Let’s face it—no one likes to clean the toilet. Even so, this chore shouldn’t be ignored. Toilets should be cleaned and sanitized weekly. But how do you safely clean and sanitize the toilet without causing damages?
Well, there are plenty of ways to sanitize toilets. However, because we’re trying to cut on cost, you can use bleach to clean and sanitize your toilet. But before then, you need to contact the manufacturer to ascertain if it’s safe to flush bleach down the toilet.
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Is It Safe to Flush Bleach Down the Toilet?
Yes, bleach can safely go down the toilet if it’s diluted with water. The water comes in handy to break down the bleach into salt and water, so it’s biodegradable. However, if you’re skeptical about using bleach, you can use vinegar and baking soda to get rid of hard stains from your toilet bowl.
Avoid using bleach if your toilet has rust stains. This is because it will set the stains instead of removing them. Remove rust by applying ½ cup of baking soda to the spot and spraying it with white vinegar. Let it sit for about half an hour before flushing.
Again, you’ll need to contact the manufacturer to determine if it’s safe to flush bleach down the toilet since many toilets are made with materials that are easily damaged by bleach.
And because bleach can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs, you’ll want to observe safety measures such as wearing gloves, safety goggles, and working in a well-ventilated area. Immediately wash any areas of your skin that come into contact with bleach.
While it’s safe to clean your toilet bowl with bleach, it’s not recommended for exterior use. This is because ammonium salts are left behind when urine evaporates and when bleach comes into contact with ammonia, toxic gas is formed.
However, if you must use bleach to clean the exterior of your toilet, first clean the surface with a mild detergent and then sanitize with diluted bleach solution. After that, wipe down the surface using a sponge and an all-purpose cleaner.
Does Bleach Damage Toilet Bowls?
Yes, bleach can damage toilet bowls if not diluted with water. While generally safe with porcelain and fireclay, bleach can oxidize the iron of an enamel toilet to firm rust stains. Even worse, a poisonous gas is formed when bleach reacts with ammonia.
With your chlorine bleach, clean and disinfect the toilet bowl. Pour ½ cup of bleach into the toilet bowl and let it rest for about ten minutes. Then scrub thoroughly using a toilet brush and flush. Avoid mixing bleach with toilet bowl cleaners as this could release poisonous gases.
Even the bleach chlorine tablets that are added to the flush tank to clean and freshen your toilet will corrode the seals in your toilet and cause them to leak. These products can potentially damage the fitting in the tank, rendering them useless.
While bleach is a versatile cleaning agent, it’s ineffective at eliminating stains caused by hard water. But again, it can be hazardous if used in high concentrations—the recommended concentration for cleaning the toilet bowl is 500 parts per million, which amounts to 2½ tablespoons of regular household bleach per gallon of water.
This concentration might seem low, but it will get the job done without causing irritations in the skin, eyes, and lungs. Just make sure you’re using bleach in its original form—mixing it with other cleaning agents, especially ammonia-based, will create toxic gases and cause severe skin burns.
Is It Ok to Leave Bleach in the Toilet Overnight?
Yes, you can leave the bleach overnight in the toilet bowl but not longer than that. Like mentioned before, bleaches are powerful cleaning agents and will corrode the toilet if left longer.
It’s okay to leave a bit of it to soak the stains overnight but make sure to inform your family members about it so that no one urinates into the bleach water before flushing it down, as this may result in choking fumes.
It’s also worth noting that a high bleach concentration will make you sick if you breathe from it. You might even end up coughing your lungs out due to the choking fumes.
Bleaches are highly reactive with ammonia and will cause severe burns if they contact your skin. Even worse, they will produce poisonous gases that can be hazardous to your lungs if you accidentally inhale. To prevent such occurrences, have your protective gear on when handling bleaches and work in a well-ventilated space. You’ll also want to clean the toilet bowl with mild detergents before adding the bleach.
You can leave any toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet overnight or for the whole of the weekend while you’re away for complete effectiveness. Most of these detergents are mild and will not damage your toilet even when you leave them for days. The primary ingredient in commercial toilet bowl cleaners is sodium hypochlorite—also known as bleach.
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The significant difference between commercial cleaners and plain bleach is that commercial cleaners consist of thickening agents to help them adhere to the slippery surface so the bleach can work on the stains.
Bleaches can come in handy to get rid of that slimy yuck left after the water has drained. Simply pour the bleach on it and let it work the magic in your toilet. Then, run a gallon or two of cold water through the tank until there’s no bleach left in the tank.
