicals that wash away by oxidizing it.
For sink, shower, and tub drains, Drano is the ideal solution. It typically removes clogs more quickly than Paul Bunyan can clear a forest in one motion of his ax.
Drano is very effective at clearing those clogs, but it also creates more issues than it fixes.
Why Can’t I Use Drano in My Toilet Drain?
Whatever is clogging your pipes and drains will be removed by Drano using chemicals that function similarly to lye. Clogs don’t magically disappear, though. As the chemicals work to slowly dissolve it, it remains where the clog is. The Drano is causing a chemical reaction that results in heat while this is going on. While this is not typically a problem for the drains in your sink and tub, if you use Drano in your toilet it can:
- Soften PVC pipes.
- damage to corroded and old pipes.
- Your toilet’s porcelain bowl is chipped. You may need to replace the toilet entirely if this occurs.
You could get hurt if you use Drano in the bathroom. Let’s take the scenario where you’ve tried plunging the clog after using Drano and it isn’t clearing. You run the risk of unintentionally splashing the sitting Drano on your skin while doing this, which could result in a burn. Toxic fumes could be created if you decide to attack the clog with yet another chemical cleaner in addition to Drano, putting yourself at risk of inhaling them accidentally. If your toilet is clogged, it’s probably best to avoid using Drano.
How to Unclog Your Toilet (Without Drano)
Try With Natural Enzyme-Based Cleaners
Our recommendation is to choose a natural cleaning product with enzymes. To clean and unclog your toilet, use this product, which is fantastic.
It also produces no fumes, is non-toxic, and leaves no harmful residues. That is far preferable to using Drano to unclog toilets while putting your health at risk and still failing to do so.
Use a Flange Plunger
For clearing clogs close to the toilet bowl’s outlet, a flange plunger is the most effective tool. It is affordable and easy to handle — all you need is to follow a few simple steps:
- Grab the top of the tool with your hand
- Put the head of the plunger in the bowl to form a vacuum seal
- Start plunging by moving it up and down
- When you feel pressure, pull up the plunger and release it quickly
Most clogs should be cleared by doing this, but if your toilet block is particularly stubborn, you can do it several times.
A Toilet Auger is Even Better
A more sophisticated tool that unclogs deep toilet clogs is a toilet auger. Augers feature a long handle and a cable with a corkscrew at one end; to use one, push the cable into the bowl and twist the handle to dig deeper.
The waste ball will be stabbed and broken by the toilet auger when it gets to the clog. The majority of the debris will flow to the sewer line, and as you remove it, the toilet snake will pick up the remaining pieces.
Use Dish Soap
Dish soap doesn’t necessarily have to look like your typical clog-breaker; it needn’t. Clogs are meant to be lubricated and forced to drain into the sewer by using it.
All you need to do is fill the toilet bowl with a small cup of liquid soap and a bucket of hot water, then wait for about an hour. Once that is done, flush the toilet and let the clogs slide through the plumbing system.
Conclusion
Because it harms porcelain, PVC pipes, and your health, using a product like Drano in the toilet is bad. The fact that it doesn’t even clear clogs only makes matters worse.
Drano can be used to clean a kitchen sink or a shower, but other tools are much more effective at unclogging. The next time you want to flush Drano down the toilet, keep that in mind.
FAQs
What Happens If You Put Drano in a Toilet?
It creates a significant problem in a toilet, particularly given the slow rate at which Drano clears toilet clogs. The toilet’s porcelain may crack or the PVC pipes may become softer due to the heat produced by this chemical reaction. Drano can therefore harm not only you but also your toilet and cost you money.
What Can You Pour Down a Toilet to Unclog It?
Make your own drain cleaner by flushing one cup of baking soda, two cups of vinegar, and a half gallon of hot water down the toilet. Another tool for removing some obstructions is dish soap. In either case, flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has been removed after letting the solution sit for the night.
What’s the Best Liquid to Unclog a Toilet?
Because it works quickly to clear even the toughest clogs, Drano Max Gel is the best drain cleaner overall.