In a toilet, especially since Drano does not work quickly on toilet clogs, it creates a serious issue. The heat generated from this chemical reaction can crack the porcelain of the toilet or soften the PVC of the pipes. So, not only can Drano hurt you, but it can also hurt your toilet and cause costly damage.
Because of its corrosive nature, Drano can cause toilet bowls to crack, PVC pipes to melt or break and the glue that holds pipes together can be eaten away. If any of these things happen, you're going to be left with an inoperable plumbing system and costly repairs.
Plumbers Say You Should Never Use Drano. Drain cleaners are a popular solution when homeowners notice a clogged drain. But it's also one of the most commonly misused products out there. Any plumber will advise against its use.
Make your own drain cleaner by pouring one cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar into the toilet and adding a half gallon of hot water. Dish soap can also help loosen some obstructions. When using either method, allow the solution to sit overnight and then flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has cleared.
Can damage your plumbing pipes. The chemical reaction created by the drain cleaner that breaks up the clogs also gives off heat. This instance can soften PVC pipes and eventually corrode older piping. If you notice corrosion present on your pipes, the chemicals can cause more damages that will cost you more on repairs.
In a toilet, especially since Drano does not work quickly on toilet clogs, it creates a serious issue. The heat generated from this chemical reaction can crack the porcelain of the toilet or soften the PVC of the pipes. So, not only can Drano hurt you, but it can also hurt your toilet and cause costly damage.
Cotton balls, cotton pads, and Q-Tips are definitely not safe to flush — they don't break down the way toilet paper does, and all they really do is clump together in your pipes and cause problems down the line.
Caustic Soda
Caustic soda is a nasty chemical that can burn, but it's very effective for unclogging toilets.
Lower the plunger into the toilet bowl at an angle, and fit the rubber cup over the toilet's drain hole. Grip the plunger handle with both hands. With a forceful motion, move the cup up and down without breaking the cup's seal around the hole. Repeat this action for about 10 to 20 seconds and then remove the plunger.
For preventive drain cleaning, you can use Drano® Max Build-Up Remover in drains, toilets and even septic systems. Apply Drano® Max Build-Up Remover overnight or before you go to work, then wait 6 to 8 hours before running warm (not hot) water down treated drains or flushing treated toilets.
Look in Your Kitchen Pantry
Baking soda and vinegar may unclog your drain better than Drano ever could.
Drain Augers or Snakes
The standard drain cleaner tool plumbers use to demolish obstructions in pipes is a motorized drain auger, also known as a drain snake. An auger consists of a long, flexible coil of metal that works similar to a corkscrew. The end of the auger goes down the drain until it reaches the clog.
Baking Soda and White Vinegar
To use this method, pour half a cup of baking soda into the clogged drain and follow it with a half cup of white vinegar.
The chemicals in Drano may not solve all clogs, and they can lead to a worsening of pipe issues. Drano can build up in a clogged area, and corrode the pipe. With repeated use, these chemicals may eat their way through a pipe, and cause a leak or a collapse of the system.
It is Extremely Corrosive For Your Drains
This can put a great deal of stress on your drains as the heat can cause PVC pipes to soften and even break or collapse. While it is dissolving your clog, Drano can also quickly eat away at the glue holding your pipes together, leading to a potentially costly leak.
After 15 to 30 minutes, clogs are substantially minimized or dissolved. A final blast of hot water flushes away what's left of the clog.
When a toilet has a clog made of water-soluble materials, it has a chance of slowly dissolving in the water and freeing up the toilet to work properly again. So, clogs that are primarily made of toilet paper can clear themselves.
Baking soda and vinegar
Pour a cup of baking soda into the toilet followed by a cup of vinegar, and let it fizz for a little bit. After a few minutes, add a several cups of hot water and wait another couple of minutes for it to dissolve before trying to flush again.
Hot Water and Dish Soap
When the water is extremely hot, but not boiling, pour into the toilet carefully. Wait for 10-15 minutes while the dish soap and hot water soften the clog. Once you do so, the toilet will unclog and flush freely.
Baking soda and vinegar is a marvelous cleaning agent, and when dumped into a clogged toilet, often will break up the clog without you having to do a thing. This is what you want to do: combine two cups hot water with two cups white vinegar.
You don't need to use much of it. Simply spray on the affected area, wait a minute or two and brush it away with a regular toilet brush. While WD-40 Multi Use Product is a great everyday cleaning product, avoid flushing it down the toilet.
Every time you flush the toilet, water flows out of the tank into the bowl, which creates a siphon effect. This should suck everything out of the toilet bowl and carry it down the drain. If you have to flush the toilet twice, there most likely isn't enough water flowing into the bowl.
There are only three things you can safely flush down the toilet into the sewer system —pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Just remember those three as the three Ps that you can flush. And don't forget, "flushable" wipes are not really flushable.
Prophylactics, or condoms, are another common item many people flush down their toilets because it seems like the most convenient option for disposal.
Because of its corrosive nature, Drano can cause toilet bowls to crack, PVC pipes to melt or break and the glue that holds pipes together can be eaten away. If any of these things happen, you're going to be left with an inoperable plumbing system and costly repairs.