Meanwhile, you should bleach your toilet at least once a week and sanitize your toilet brush once a month with bleach. Oh, and don’t forget to replace the toilet brush every six months, even if the bristles are still intact and appear just fine to you.
How Long Can Bleach Be Left in the Toilet?
You can leave bleach in the toilet for about ten minutes. Pour between two and three cups of the recommended bleach and leave for about ten minutes for it to take effect on the clog. Once the ten minutes have elapsed, flush the toilet. You can repeat this and let it sit for another ten minutes before you can scrub with your toilet brush.
While it’s best to leave bleach in the toilet for about ten minutes, other cleaners can be left to sit in the toilet for as long as you want. Therefore, feel free to leave any other toilet cleaner in the toilet for as long as you want. Usually, most people leave them to stay in the toilet overnight. Depending on your preferences and needs, you know how long you can let it stay in the toilet.
Bleach is a little bit different in terms of how long you should leave it in the toilet because it can make you sick and cough your lungs. Additionally, you need to ensure that there is no urine in the toilet when you are adding bleach in your toilet.
3 Easy Ways To Dispose of Bleach
You can dispose of your bleach in a few simple steps. If the bleach is diluted already, pour it down the toilet or kitchen sink. Better yet, you could offer it to someone who needs it, such as a friend, relative, or a local community center.
Method 1 – Pouring Out the Bleach
Make sure the bleach is diluted before pouring it down the drain. If you’re using the kitchen sink, turn on the faucet to have a continuous flow of water. Any difference in flow rate can cause potential damages to the environment.
Then, slowly pour the bleach down the drain until the container is empty. Once you’re done, allow the water to run for a few seconds before turning off the faucet. Avoid pouring the undiluted bleach down the drain as this will harm the vegetation or pollute water.
If you decide to use the toilet for disposal, simply pour the bleach down the toilet and flush it down. This process is relatively straightforward and works perfectly for smaller quantities of bleach. If you’re disposing of more than 0.25 gallons of the bleach, do it in two separate flushes. Before flushing the bleach down the toilet, ensure that the toilet bowl has enough water.
If it doesn’t, fill a cup with water and pour it down the toilet bowl along with the bleach to dilute. Refrain from mixing the bleach with liquids other than water. Bleach is highly poisonous and can react when diluted with other liquids. Flush it down only when there’s a significant amount of water in the toilet bowl.
Finally, you can use the bathtub drain to dispose of the bleach. Follow the same procedure as in the kitchen sink but make sure the bathtub is free from chemicals such as soap or body wash. That way, you can prevent the bleach from mixing with other potent pollutants.
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Method 2 – Getting Rid of the Container
Check the label on the bleach container to determine if it’s recyclable. The instructions should tell you how to dispose of the container and what to do with the empty container.
You should also check for recycling symbols that indicate the container can be disposed of in a recycling bin. Lettering such as “HDPE” or “PET” means that the container is recyclable. If you’re skeptical about it, inquire from your local facility if they recycle bleach containers.
Double-check to ensure that the container is empty before putting the lid back on. To play your cards safe, pour some water into the container, cover it tightly, and then shake to get rid of any leftover bleach. Pour out the water and put the lid back on for the last time.
If you don’t intend to recycle the container, dispose of it in the trash. But before then, ensure that there’s no bleach left in the container so that nothing reacts with the bleach.
Method 3 – Using up the Bleach
You probably have friends, relatives, or neighbors who may need bleach. Instead of disposing of it, ask around to see if anyone might find it helpful. You can do this via message or in a social media post. Better still, you can carry the bleach with you when you visit a friend or a family member and ask them if they would need the rest of it.
A better way of disposing of the bleach is to ask a local organization to use it. Check to see if there are places that accept bleaches as donations. Do this by sending them an email, giving them a phone call, or stopping by to ask in person. Feel free to ask a local nonprofit if they could use your extra bleach.
Alternatively, post a picture and description of your bleach on a classifieds page so that others nearby can reach out if they need it. Websites such as Freecycle.org are devoted to recycling unused items and will gladly accept your bleach. If you’re posting it online, let your audience know that the bleach is free and that you’re getting rid of the extra.
Read: Can You Flush Maggots Down The Toilet? (And Do They Survive in Water)
Conclusion
If you’ve always wondered whether you can flush bleach down the toilet, the answer is yes; you can flush bleach down your toilet.
You can leave it to sit in the toilet for up to ten minutes, but the timing depends on what you’re looking forward to achieving.
Besides, ensure that you don’t add bleach to your toilet when there’s urine in it. It’s best to flush the toilet before adding the bleach.