Plumbing Myth: Bleach Toilet Tablets Will Keep a Toilet Fresh

Toilets can quickly accumulate dirt, so it’s important to frequently clean them. Aside from adding fresher air to your house and the toilet itself, frequent cleaning keeps your toilet intact and durable.

A common assumption is that tablets containing bleach keep your toilet sparkling white; however, they cause damage that will have you dipping into your savings to fix your toilet. Below are reasons why you should stop using bleach-containing tablets and save your toilet.

1. Corrosion

When a cleaning tablet sits in toilet water, it dissolves and interacts with the plastic and rubber materials surrounding it, including gaskets, washers, and pipes. These parts are fragile and highly susceptible to corrosion and wear. So, the longer the tablet sits, the longer its chemicals chip away at your toilet’s materials. Your toilet pipes will eventually begin to leak often, and your toilet won’t flush properly. If the latter happens, your toilet will become a breeding pool for bacteria, and this is not a safe environment to have in your house. Instead of cleaning, tablets destroy your toilet.

2. Pipe Blockages

Deals are always appealing, and if given the opportunity to buy a cheaper toilet tablet that does a “good job,” a lot of people will probably buy three months’ worth. However, this is not the way to go. Cheaper tablets have been proven to be less likely to fully dissolve in water and more likely to break apart into numerous chunks. The leftover residue can then sit in and block your pipes. This leads to slower, irregular flushes, and in the long run, is not conducive to a hygienic home environment.

3. Unnecessary expenses

If a toilet tablet doesn’t dissolve, it will block your flushing system and pipes. you may need to use more water to get rid of the tablet and clear out the pipes. In other instances, you may have to use specific chemicals to unclog your pipes and allow for consistent water flow if the tablet pieces get stuck. At the end of the process, you’d have incurred numerous costs to fix the toilet and most of all, a more expensive water bill. This is a huge inconvenience, especially if this happens unexpectedly.

Bleach-containing tablets are harmful to your toilet. They damage your toilet more than they keep it in pristine condition. Instead of dropping a couple of tablets in your toilet and letting them sit for months, use distilled white vinegar and get rid of stains in an effective, yet valuable way.