What is the purpose of putting dish soap in toilet?

Quick Answer

The main purpose of putting dish soap like Dawn in the toilet is to help break down and dissolve waste or toiletry residue that can build up, cause clogs, and lead to plumbing issues. Dish soap, when combined with some hot water and allowed to sit, can help dissolve and cut through grease, oils, hair, and other debris in the toilet bowl and pipes. This can help deodorize the toilet, prevent or fix clogs, and improve flushing.

What Does Dish Soap Do?

Dish soap like Dawn is designed to cut through grease, break down oils and food residue, and help dissolve stuck-on messes from dishes and cookware. The main active ingredient in most dish soaps is surfactants, usually a type called linear alkylbenzene sulfonates. Surfactants work by binding to both oil/grease and water molecules, allowing the soap to act as an emulsifier that surrounds and breaks down oily messes into smaller particles that can be rinsed away with water.

This same grease-cutting ability is what makes dish soap effective when used as a DIY cleaner in the bathroom. The surfactants help dissolve the invisible fats, oils, and greasy grime that can build up on porcelain toilet bowls and pipes from daily use. This helps degrease the toilet bowl and inner workings of the toilet’s plumbing system.

How Does Dish Soap Unclog Drains?

When poured into the toilet bowl and left to soak for a while, dish soap can help unclog minor toilet clogs by dissolving or dislodging some of the buildup causing the blockage. Grease, hair, lint, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, and other debris can slowly accumulate in toilet drains and pipes and cause reduced flushing power or full clogs.

The surfactants in dish soap work to break down oils and grease that may be trapping some of this material together. This helps loosen the clog so it can be flushed out. The soap also creates bubbles and foam as the hot water melts and reacts with some of the blockage. The agitation from the bubbles can help dislodge some particles stuck to the pipe walls.

After letting it soak for 15-30 minutes, you then flush the toilet a few times to wash out the loosened clog. This DIY method with dish soap can clear minor clogs caused by everyday buildup and prevent full blockages.

How to Use Dish Soap as a DIY Toilet Cleaner

Here are the steps to use dish soap to clean and deodorize your toilet bowl:

1. Lift the toilet seat and lid up so you can access the inner bowl. Flush to wet the bowl first.

2. Squirt a generous amount of dish soap like Dawn directly into the bowl water. Aim for covering the bottom and sides of the bowl. Use 2-4 tablespoons of soap.

3. Let the soap sit for at least 15 minutes to dissolve buildup. For extra cleaning power, let it soak for 30-60 minutes.

4. Add some very hot or boiling water to the bowl to further melt the soap and greasy residue.

5. Use a toilet brush or long-handled cleaning wand to scrub the bowl walls and siphon jet holes. This helps the soap dissolve residue and stains.

6. Flush the toilet a few times to rinse out the soap and grime that was lifted.

7. For tough stains in hard water areas, repeat and let the soap soak longer before scrubbing and flushing.

8. Pour a small amount of soap directly into the toilet drain or overflow tube periodically to keep pipes grease-free.

Tips for Using Dish Soap on Toilets

– For severe clogs, let the dish soap sit for several hours or overnight before attempting to flush.

– Always use the hottest tap water available when applying or rinsing dish soap in the toilet for maximum cleaning power.

– Squirt the soap around the inner rim and directly into the drain to combat hard water stains and buildup hidden in cracks or the drain.

– Focus on scrubbing the back rim and siphon jet holes which often collect scum.

– For rougher scrubbing, use an old toothbrush in addition to your toilet brush.

– To prevent thick buildup, do a dish soap treatment monthly or every few weeks.

Benefits of Using Dish Soap on Toilets

Using a grease-cutting dish soap like Dawn in the toilet bowl provides these benefits:

– Helps dissolve oils and fats that cause stains and odors. Removes invisible waste residue.

– Can clear minor clogs by breaking down and loosening blockage material so it flushes out easier.

– Deodorizes by eliminating bacteria and waste buildup that causes smells. Leaves a clean scent.

– Good for hard water areas because it breaks down limescale, soap scum, and mineral deposits.

– Removes stains from bowl waterline, toilet rim holes, and inner pipes and passages.

– Cheap, non-toxic cleaner made from common household products. More eco-friendly than bleach cleaners.

– Fast and effective cleaner for routine maintenance to prevent major toilet clogs and damage.

Why Dish Soap Works Better Than Laundry Detergent

Using a grease-fighting dish soap like Dawn works better in the toilet than laundry detergent for a couple key reasons:

– Dish soap is designed to cut through oily, greasy residue while laundry detergent focuses on removing dirt, clothes stains, and some light oils.

– The linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) surfactants in dish soap are better at emulsifying grease and oils than the surfactants typically used in laundry detergent formulas.

– Dish soap helps dissolve organic matter like hair, food particles, etc. stuck in toilet drains while laundry detergent works better on cleaning dirt like mud or clay.

– The sudsing ability of dish soap helps lift and bubble away grime whereas high-efficiency laundry detergents are made for low-suds washing.

– Dish soaps like Dawn are made exclusively for use on hard surfaces like porcelain while laundry formulas are for fabrics and avoid bleaching surfaces.

Other DIY Toilet Cleaners

In addition to dish soap, some other household ingredients that can be used for DIY toilet cleaning include:

– Baking Soda – Scours and deodorizes bowls. Creates a foaming reaction with vinegar.

– White Vinegar – Helps dissolve limescale and hard water buildup. Cuts through soap scum.

– Borax – Removes stains and disinfects toilet bowls. Also boosts other DIY cleaner ingredients.

