We’ve all been there. You’re done with your business. The only step left is to flush your excrement down the toilet. So, you stretch your hand, grab the toilet flush handle, twist it and hope for the best. But alas! Your poop won’t flush down.
“Perhaps the second flush will do the job”, you think to yourself. But even the third flush doesn’t seem to work. You don’t have any option left. You’re frustrated. But you’ve got an idea; you heard somewhere that bleach could turn out a boon in such situations. But is it true? Does bleach dissolve poop?
Well, that’s one question that plagues the minds of many. So, if you’re among those who are curious to know whether or not bleach can help you get rid of your poop troubles, then this article is for you.
Read: Toilet Seat Turned Yellow After Bleaching
Does Bleach Break Down The Poop?
Yes, bleach will break down poop. Bleach contains chemicals like hypochlorite that can break organic matter like hair, toilet paper, and of course, fecal matter. However, you need to be a little patient as it may take some time for the bleach to work on the poop.
Take a walk into any home; and one product you’re likely to find in the laundry is bleach. This household chemical has for years served as a go-to option for many tackling tough stains.
From coffee and grass stains to wine and blood, a quick bleach solution is often all it takes to make these stains disappear. In fact, its disinfectant properties spread its usefulness beyond the laundry room as you can also utilize it to clean surfaces, floors, and even toilets.
But then again, the usefulness of bleach doesn’t end with laundry and cleaning. It turns out that this household product can suffice in unclogging toilets. Yes, if you’ve got a blocked toilet, you can use bleach to dissolve the poop and flush your toilet again in no time.
This household product features the chemicals necessary to break down large chunks of fecal matter, making it an ideal option the next time your toilet gets clogged. So, sometimes what’s standing between the poop that won’t flush and an unclogged toilet is a quick bleach solution.
What Happens When You Pour Bleach On Poop?
When you pour bleach on poop, the cleaner will soften it with time and make it easier to flush. The reaction may also produce harmful gas, so ensure that you’ve safety gear on to protect you from the same.
If your bowel movement won’t flush even after trying several times, it’s likely because it has a very hard consistency. So, you’ll need to soften it up first for it to wash down. And that’s where bleach comes in.
When you pour bleach on the poop, the chemicals in it will help break it down, making it softer. And when it becomes soft, it will be easier for you to flush it down. However, as already said, you need to be a little patient as it may take some time for the bleach to work its magic.
Pouring bleach on your poop is also not a very safe thing as the chemicals in it can be harmful. That’s especially true if the fecal matter contains some traces of urine. You see, urine contains ammonia, a compound that can react with hypochlorite content in bleach to produce chlorine and chloramine gasses.
Now, exposure to chlorine and chloramine gasses can cause watery eyes, burning sensation in the throat, abdominal discomfort, difficulty in breathing, and even nausea. I mean, neither of these gasses is something you want to be exposed to.
And with that said, you must take some safety precautions before you go ahead and pour bleach on your poop. For starters, ensure you’re wearing protective clothing like gloves and a mask to avoid coming in direct contact with the cleaner.
It’s also essential that you don’t mix bleach with any other chemical as it can produce poisonous gasses. So, if you use bleach to unclog your toilet, make sure you’re using it on its own.
For instance, mixing bleach with vinegar- another common household product used for unclogging toilets – can produce chlorine gas. And as you now know, exposure to this gas can be very harmful.
The same applies when you mix bleach with baking soda. But in this case, the gas produced is not chlorine gas but chloramine gas. So, while the gas produced may not be as harmful as chlorine gas, it’s still something you want to avoid.
Read: 10 Common Things That are Dirtier Than Your Toilet Seat
How Long Does It Take For Bleach To Dissolve Poop?
The time it takes for bleach to dissolve poop will depend on the size of the poop. For a small bowel movement, it won’t take long for the bleach to deliver results. But for a large one, it will take a little longer. However, in most cases, 20 minutes should be enough for the bleach to do its job.
Bleach is an effective household product for softening and dissolving poop. But that doesn’t mean it delivers instant results. Not really! When using bleach to dissolve poop, you must remain patient as the chemicals in the cleaner break down the fecal matter.
And usually, the duration it takes for this process to happen isn’t cast in stone. It depends on the size and consistency of what you want to dissolve. For a small bowel movement, it won’t take long for the bleach to dissolve it.
But on average, you can expect it to take between 15 and 25 minutes for the bleach to do its job. That’s assuming, of course, that you’re using a standard household cleaner. If you’re using a more concentrated version of bleach, then it might take less time.
