Toilet paper is the only item that you can flush in your toilet. However, even that has its limitations. If you flush too much toilet paper at once, it can cause a blockage and stop the normal water flow. Clogs in the sewer lines can be annoying and can cause serious damage if they are not fixed quickly. Commercial cleaning products can be used or you can use one of the more traditional bathroom tools, such as augers and plungers. Continue reading to find out which products are best for breaking clogs.
Why Does Toilet Paper Cause Sewer Clogs?
While you know that condoms and baby wipes should not be flushed down the toilet, human waste and toilet paper are safe. It’s rare that toilet paper can clog the drain.
It’s Impossible to Throw Too Much In One Go
This is the main reason toilet paper can clog the sewer line. Toilet paper that is too large can cause a blockage in the sewer line. It can become a ball, and cause clogs. Toilet paper is meant to be disposed of, but sometimes a piece of toilet paper can grow to a large size for the pipes. You should flush smaller toilet paper rolls. It will dissolve any waste and prevent clogs from forming in your sewer lines.
It Was Partially Baked Already
Septic safe toilet paper will not block your bathroom’s pipes. If you have a partially blocked drain, the toilet paper may stick to it and create a bigger blockage. Toilet paper can block the flow of fresh water through the sewer lines if it forms a clog in one of the drain pipes. All other contents and wastewater in the pipes continue their journey but move much slower than normal.
It is important to understand the importance and benefits of prevention. First, you should not flush anything other than toilet paper, urine, or feces. To eliminate any signs of clogs, you can use your toilet cleaner regularly.
Six Tips to Dissolve Toilet Paper from a Sewer Line
Learn how to remove toilet paper from a sewer line if you have a clog. There are six simple ways to clear a toilet blockage and get your plumbing system working again.
Solution 1: Pour Epsom Salt
Epsom salt can be used to soften your bathwater. It’s also a common household product and an ingredient in many toilet cleaning products. Epsom salt dissolves quickly, and it thoroughly breaks down organic waste. Salt can be used to break up the clog. Pour one cup of salt into the bowl. You can cover it with hot water but not boiling water. This could cause damage to the porcelain bowl. To reach the clog, let the salt settle into the drains.
Let it sit for 30 minutes, then repeat the procedure to ensure Epsom salt is working. Then flush the toilet, and let the water drain out any dissolved substances. Overflowing is the only concern — if your toilet bowl is already half full wait for Epsom salts to begin drilling through the pipes.
Solution 2: Use a Chemical Additive
Toilet paper clogs can be easily broken by many commercial products. RID-X is one the most effective products because it dissolves grease, toilet paper, and other wastes that clog the sewer lines or septic system.
The process is simple: just pour RIDX into your toilet bowl to activate the flush system. It doesn’t take long for the product to work so expect it to clear the clog in a matter of minutes. You can use RID-X 2 to get rid of any remaining debris. It won’t cause any damage to the sewer system and will remove all the toughest pieces of debris.
Solution 3: Dish Soap to Remove Clogs
Dish soap can also be used to remove clogs. Although it can break down lighter waste, that is not its primary purpose. The goal is to prevent clogs from sticking to drainpipe walls. Dish soap can be used to clean your toilets. Make sure that you have emptied the bowl of water. You will need a sponge and a small bucket to collect the water. Then, pour some dish liquid around it.
Let the soap cool down before pouring hot water on top. Next, flush the toilet. This will help dish soap reach the clog and push it further down the drains. To make clogs slide off their own, the goal is to make them slippery.
Solution 4: Vinegar & Baking Soda
Mixing vinegar and baking soda is a great way to clean your kitchen, bathroom sinks, shower drains, and toilet lines. You should mix 1/4 cup each of vinegar and baking soda in 1-liter water to break the blockage. Mix the ingredients together and then pour them over the toilet bowl. Allow the mixture to settle for a while before flushing the toilet. If necessary, you can add vinegar or baking soda.
This solution can be repeated several times to increase the bubbling effect, which will help break down large clogs. This trick is great for dealing with stubborn toilet paper or organic waste. However, if toilet paper is stuck to plastic toys or Q tips then the vinegar and baking soda mixture will not dissolve it.
Solution 5: Push it Out with a Toilet Pan
A plunger is another way to clear toilet paper clogs. A plunger is a common household tool that can push water, air, or liquids out of your drains. What is the process? To begin, place the toilet plunger on the bowl. It should adhere to the bowl just above the toilet outlet. You will need to place your plunger on the drain and push it vigorously.
The plunger will produce a vacuum force of high intensity that removes all clogs, debris, and waste after a few pushes. It will be obvious immediately as the clog moves through the water making a gurgling noise. Sometimes, it may take several attempts to break large clogs. However, plunging doesn’t take more than a few moments. It is quick and easy to solve.
Solution 6: Use a Toilet Auger to Drill
Toilet augers are the last option for removing clogs. Because the tool can bend, turn and fit through the main sewer line, homeowners call it an “elbow serpent”. The auger is long and has a corkscrew at one end. This allows it to pick up sewer waste and spear through clogs. The drill should be inserted into the toilet bowl, and the S-shaped trap must be pushed through.
Use enough pressure to rotate the handle clockwise. But don’t go too far. The augers can damage or even destroy toilet pipes. You’ll notice the corkscrew slowing down and drilling through your waste ball when it reaches the clog. After you have removed the blockage, give it a twist to break it up into smaller pieces. They will be able to drain the drain in just a few seconds. You can then slowly remove the auger. Be sure to clean your auger after each use. This tool is great for cleaning clogged sewer lines, but it can cause serious damage to your bathroom.
Is Bleach Able to Dissolve Toilet Paper Clogs?
Many households use sodium hypochlorite (also known as bleach) to clean their bathrooms and kitchens. It is natural to wonder if bleach can decompose toilet paper floating in the sewer. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Bleach will not dissolve toilet paper clogs as it isn’t acidic. It can only do the opposite, making the clog larger. If you are unable to solve this problem so you should go for a no clog toilet. It is the best solution for this problem.
Bleach can’t decompose toilet paper if it reaches the sewer. Instead, bleach sticks to the clog making it more difficult and larger. It is not a good idea to unclog a toilet using bleach. This is true for many other cleaning products as well. They can clean your toilet but can’t unclog it. You can’t use Drano in the toilet.
Toilet Paper Will Dissolve On Its Own?
A reasonable question to ask is whether toilet paper can be decomposed on its own. Simply put, will a toilet eventually unclog its own drains? Let me tell you, toilet paper will likely dissolve by itself. It is made up of soft cellulose fibers that will slowly dissolve in water. It is best to wait 15 to 20 minutes before your sewer line becomes clogged due to toilet paper.
To ensure that toilet paper dissolves and goes away, flush the toilet. You can leave it to decompose for an additional hour. This should allow the toilet paper clogs to biodegrade. You and your family are not safe if you stay for more than two hours. You won’t even be able to use the bathroom. Second, germs and bacteria will rapidly grow. Thirdly, the risk of flooding the toilets will increase. You can use any of the six methods we have described above to unclog your clog.
The Bottom line
How can you dissolve toilet paper in a sewer? There are two options. You can either wait for the toilet paper to naturally decompose or you can take proactive steps. You can use a plunger or commercial cleaners to unclog your sewer line. Prevention is always better than cure. Make sure you clean your toilet regularly and don’t flush any large pieces of toilet paper. This will ensure that your bathroom is functional and won’t clog in the long term.
