When we are faced with the problem of clogged toilets, the first thing we often think about using to get rid of it is salt, and that’s natural since salt is a very basic and accessible household ingredient.
There are several indications of a clogged toilet drain, such as; water draining slowly after flushing or using more water than usual to flush; a full or overflowing toilet bowl; a gurgling sound or even a rotten smell coming from the bowl.
The only things that should be flushed down a toilet bowl should be toilet paper, water, and human waste, but that isn’t always the case. Some other things can end up there. We are all guilty of that.
Because any liquid poured down your drain will most likely end up in the ocean, it is always best to use natural ingredients that you can find in your home.
It is normal to want to get rid of this as soon as possible since it can be a very messy and unhygienic situation. In this article, we will analyze whether or not flushing salt down your toilet is a good idea.
Can Salt Go in the Toilet?
Yes, salt can go down the toilet. It is actually recommended by plumbers because it helps to eliminate clogs and maintain the toilet drain after unclogging it. It is actually one of the safest and most effective options for solving the issue of a clogged toilet.
It is usually the case that, through years of usage, your toilet can complain and actually show signs that it needs attention. You might encounter several issues, such as your toilet bowl running over, or there might be issues with flushing, leakage, or a blocked toilet.
A blocked toilet is never something any homeowner wants to deal with, but, if we are being honest, it is something every homeowner will have to deal with eventually. It can also lead to a very unsanitary area in your home and interrupt your daily life.
There are several solutions to this problem, and salt is one of the more convenient ones because it is readily available and inexpensive, so not only is it safe, but it is also cost-effective, which is always better to help solve the issue of a clogged drain.
It also helps to break down the clog. You can add it to hot water because what the hot water will help to do is loosen the clog so it can be easily broken down by the salt before flushing it down the drain.
Can You Flush Rock Salt in Toilet To Kill Tree Roots?
Yes, you can. In some cases, tree roots can infiltrate underground pipes, and a green method to get rid of the roots is to use rock salts. It is able to do this by choking them until they dry off, but this would not be effective if the tree roots had had time to develop and establish a strong presence.
This method is effective if the tree roots have not grown excessively to the extent of blocking the pipes. Rock salt prevents future toilet clog issues as it continues to act as a weed and root killer. It is advisable to treat the drain bi-annually or as often as you can to deal with the issue of tree roots in your drain.
Does Pouring Salt Down a Drain Clear a Clog?
What pouring salt down the drain does is that it scours the inside of your pipes, especially if the salt is coarse. It can be used before pouring hot water, which loosens up debris for the best results.
Salt can also help get rid of the smell coming from kitchen sinks and bathroom drains. While hot water is usually the preferred option to use with salt, in this case, you can try melting ice cubes into the drains, followed by salt.
Ice cubes are used here because the texture of ice cubes and salt can scrub and scour the sides, helping to collect any additional debris and act as a drain odor cleaner.
Is it OK to Pour Table Salt Into a Septic Tank?
The short answer is “no.” It is not OK to pour salt into a septic tank. In fact, it isn’t recommended to put any form of salt in a septic tank. The majority of the septic tank problems that exist are a result of either adding things that shouldn’t be there or failure to remove what has accumulated over the years.
It is in your best interest to avoid putting foreign materials in your septic tanks as it will end up doing more harm than good in the long run.
Will Hot Water Unclog a Drain?
The answer is yes, it will, but only if your drain is clogged with ice cubes. If your drain is filled with the things that usually clog drains, like grease, oil, dirt, hair, etc., boiling water alone isn’t likely to help.
While boiling water can be the solution for some clogs, the results are usually hit or miss at best. Plus, there are some risks associated with pouring boiling water down a drain, especially if you have PVC pipes; boiling water can actually soften or melt the PVC joints, so you should be cautious.
It is also possible that the boiling water treatment will simply push the clog deeper into your pipes, meaning the grease, oil or hair (or a combination) is now more difficult to reach and remove.
While most of the time, the myth of using boiling water to unclog a drain might have appeared to achieve results when it was first used. It might work sometimes, but it is not always the correct answer. It doesn’t hurt to try, but find out if you have PVC pipes first.
Can You Pour Vinegar Down the Drain?
While you can pour just vinegar down your drain to help unclog it, vinegar will be more effective when mixed with baking soda and hot water. You can simply pour one cup of baking soda and then one cup of vinegar down the drain. You should give it five minutes or more to fizz, then rinse the drain with hot water.
What vinegar does is it works as a natural drain cleaner on weaker drain clogs. Cleaning your drains regularly keeps them free from clogs and prevents tough drain clogs from developing. If touch clogs develop, they need to be dissolved immediately, and you may want to use a strong drain cleaner.
One cup of vinegar is the ideal amount to use. Just pour it down the drain, cover it with a plug, and let it sit for 10 minutes. You will hear a fizzing. Rinse with more hot water for the best results. While the apple cider vinegar works best, most vinegar types will get the job done.
Does Salt Dissolve Grease?
Yes, salt can dissolve grease, but only when it comes in contact with water, hot water preferably. Salt in its raw form can only absorb grease and can be used as an abrasive to get the grime off pans too. The coarser the salt, the better it works.
Salt is actually a great agent cleaning material. Similarly, if you have pots and pans with stains and grease residue too stubborn to come off, rather than buying different types of cleaning products to help remove those hard-to-scrub situations, salt can be the solution. Indeed, salt is one of the best natural cleaning items, and more often than not, it is all you need.
Salt is a gentle abrasive with a gritty texture. This is good for scrapping away stains, leftover food bits, and other residues. Salt is also absorbent, similar to baking soda. It can absorb grease, and once it comes in contact with water, it will dissolve. This will create a saline solution that can break down protein-based stains.
Can You Use Salt For Toilet Maintenance?
Yes, salt can be used for toilet maintenance. But to get the best results what you need to do is to treat your toilet weekly by using a mixture of a cup of baking soda, a quarter cup of tartar cream, and a cup of table salt. You should first allow the mixture to settle for around 15 seconds, then pour a cup of cold water into the toilet drain.
Flushing the toilet with hot water every week can prevent clogs from developing in the drain and ensure your toilet is odor-free, just in case salt isn’t available or you feel like you’re dumping too much salt into the toilet.
The foundation of good toilet maintenance is cleaning your toilets regularly. Grease, bacteria and rust can build up daily in your toilets, so it is important to maintain your toilets intermittently.
Bacteria can build up and repeated use may result in an unhealthy bathroom environment. Flushing the toilet will spread droplets of toilet water, so cleaning is vital to keep everyone in your home healthy.