One thing to remember, though, is that while bleach is effective at breaking down poop, it’s not the most effective method. That’s because the bleach doesn’t really dissolve the poop; it just breaks it down into smaller pieces. So, if you’re dealing with a heavy clog, you might want to try a different method.
How To Dissolve Poop In The Toilet?
If you’re looking for a more effective way to dissolve poop in the toilet, you might want to try using vinegar and baking soda. These two household staples are versatile and readily available and can be very effective at breaking down poop.
You see, there’s a long list of chores that vinegar and baking soda suffice. From cleaning the kitchen sink to deterring pests to unclogging your garbage disposal, there’s a lot these two household products can do.
And when it comes to unclogging toilets, they’re just as effective as they’re on any other clogged surface. So, if you want to dissolve poop or a clog in your bathroom, you might want to try them.
Procedure:
1. Pour a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl.
2. Add a cup of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) into the mix in small bits.
3. Wait for the fizz to sit for about 20 minutes.
4. Flush the toilet
5. Repeat the process if necessary.
What Dissolves Poop Fast?
Commercial clog removers or enzymes are the best way to dissolve poop fast. These products contain chemicals that can break down the matter quickly and effectively. However, they may not be the safest for the environment, so you may want to consider other options first.
Nothing will dissolve poop faster than what’s specifically designed to do just that; clog removers and enzymes. These products will have no trouble breaking down the matter, ensuring you get a well-functional toilet in no time.
But before you can add either of these to your shopping cart, hold on! Commercial clog removers and enzymes aren’t the best options, especially if you’re one person who’s conscious about the environment.
You see, each of these products contains chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. So, if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly way to dissolve poop fast, work with other options. But you may need an extra bit of patience to do so.
How To Dissolve Poop Stuck In The Toilet?
To dissolve poop stuck in the toilet, we have many other methods besides baking soda and vinegar. You can pour hot water or use dish soap, coke, liquid soap, commercial clog removers, or any other option that can do the job. Just ensure that you know the pros and cons of each before you proceed.
The next time you have poop stuck in the toilet, don’t fret! You have a hundred and one ways to get rid of it, and some methods won’t cost you even a penny. Let’s take a quick look at some of these ways;
1. Use Very Warm Water
Yes, you can always dissolve poop with water, but have you tried using hot water? Poop is made up of organic matter, and hot water can break down organic matter quickly. So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to get rid of the poop, then hot water should do the trick.
Procedure:
1. Pour water into a pot and put the vessel on a stove
2. Heat the water until it’s hot enough to brew some tea
3. Pour the water into the toilet bowl
4. Wait for it to sit for about some minutes
5. Flush the toilet
2. Warm Water And Dish Soap
If hot water doesn’t do the trick, you can try using warm water and dish soap. The dish soap will help to break down the matter, while the warm water will make it easier for the matter to be flushed down.
Procedure:
1. Add water into a pot and place the pot on a stove
2. Heat the water until it’s hot without bringing it to a boil
3. Pour the dish soap into the toilet bowl
4. Pour the hot water into the bowl using a bucket
5. Wait for it to sit for about 10 minutes
6. Flush the toilet
3. Coke
The next option on the list comes as a great surprise. But trust me, it works like magic! The acidity in the coke will help to dissolve the matter quickly. All you need is a can of coke, and you’re good to go.
Procedure:
1. Pour the coke into the toilet bowl
2. Immediately cover the bowl with a plastic foil
3. Wait for the coke to break down the fecal matter
4. Flush the toilet
4. Commercial Chemicals
If you’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to be working, it’s time to call in the big guns. Commercial clog removers and enzymes are some of the most powerful chemicals you can use to dissolve poop. These products feature chemicals that can break down the matter quickly so that you can get your toilet back to normal in no time.
Procedure:
1. Use each according to their instructions
5. Bring in a Plumber
If you still can’t get rid of the poop after trying all of the above, then it might be time to call in a professional. A plumber will assess the situation and take the necessary steps to get your toilet up and running again. Obviously, that will cost you some money, but it’s better than having a toilet that doesn’t work.
Final Verdict
Bleach does a wonderful job of disinfecting and cleaning surfaces, but you may also use it for dissolving poop that doesn’t flush. It does well for the job, but it takes patience to accomplish the task. If you don’t want to use bleach or any other harsh chemicals, there are eco-friendlier ways to do it.
Baking soda and vinegar, coke, warm water, and liquid soap solution are some of the best alternatives. And as usual, you can always have a plumber check if there’s any serious problem with your toilet if neither of these works.