While toilet paper manufacturers make them dissolve and break down in water easily to prevent blockages, that doesn’t mean you will get away with stuffing excess toilet paper in your toilet. However, you can clog your toilet with toilet paper, especially if you have kids, so will toilet paper dissolve in clogged toilet?
Toilet paper has soft cellulose fibers that decompose in water, so a toilet clog from toilet paper will likely clear out on its own. Give the toilet paper about 20 minutes to dissolve before flushing; if that doesn’t work, wait an hour or two. However, it’s problematic if it persists for many hours.
Remember, you won’t be able to use your toilet if the clog persists, and it can overflow and cause the rapid growth of germs and bacteria. You wouldn’t want all that happening, so I’ll explain the average time it takes for toilet paper to dissolve and how to remove blockages caused by poop and toilet paper
Will Toilet Paper Dissolve in Clogged Toilet? (Explained Further)
Toilet paper can eventually dissolve, unclogging the toilet. However, packing too much tissue paper in your toilet will block the drain further; fortunately, you can employ certain methods to dissolve the toilet paper and ultimately clear the drain.
Some experts recommend plungers and augers as the best methods to dislodge clogs. Using strong chemicals to dissolve blockages may be damaging to the plumbing and hazardous to your health.
If you don’t have such tools, some home products can aid with obstructions. However, if your DIY efforts fail to clear the toilet paper clog, contact a plumber for help.
Will Toilet Paper Unclog Itself?
When a toilet blockage stems from water-soluble materials, it can dissolve in the water, allowing the toilet to function normally once again. As a result, blockages formed from toilet paper can self-clear.
The problem is that several toilet blockages constitute components that are not water-soluble, like food fats, oils, and carbs. Diapers, flushable wipes, and menstrual materials are other typical causes of toilet blockage.
Sometimes, exerting enough water pressure on the clog may not yield the desired results. It can sometimes result in the clog becoming trapped farther down the pipe, taking it out of the reach of the plumber.
If the blockage does not dissolve, it will require considerable effort to dislodge.
Does Bleach Dissolve Toilet Paper?
Toilet tissue does not disintegrate in bleach, but manufacturers designed it to dissolve in water. As a result, many toilet paper jams resolve themselves within 1-2 hours, but you can employ a plunger or a toilet snake to clear the clog.
Bleach will have minimal effect on tissue paper, but toilet roll dissolves fast when subjected to acid chemicals. However, bleach is a base compound with very low acidity; hence it will not aid in the disintegration of toilet paper.
In addition, experts advise against using bleach because it can ruin your plumbing and septic tank.
Will Toilet Paper Unclog Overnight?
The average period you may leave the blockage unmanaged is three to five hours. Beyond that, the clog may signify that it is not a water-soluble material and will not unblock without your intervention.
There are no immediate consequences for leaving your toilet blocked overnight, implying that you shouldn’t have any odors in the restroom unless the blockage is caused by human waste. However, the toilet may spill water, or wastewater may back up into your toilet and other outlets, so leaving your toilet to unclog throughout the night is not ideal.
Does Caustic Soda Dissolve Toilet Paper?
Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a product that triggers chemical reactions that can dissolve toilet paper and human waste quickly. However, handle it with the utmost caution because the chemical is toxic and corrosive.
You can find caustic soda in a pharmacy or any general store, with many people using it for domestic and industrial purposes, such as plungers and cleaning products. However, since caustic soda is poisonous and abrasive, observe the following health precautions when handling it:
- If the pipe contains oil, sodium hydroxide may react and produce a solid block of soap that is challenging to unclog.
- Be cautious of aluminum in the pipes since its contact with the caustic soda produces hydrogen gas, which can be hazardous to your health.
- Avoid using caustic soda with chemicals like hydrochloric acid since this might trigger a very violent exothermic reaction.
- Wear gloves, a face mask, an apron, and safety glasses.
- Avoid adding water to caustic soda directly. Do it the other way, i.e.., caustic soda-to-water.
