Formulated to dissolve hair and grease, Liquid Plum is a great choice for unclogging kitchen sinks, but can it do the same for toilets? Can you use Liquid Plumber in a toilet, or will it worsen the problem?
To answer your question, you can’t use Liquid Plumber in your toilet. This cleaning solution is too strong, posing a great risk to your plumbing pipes and porcelain toilet surface. Also, this product seems ineffective for breaking down solid materials.
Keep reading to learn the effects of Liquid Plumber in your toilet.
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Can You Put Liquid Plumber Down the Toilet?
Unfortunately, no. Although drain cleaners like Liquid Plumbr work well with clogged sinks, they’re not suitable for toilets. These chemical drain products are only meant to dissolve small clogs like food or grease, not large waste or solid material.
The chances of reaching the clog are also limited for the Liquid Plumbr. When the clog happens far beyond the pipes, no amount of this chemical solution can do the trick. More importantly, it raises the question of “Is Liquid Plumber safe?”
Liquid Plumber contains a lot of bleach, which can leak through the pipes and corrode the metal fixtures nearby. Once leaked through the pipe fittings, it also can stain the surface. Imagine having your toilet on the second floor and seeing those ugly stains in your ceiling downstairs.
Why Should You Not Use Liquid Plumber in a Toilet?
Liquid Plumber isn’t recommended for toilet clogs for many reasons. Here are some adverse effects when you use toilet unclogger liquid like Liquid Plumber in your toilet.
- Endanger Health: Besides bleach, Liquid Plumber also contains sodium hydroxide, which can form chlorine gas when interacting with other chemical cleaning solutions. Chlorine gas toxicity is high and can cause acute damage to the respiratory system.
- Damage Wax Rings: You know how important it is to seal your toilet with a wax ring. Without it, your toilet will leak sewage water and develop an unpleasant odor in your bathroom.
When you pour Liquid Plumber into your toilet, the strong chemical components of the drain opener may melt the wax ring seal, making it lose effectiveness. - Weaken Pipes: Pouring Liquid Plumber frequently might not do well with your plumbing system. The strong chemicals can melt the plastic composition of your PVC pipes and corrode metal pipes, especially when left for too long in the toilet bowl. Once the pipes are ruined, they’ll crack, resulting in water leaks.
- Cracked Toilets: Liquid Plumbr generates heat as part of its chemical reaction. When this solution sits under your toilet bowl for too long, the heat can destroy the fragile porcelain surface.
- Harms The Environment: Some of this liquid cleaner can reach the ground, especially when flushed with wastewater.
The chemicals from the liquid cleaner can destroy the natural habitat of fauna and flora. This is what happens if you put liquid Plumr in a toilet clog, so consider using safer alternatives below.
Safe Alternatives for Toilet Clog Removal
- Auger: A toilet clog is difficult to remove with a chemical drainer alone. The best way to break down a large clump of material is to use a mechanical intervention like an auger. This heavy-duty tool is long enough to reach down the clog and direct it to the sewer line.
- Dishwashing Liquid + Hot Water: This combination is safer than chemical-based drainers. While the hot water breaks down the material, the dishwashing liquid helps the particles slide through the pipes.To do this, simply squirt a generous amount of dishwashing liquid into the bowl, then pour hot water.
- Baking Soda + Vinegar: If you want a chemical reaction to unclog your toilet, the popular combination of baking soda and vinegar might help.
Pour baking soda and vinegar into the toilet bowl in a 1:2 ratio. Let the foaming reaction sit for an hour to work its magic, then flush.
Conclusion
So, can you use Liquid Plumber in a toilet? The answer is no, so it might be wise to look for safer alternatives like an auger. While this cleaning solution is effective for kitchen sinks, it’s not the same for your toilet.
Let us know your experiences using Liquid Plumber in the comment section below. If you like, you can share this article to help someone with the same query.
I’m Paulk Webb, and I work as a writer for Saveourwaterrebates. I’m happy to put in the time and effort to conduct market research to identify the most pressing issues faced by households concerning their plumbing. Feel free to check out our guides to get the most informed recommendations for how to solve your problems.