– Castile Soap – All-natural plant-based soap that cleans and fights odors without harsh chemicals.

– Lemon Juice – The citric acid in lemons helps descale and disinfect toilets without bleaching scratches.

– Hydrogen Peroxide – Oxidizing bubbles help lift stains and whitens toilets without using chlorine bleach.

DIY Toilet Cleaning Recipes

Here are a couple DIY toilet cleaning recipes using common household ingredients:

Vinegar and Baking Soda Cleaner

– 1/2 cup white vinegar
– 1/4 cup baking soda
– 1 gallon hot water

Mix vinegar and baking soda in toilet bowl and let foam. Scrub with brush. Add water to rinse. The acid in vinegar reacts with alkaline baking soda to fizz away grime.

Borax Disinfectant Cleaner

– 1/2 cup borax powder
– 1/4 cup lemon juice or white vinegar
– 1 gallon hot water

Sprinkle borax into toilet bowl and spray lemon juice or vinegar around rim and sides. Let soak 15 minutes then scrub with brush before flushing clean.

Can You Use Other Household Cleaners?

Some other household cleaners that can be used for cleaning and de-clogging toilets include:

– Distilled white vinegar – Cuts through limescale, hard water deposits, soap buildup, and stains without damaging porcelain like acidic cleaners.

– Isopropyl alcohol – This disinfecting solvent helps dissolve mineral deposits and organic matter to clear clogs.

– Hydrogen peroxide – The bubbling from peroxide can help lift grime and stains from the toilet bowl and pipes when poured directly into the bowl.

– Liquid drain cleaner – Caustic formulas like Drano dissolve clogs but can’t be used regularly without damaging pipes.

– Bleach – Removes discoloration but is harsh on both plumbing and the environment. Needs rinsing well.

– Baking soda – Deodorizes and scours away stains without scratching bowls like abrasive cleansers. Gentler alternative.

Risks of Homemade Toilet Cleaners

While using household ingredients to make DIY toilet cleaners does offer some benefits like cost savings and avoiding harsh chemicals, there are some risks to keep in mind:

– Reactions between products – Mixing certain cleaners (like bleach and vinegar) can produce toxic fumes and aren’t recommended. Stick to one ingredient at a time.

– Pipe Damage – DIY cleaners may be too acidic or abrasive with long-term use and erode pipes and porcelain over time if not rinsed properly after each use.

– Limited Disinfecting – Homemade cleaners often can’t match the germ-killing power of professional-strength toilet cleaning products with antimicrobial ingredients.

– Clogs – Baking soda, borax, and other powder cleaners can clump and clog drains if flushed excessively. Only use small amounts and flush with plenty of water.

– Inhaling Fumes – Avoid inhaling fumes from DIY cleaners made with vinegar, alcohol, or other caustic ingredients. Always work in a well-ventilated space.

– Skin Irritation – Protect hands with gloves when handling concentrated ingredients like acids or bleach to avoid burns or skin irritation during mixing.

Professional vs. Homemade Toilet Cleaners

Here’s a comparison between commercial toilet cleaning products versus homemade cleaners:

Professional Cleaners	DIY Homemade Cleaners
Stronger formulations designed for disinfecting and heavy-duty scrubbing	Typically weaker cleaning power but less chemical residue
Convenient premixed liquids or gels with measured ingredients	Require mixing ingredients and following recipe instructions
Broad germ-killing ability proven safe for toilets	Limited disinfecting ability against bacteria and viruses
Uniform results using precise concentrations of cleaners	More variability in cleaning results based on ratios and ingredients used
Strong odors and fumes require ventilation	DIY ingredients have more pleasant or no odors
Higher cost per use	Very inexpensive using common household staples

Toilet Cleaning Tips

Follow these tips for easier and more effective toilet cleaning:

– Give bowls a thorough scrub at least once per week to prevent buildup of dirt, grime, and waste residue. Monthly deep cleans can tackle tougher toilet stains.

– Always wear protective gloves when handling cleaning products to avoid skin irritation or injury. Ventilate the room if using strong chemical formulas.

– Use a toilet brush and long wand to scrub under the toilet rim and reach into the drain where buildup hides.

– Let cleaners or homemade soaking mixtures sit for 10+ minutes before scrubbing and flushing for the best results on tough gunk and stains.

– Use dish soap or shampoo to immediately scrub away any body oil, cosmetic product, or hair dye stains in the bowl to prevent permanent setting before they cake on.

– Replace your toilet brush or scrubber head every 3-6 months at minimum, more frequently with heavier use, for optimal cleaning results and hygiene.

– Invest in an in-tank toilet cleaning product that slowly releases with each flush to help prevent stains and scale between regular scrubbings.

– Check for limescale or hard water buildup around inlet holes and inside the tank at least yearly, and remove any visible calcium or mineral deposits.

– Deep clean the toilet’s exterior surfaces, lid, handle, base, and around the bowl to prevent dirt, drips, and germs from accumulating in unseen nooks outside the bowl.

Conclusion

Using a small amount of dish soap like Dawn to freshen toilet bowls is an effective cleaning hack relying on the grease-cutting ability of dish soap surfactants. Letting the soap soak helps dissolve waste residue that causes odors and clogs. This DIY method can be done as routine maintenance or to remove light stains. While not as strong at disinfecting as commercial toilet cleaners, dish soap provides an alternative for a simple, non-toxic cleaner made from common household products. Following basic precautions and soaking in hot water can allow the grease-fighting formula to penetrate and clear grime that accumulates over time and leads to sluggish drains. Combine dish soap with other pantry staples like vinegar or baking soda and you have an even more powerful toilet cleaning solution.