Can You Use DRANO in a Toilet? Here’s All That You Need to Know!

Can You Use DRANO in a Toilet? Here’s All That You Need to Know!

Drano Clog Remover is meant to be used for clogged sinks or bathtubs. So, you cannot use it to clear up a clogged toilet. Many people confuse the use of Drano with other toilet cleaners but that’s where you go wrong! Drano clog remover is definitely NOT for the toilets.

If you’re wondering why, here’s the answer. It works by using an oxidizing chemical reaction to dissolve the object clogging your drain. As a result of these chemical reactions, a lot of heat is released, causing the porcelain of the toilet to crack or the PVC of the pipes to soften. Thus, Drano is not only dangerous to you but also harmful to your toilet.

However, for toilets, drains and septic systems, you may opt for Drano Max Build-Up Remover for preventive drain cleaning. This is the only Drano cleaner that we totally recommend for clearing the clogged or slow-running toilets. Another common question that arises is “Can you use Drano in an RV toilet?”. Well, the pipelines and drainage systems are different for an RV toilet. So, according to most of the experts, you can use Drano for unclogging an RV toilet. That’s because their pipelines are durable and capable of dealing with Drano.

What is Drano?

What is Drano

Drano is basically a hugely well-known and trusted American brand that deals with the manufacturing of drain cleaners. There are different Drano cleaners for dealing with different drainpipes. Drain clogs can be removed quickly with Drano Clog Removers.

Ingredients in these removers perform quick action to break down soap scum, gunk, and hair, resulting in a cleared pipeline. However, Drano Clog Removers can be used for unclogging kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtubs, but NOT toilets. For unclogging the toilets, you must only use Drano Max Build-Up Remover.

Because there are harsh chemicals present in these cleaners, so they should not be used very often.

How to Unclog a Toilet Without Using Drano?

Drano isn’t the only solution to your clogged toilets. You can unclog a toilet without using Drano as well. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 cup of vinegar
  • 2 cups of baking soda
  • 3 gallons of hot water (may or may not be needed)

Now here’s how you’ll use these ingredients to unclog your toilet.

  1. Add one cup of baking soda into your clogged toilet. Because your toilet is clogged, the bowl might be filled with water. Worry not and dump in a cup of baking soda. Now, wait and let it sink.
  2. In case there isn’t much water in the bowl, add a gallon of hot water (should NOT be boiling water) to make things work.
  3. Wait for a few minutes and start pouring 2 cups of vinegar one by one. Do not jump dump it in, pour in slowly so it won’t create a fizz or mess.
  4. Wait for a couple of hours. During that time, whatever has caused your toilet to clog would have been broken down. Then flush the toilet twice and you’ll be all good to go!

What to Do If You Put Drano in the Toilet?

What to Do If You Put Drano in the Toilet

Drano is an excellent choice for clearing up the clogs in the sinks or bathtubs but using it for toilets is definitely a bad idea. In case you didn’t know, and you’ve put Drano in your toilet, we suggest you call a plumber who would be able to figure out what to do next in case Drano has caused any type of damage to the drain pipes.

How Drano Can Heat Up Your Pipes and Toilet?

Drano uses caustic or oxidizing substances such as lye to dissolve whatever clogs the drain. Heat results from the chemical reaction between Drano and the clog. However, the clog isn’t cleared instantly with Drano. Depending on where the clog is in the pipes, it is likely to sit in the toilet or farther down until it dissolves. The heat it creates is therefore prolonged.

This production of heat eventually results in broken porcelain bowls and damaged commodes over time. Also, it softens the PVC pipes and may also damage or corrode the pipes which have been in use for a long time.

The Main Sewer Line May Be Clogged

The Main Sewer Line May Be Clogged

In any case, if the sewer line is clogged, there is no way you can deal with it on your own. You can only unclog a toilet if the clogging is somewhere within the bowl or in the drainpipes. In fact, Drano may also not be a solution to unclog a sewer line. That’s because sewer lines connect the pipelines of homes and streets together and you can only deal with the clog when it is within your own toilet. So, if the main sewer line is clogged, you’ll definitely need to call a plumber and get things fixed for you.

DISADVANTAGES OF DRANO

First of all, Drano, in spite of being a pretty much popular drain cleaner, still cannot clear up all types of clogs. It does the job for the clogs that are eventually dissolvable but won’t really clear mineral deposit buildups or hard, solid clogs. Other than this, it is NOT AT ALL recommended for toilet clogs.

