Laundry detergent is often claimed to be a handy household item that can tackle clogged toilets. The idea is that the cleaning agents in laundry detergent can help break down and dissolve blockages, providing an easy fix when you don’t have a commercial drain cleaner on hand. But is this actually effective or safe for your plumbing? Let’s take a closer look.
Why People Try Using Laundry Detergent as a DIY Drain Cleaner
There are a few reasons why the idea of using laundry detergent to unclog a toilet is appealing:
- It’s convenient – Most households have laundry detergent on hand, so it provides a readily available option when faced with a clogged toilet and no drain cleaner. This can be handy for middle-of-the-night clogs when stores are closed.
- It contains cleaning agents – Laundry detergent contains surfactants and enzymes designed to break down stains, oils and grime from clothing. It seems logical that these active cleaning ingredients could also break down waste matter causing toilet clogs.
- It appears low-risk – Laundry detergent is a fairly benign household product that goes down drains with every load of wash. Compared to harsh chemical drain cleaners, trying laundry detergent first seems low risk.
So in a pinch when faced with an unusable, clogged toilet, it’s easy to see why laundry detergent seems worth a shot before running to the store.
Will It Actually Unclog a Toilet?
The short answer is maybe, but not very effectively.
There are a few issues that make laundry detergent less than ideal for tackling toilet clogs:
Dilution – By the time laundry detergent travels down multiple bends in plumbing to reach a clogged toilet, it becomes extremely diluted in water. This significantly reduces its cleaning strength.
Clog location – Toilet clogs that occur farther down the pipes, beyond the toilet bend, are not easily reached by laundry detergent dumped into the bowl. The most effective drain cleaners use pressure-spray nozzles to drive into deep clogs.
Clog composition – Not all clogs are created equal. Laundry detergent may help break down and dissolve waste like fats, oils, hair, and food particles. But it likely won’t impact heavier foreign objects, dense wads of toilet paper or mineral scale buildup. These tougher clogs often require mechanical removal.
Limited cleaning time – Unlike commercial drain cleaners that can work for hours or days at slowly dissolving blockages, laundry detergent only contacts the clog while it travels down the pipes. This short cleaning contact time further limits its chances of success.
So while laundry detergent contains active cleaning ingredients in concentrated form, by the time it reaches a distant toilet clog its effects are diminished. It may help loosen or lighten minor buildups, but it likely won’t eliminate completely blocked pipes on its own.
Is It Safe for Your Plumbing?
Using a laundry detergent to clear a clogged toilet comes with some safety concerns too:
Pipe corrosion – The caustic ingredients designed to break down stains in laundry can also erode rubber and plastic drain pipes and gaskets over time, leading to major leaks or damage.
Toilet seal leaks – similarly, leaked detergent between the toilet and drain pipe can corrode the rubber seal connecting them, causing leaks and loosening.
Overflow risk – Attempting to dissolve a clog with laundry detergent alone presents overflow risks if it proves ineffective. Overflowing dirty water can cause extensive flooding and water damage if you walk away from an unsuccessfully treated clog.
So while laundry detergent won’t violently react like sulfuric acid-based drain cleaners, its caustic ingredients still carry risks with repeated or improper use. Using small amounts with plenty of water diluted can minimize this, but corrosion over decades of plumbing use can still occur.
Better Alternative Options
Given the limitations of laundry detergent for unclogging toilets, plus the potential risks, it shouldn’t be your first choice for DIY drain clearing. You have much better options to safely clear obstructions while protecting your plumbing:
Mechanical removal – For accessible clogs around the toilet bend, a toilet auger or plumber’s snake provides effective mechanical removal without chemicals. Their long, flexible cables can hook and dislodge blockages or push them down the pipe. Augers are inexpensive and every household should have one for this first line of drain clearing defense.
Enzymatic cleaner – Enzyme-based drain cleaners specifically designed for toilets provide a much safer chemical option compared to laundry detergent. They actively digest organics without corroding plumbing. Best for minor buildups.
Sodium hydroxide cleaner – Caustic sodium hydroxide remains the most potent chemical drain cleaner available for severe clogs beyond mechanical reach. The professional strength formulas only available at hardware stores let it work deeply in pipes. Must be used cautiously to avoid injury or overflow.
The Verdict?
While it may seem convenient in a pinch, turning to your laundry room instead of better commercial options comes with more cons than pros in reality.
Laundry detergent should be left for the washing machine to maximize its fabric cleaning purpose. When faced with an unusable toilet, always try a mechanical auger first for accessible clogs. Then turn to commercial enzyme or caustic drain cleaners for the toughest obstructions requiring chemical help.
So leave the Tide on the shelf, and grab a toilet plunger instead! Both your drain pipes and clothing will stay cleaner and happier.
References
[1] Does Laundry Detergent Really Clear Clogged Drains? (2020). Retrieved from https://www.bobvila.com/articles/laundry-detergent-clogged-drain/
[2] Will Laundry Detergent Unclog a Toilet? (2021). Retrieved from https://prudentreviews.com/will-laundry-detergent-unclog-a-toilet/
[3] Toilet Clogged? Don’t Use Detergent to Help Clear It (2019). Retrieved from https://www.angieslist.com/articles/toilet-clogged-dont-use-detergent-help-clear-it.htm
[4] How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger: Tips and Tricks (2022). Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-unclog-toilet-without-plunger-4120188
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.