How to Dissolve Toilet Paper in a Sewer Line (6 Easy Steps)

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Toilet sheets are about the only flushable thing you can toss freely into your toilet, but that actually has its own extents as well. When you flush a lot of toilet paper at a go, at times, it will form a clog and stop the usual water flow.

Jams in sewer lines are disturbing, and they can result in a lot of damage if you neglect to fix them promptly, which is why this article discusses how to dissolve toilet paper in a sewer line.

There are a number of ways you can dissolve toilet sheets in a sewer line: You can utilize commercial cleaning means or use one of the elegant bathroom tools like plungers and snakes.

First, let us discuss in detail, why and how these toilet papers clog and how to dissolve them in a sewer line.

Why Does Toilet Paper Form Clogs in the Sewer?

You probably understand that you shouldn’t wash out baby wipes and condoms down into the toilet, but human feces and toilet paper are presumed to be safe, right?

Well, that’s not always the circumstance.

There are other unique circumstances when toilet paper can also create a clog.

Let’s discuss them.

See Also: What Does It Mean When You Flush Toilet And Bathtub Gurgles?

You Throw Too Much in a Single Try

This is perhaps the most popular explanation for why toilet paper forges a clog in the sewer line. When you flush lots of toilet paper at once, it lengthens and wrenches as it goes down your drainpipe.

It can cuddle like a ball and shape a clog somewhere along the way. Although its objective is to dissolve, a wad of toilet paper will sometimes swell too big for the pipes to regulate.

That is why you should always wash out insignificant bundles of toilet paper. It ensures that the waste is dissolved and prevents clog collection in your sewer lines.

It Was Partially Clogged Already

Lots of times, toilet paper is not sufficient to obstruct the pipes in your bathroom. But if you already have a one-sided clog down the drain, it may glue to the clog and construct an even larger waste ball.

When toilet paper shapes into a clog in the drainpipes, it hinders fresh water from streaming freely through the sewer line. The wastewater and all other things in the pipes persist in their journey, but they go slower than normal.

You should also realize the significance of deterrence now. First of all, prevent flushing anything other than toilet paper, urine, and feces.

Secondly, utilize your favorite toilet cleaner occasionally to eradicate even the tiniest indications of any clogs.

How to Dissolve Toilet Paper in a Sewer Line

A jammed sewer line that is a result of extra toilet paper can often be worked out by yourself.

The following strategies are the nicest ways to dissolve toilet paper or clear a sewer line.

To start preparing to open up the line, empty your workspace, gather your tools, and wear protecting gloves.

There are six simple ways to dissolve toilet paper in a sewer line and have the plumbing system working again.

1. Use Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is a family commodity that you can utilize in softening bathwater, but it’s also a useful element in many toilet cleaners.

This solution functions well because Epsom salt melts quickly and completely breaks down organic trash.

To dissipate the clog with salt, spill one cup into the toilet container.

Enclose it with a pail of hot water, but don’t splash boiling water as it may destroy the porcelain bowl. Let the salt dissolve into the drains to get to the clog.

Pause for 30 minutes and do it again to ensure that the Epsom salt serves well. Then, flush the toilet and let it take away the dissolved elements down the drainpipe.

The only aspect to be concerned about is spilling over, that might happen if the toilet bowl is already half-filled, pause for a little while for the Epsom salt to start shooting through the pipes.

2. Use Chemical Additives

Many retail products burst into toilet paper clogs without restraint.

RID-X is one of the greatest productive items because it softens toilet paper, grease, and waste that prevents the sewer line or septic systems.

Aside from that, the process isn’t even too difficult, you only need to spew RID—X into the toilet bowl and initiate the flush system.

The derivative doesn’t require too much time to function, so you can anticipate it to wipe out the clog in minutes.

If you want to confirm the clog is taken out, you can dissolve the last residues with the second round of RID-X. It can’t damage the sewer structure, and it ensures the elimination of the sturdiest portions of debris.

Products that are stable for sewer lines and formulated to soften toilet paper are frequently sold as septic tank additives.

If you are encountering a sewer line clog affected by an abundance of toilet paper, these derivatives can be a lifesaver.

Just follow the recommendations on the packaging to put the chemical powder in the water and rinse it to soften the clog.

The chemical additive will wipe out the toilet paper. It can clear out a sewer line.

Utilize a chemical additive on a daily basis to discourage future clogs.

Although they are mainly formulated for homes with septic structures, chemical additives are steady for use in all sewer lines.

If utilized periodically as a preventive regulation, they can help protect clogs from shaping.

3. Remove Clogs With Dish Soap

Another interesting resort is to utilize dish soap for eliminating clogs.

It can wipe out lighter waste, although that’s not the fundamental goal. Contrarily, however, the idea is to protect the clogs from clasping to the drainpipe walls.

To utilize dish soap for lavatories, ensure you rid the bowl of all water. Utilize a little bucket and a sponge to collect water, and then spill a substantial amount of dish fluid around the rim.

Allow the soap to calm down and splash a bucket of hot water over it.

The next job is to flush the toilet, which will carry the dish soap deeper down the drains and assist it to get to the clog.

The point is to render the clogs slippery so that they can glide away on their own.

See Also: Can You Use Drano in a Toilet?

4. Vinegar and Baking Soda

A blend of vinegar and baking soda has always been helpful for scrubbing a kitchen, bathroom sink, shower drains, and toilet lines.