- Ensure you’re working in a well-ventilated area.
- Clean up any spills.
Procedure
- Slowly pour 1kg caustic soda into 4.5 liters of water.
- If necessary, mix the ingredients well.
- Pour the solution into your toilet and leave it for an hour.
- Flush the toilet to drain the mixture.
- Before flushing again, clean it with typical cleaning agents.
How Long Does It Take for Toilet Paper to Dissolve in Clogged Toilet?
In the best-case scenario, a toilet paper blockage will break down within 20 minutes to allow for routine flushing. However, a stubborn wad of tissue paper may resist disintegration, and that happens because wadded toilet rolls might create a gluey pile, which may take 1-2 hours for a blockage to break down on its own.
If there is excess toilet paper, the blockage may not clear on its own. In such cases, you will need a toilet snake or plunger to dislodge the clog.
Nonetheless, flushing your toilet can facilitate the disintegration of toilet paper. The pressure from the water might cause the toilet paper to disintegrate faster as it goes down the drainage pipe into the septic tank.
If the tissue paper does not disintegrate quickly, it implies it is too thick.
Does Vinegar Dissolve Toilet Paper?
Vinegar does not break down toilet paper on its own. Therefore, experts recommend mixing it with a moderate alkaline, such as baking soda.
The combination of vinegar (which has acidic qualities) and baking soda (with alkaline properties) is ideal for dissolving toilet paper. You need their fizzing response to unblock the toilet.
Follow the procedure below to unclog your toilet using vinegar.
- Lower the water level in the bowl to roughly halfway. You can scoop out the water using a container to create room for the reaction between vinegar and baking soda to transpire without ruining the bathroom.
- Add one cup of baking soda to the bowl.
- Next, add ½ cup of vinegar.
- Allow it to rest for 15 minutes. There will be some fizzing, which shows that a reaction is underway and aiding in the disintegration of the toilet paper.
- Flush your toilet after 15 minutes.
- If it doesn’t work, repeat steps 2 and 3 with an extra tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of vinegar, then wait 10 minutes before flushing again.
- If this still does not work, seek help from a plumber since you may have a pressing plumbing problem.
Toilet Clogged with Toilet Paper and Poop?
Unblocking a toilet might be a simple and quick process, or it can be a long and arduous task. It’s much worse if the clogged toilet contains poop and toilet paper.
Use the following methods to unclog such toilets:
1. Using Your Hands
It comes in handy if you don’t have a plunger and need to clear a clogged toilet. Once done, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and running water.
If you have protective rubber gloves, this method could be simple and safe to get past the problem.
2. Plunge the Toilet
A toilet plunger works by creating a pressure difference between the top of the blockage and the drainpipe, thus unclogging the toilet. The toilet plunger with a little aperture at the front (bell-shaped) that fits around the bottom of your toilet is the best to use since it plugs the toilet drain so you can apply maximum pressure.
You must be very gentle with the initial plunge since air will exit the bottom of your toilet and could cause water to spray onto your face. After the first dip, you can plunge more vigorously until you dislodge the clog.
3. Use Household Bleach
Household bleach performs better than many products in clearing toilets clogged with toilet paper and poop. Hence, pour roughly two cups of household bleach into the toilet bowl, allow it to dissolve the poop and tissue paper before flushing, and continue to do so until you clear the whole clog.
4. Use a Toilet Brush
If you have a blocked toilet and do not have an auger or a plunger, use a toilet brush to clear the mess. Cover the front part of the toilet brush (where the bristles are) with a plastic bag to unclog your toilet, insert the toilet brush into the toilet bowl outlet, and plunge like you would with a plunger.
Final Thoughts on Will Toilet Paper Dissolve in Clogged Toilet?
In summary, manufacturers designed toilet paper to dissolve in water. However, stuffing too much tissue paper in the drain will take longer than usual.
You can employ the methods discussed in the post to dislodge the clog; otherwise, contact a professional plumber.
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