That’s the biggest con because it destroys the pipelines due to the heat produced as a result of its chemical reactions. Also, if used very often, there would be some residue left behind after every use, which contributes to much often clogs over time. It further contains pollutants. These pollutants get directly into the soil and the groundwater gets badly contaminated.

Enzymatic 

Due to its enzymatic nature, Drano takes longer to clean than most other drain cleaners. Enzymatic cleaners do not generally open completely clogged drains either because they require liquid to flow through the pipe to disperse.

Caustic 

A caustic drain cleaner contains substances like lye and caustic potash. Among Drano’s most important ingredients is sodium hydroxide, also called lye, which decomposes most organic material. It also does so for hair and grease. A strong reaction occurs when the lye is mixed with the aluminum shards, generating heat at temperatures close to boiling. This heat harms pipelines.

Basic 

On a scale of 0-14, Drano has a pH of 11, making it very basic. Most of the basic drain cleaners typically contain sodium hydroxide (lye), but some may also contain potassium hydroxide. Despite their promise of complete clog removal or prevention, they are often ineffective and even harmful to your plumbing.

Drano Alternatives: How to Unclog Your Toilet

Drano Alternatives How to Unclog Your Toilet

Drano is not the only solution you can consider. There are several alternatives that are much more eco-friendly and easier on your system.

You can clear minor clogs with coarse salt. To do this, mix half a cup of salt with 4 liters of water. Allow the salt solution to sit for 15 minutes before draining it. Run hot water into the drain. As the salt dissolves the clog, the hot water softens the clog and ultimately helps unclog the drain.

If the blockage is larger, baking soda and vinegar can help – the chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar helps to loosen the blockage. Pour the solution down the drain after removing as much water from the problem area as possible. Bubbles will occur which indicates that the solution is working. Allow the solution to sit for 15 minutes. Pour hot water down the drain after the bubbling subsides. Do not use boiling water.

Bleach 

Pour 3/4 cup of bleach down the drain and flush it thoroughly with hot water. This will deodorize and sanitize drains, but it won’t remove a heavy clog. It isn’t effective to use bleach to unclog drains because the bleach won’t dissolve the hair, washcloths, toothpaste, and other materials that get trapped inside pipes.

Dish Detergent and Hot Water 

You can also use the dish detergent followed by hot water to clear up the clog in your toilet. Take a cup of dish detergent and pour it into the bowl. let it sit for s few minutes, then slowly add hot water. Make sure the water isn’t boiling hot as it may not be good for the pipes if they’re made of plastic. After you’ve poured in detergent and water, wait for some time and then flush.

Baking Soda and Vinegar 

Baking Soda and Vinegar 

Start by dumping a pot of hot water down the drain. Pour a solution of 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar into the cup of baking soda. Put the drain plug in place and wait for 5 to 10 minutes. Now, again, add some hot water into the toilet. Baking soda and vinegar, in combination with hot water, loosen the drain clog, which is then removed from your pipes as a result of the bubbling reaction.

Toilet Auger 

Using a toilet auger is simply an amazing alternative. The first thing you’ll do on a closet auger is reach up and pull the handle up in order to make sure the cable at its end would go down to the maximum. Now, make sure that the head of the snake goes back in through the p-trap and then all the way down into the drain to try to clear out as much as you can.

Flange Plunger 

Flange Plunger is another great option to clear up the clogs in the toilet. Place the plunger in the bowl in a way that covers up the open bowl area and seals it well. Now perform a few pushes and pulls, keeping the bowl sealed with the plunger’s rubber. This would create pressure inside and break up any clogs inside. Once you’re done, perform one or two flushes to ensure the pathway has been cleared up.

FAQ’s

Which Drano is safe for toilets?
Drano Max Build-Up Remover is the only product recommended for clogged or slow-running toilets. Other Drano cleaners must be prohibited from use in toilets. However, they can be used for drain cleaning the sinks or bathtubs.
Does drain un-blocker work in toilets?
Yes, drain un-blockers do work in toilets but only to an extent. In addition to dissolving toilet paper, these cleaners also dissolve organic matter that is almost blocking the toilet. But in the case of a hard and strongly clogged toilet, you might need to look for an alternative.

 

Conclusion

Drano cleaners are great for the drain cleaning of sinks or bathtubs. But when it comes to dealing with slow-running toilets or toilet clogs, Drano cleaners are not much recommended. That’s because they have harsh chemicals with damaging properties that are harmful to the toilet pipelines and your toilet’s health. However, if there’s ONE Drano cleaner recommendable for toilets, that is Drano Max Build-Up Remover. We clearly DO NOT recommend using any other Drano cleaner for the toilets.

 

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