To collapse the clog with vinegar and baking soda, you should begin with 1/4 cup of each commodity in 1 liter of water.

Blend the mixture and gush it around the rim of the toilet bowl. Let it fade for some minutes and shine the toilet, but don’t think twice if the need arises to add more vinegar and baking soda.

You can also redo this alternative many times to guarantee enough bubbling effort, which should tear down even enormous clogs in the sewer pipes.

If you’re handling irritable toilet paper and organic feces, this trick should help well enough.

But if toilet paper clasps to hard junk like plastic toys or Q tips, the blend of vinegar and baking soda will not soften it.

5. Toilet Plungers

Another means to break toilet paper clogs is to utilize a plunger.

It’s popular household equipment that can assist you in pushing water, air, or liquids out of your drains. I’ll explain.

Firstly, position the toilet plunger against the exterior of the bowl, it should attach to the bowl right above the toilet outlet.

To accomplish that, you have to position the plunger over the drain and tug it energetically.

After some thrusts, the plunger will generate a high-intensity vacuum pressure that takes out clogs, debris, and junk.

You will understand it instantly because the clog starts pushing away through the water, creating a gurgling sound in the operation.

Occasionally it will take two or more tries to crack through large clogs, but plunging still doesn’t need more than a few minutes. The means are fast and worthwhile.

Different from chemical toilet paper dissolvers, a plunger can deliver an immediate solution to sewer line clogs.

In barely a few seconds you can spin an overflowing nightmare into a flawlessly usable toilet.

6. Toilet Augers (Snakes)

The final way to eliminate clogs is by utilizing a toilet auger.

Folks call it a “snake” because the equipment can twist, turn, and work through the main sewer line.

The auger is lengthy and has a corkscrew on one edge, which makes it able to spear through clogs and take out waste in the sewer lines.

You should put the drill into the toilet bowl and shove it through the S-shaped trap.

Apply sufficient strength by swiveling the handle clockwise, but don’t stretch it, the augers are pointed and can claw through or even crack toilet pipes.

When the corkscrew gets to the clog, you’ll feel it calming down and puncturing through the waste ball.

Once you are able to take out the clog, a little wrench will crush it into two or three portions, they will appear in the drain in a few minutes or even seconds.

After then, you can slowly bring out the auger.

Don’t forget to clean the device after using it because augers often accumulate debris on their way back.

It’s a piece of incredible equipment for clearing out the clogged sewer line, but you will not like the auger to screw up your bathroom.

A toilet snake should be your go-to tool for taking care of clogs because it can do the jobs chemicals and plungers can’t.

If a snake auger cannot get the job of your clogging done, it’s probably time to get a plumber.

Will Bleach Melt Toilet Paper Clogs?

Several homes use sodium hypochlorite, that is bleach, for clearing their kitchens and bathrooms.

In such situations, you’ll only naturally ask: Can bleach crumble toilet paper clog the sewer line?

Sadly though, your answer is negative.

Bleach won’t soften toilet paper clogs because it’s not acerbic, it can only do the contrary and add to the clog and it’ll get even larger.

When bleach gets to the toilet paper in a sewer, it doesn’t have the ability to dissolve the material.

It clasps to the clog instead, making it stronger and bigger than before. That’s why you should never attempt unclogging a toilet with bleach.

The exact thing goes for many other cleaning properties — they can enable you to wipe off the toilet, but they can’t clear it.

Will Toilet Paper Dissolve on Its Own?

Another logical question is whether toilet paper can dissolve on its own. And to put it clearly: Will a toilet ultimately unclog itself?

Well, yes. Toilet paper will possibly soften on its own.

It comprises soft cellulose strands, and those fibers will slowly dissolve in water. When your sewer line clogs because of toilet paper, it’s adequate to pause for 15 or 20 minutes.

Toilet paper should soften and go away, so you can rinse the toilet to give it the additional push. If it doesn’t dissolve, you can pause for an hour or two more, that should be sufficient time for a toilet paper clog to biodegrade.

Anything more than a few hours will be nasty for you and your household.

First of all, you won’t be able to utilize the toilet. Secondly, bacteria and germs will begin to grow quickly. And thirdly, there will be the difficulty of submerging the toilet.

If you see that the clog is not fading, utilize one or more of the six unclogging tricks we have discussed above.

Related Questions

How long does it take for toilet paper to dissolve in a sewer?

In some situations, it may take 1–2 hours for a clog to dissolve on its own. If there is an incredibly high portion of toilet paper, sometimes the clog won’t dissolve.

What breaks down toilet paper in drains?

A toilet auger is also known as a plunger’s snake or closet auger.

What liquid can dissolve toilet paper?

Hydrochloric acid, also known and marketed commercially as muriatic acid, is sufficiently strong to dissolve the paper.

Does hydrogen peroxide dissolve toilet paper?

I’m willing to bet that an HCl / H2O2 combination will dissolve paper fairly well.

Does sulphuric acid dissolve toilet paper?

Pouring this strong acid over a paper towel will dissolve it nearly instantly.

See Also: Will Toilet Paper Dissolve In Clogged Toilet?

Conclusion

How to dissolve toilet paper in a sewer line? Quite simple really.

You can wait for it to dissolve on its own, but there are more visionary techniques. I have discussed the best six ways above, for you.

Nonetheless, prevention is always the adequate solution, tidy your toilet regularly and don’t flush enormous chunks of toilet paper. It will maintain your bathroom throne and keep it operative and prevent clogging in the long run.