Operating a toilet often comes naturally—you get in, do your business, flush, and you’re out. However, you’re not prepared when your toilet clogs. Unbroken poop is a common cause of your toilet being blocked.
So what breaks down poop in the toilet, and how to dissolve poop stuck in the toilet? There are various options available, but we can break them into two. Breaking the poop by hand or using chemicals to dissolve and break the large pieces of poop.
The options available are different based on your preference. You will need to use home-based products or source them from the store. The timing is different as well for each alternative.
Please find out more before choosing which one works for you.
How to Dissolve Poop Stuck in Toilet
Before selecting any of these options, it’s important to identify the extent of the blockage, wear protective gear, and be prepared to work on poop.
You can use a chemical to dissolve the solution or break it down using non-liquids.
We’ll start with non-chemical options to break down poop in the toilet.
#1. Breaking It Down by Hand
It’s one of the DIY solutions you have. You’ll need to wear a long rubber glove and be ready to get dirty.
- Get into the toilet bowl and break down the poop into small sizes.
- Extract materials, causing clogging. For instance, newspapers, clothing, or sanitary towels.
- Flush the toilet.
Although it may appear uncomfortable, it’s the fastest and easiest option. However, if you feel uncomfortable about it, choose another option below.
# 2. Use a Plunger
Your choice of the plunger should be wide enough to cover the toilet bowl and made of rubber.
Most plungers have short handles, so you should be wary of spillage on you and around the toilet.
- Gently pour warm water into the toilet to break down the large poop. Ensure it’s not boiling to avoid damaging the porcelain.
- Using the plunger, push and pull the toilet’s contents inside the sewer.
- Flush the toilet to clear the remnants.
You may not own a plunger, but making one is not complex. Use a plastic water bottle big enough for the toilet bowl and tie a wooden handle around it, sealing any openings. Push it in and out to exact pressure in the toilet.
At times, the plunger will not work. Especially if the poop is too big or the plunger doesn’t cover the bowl sufficiently to exert enough pressure.
#3. Metal Hanger/Drain Snake
Your clothing hanger is essential in clearing blockages in your drainage system. It’s best if it comes coated with plastic. You need to create a hook to pull out any material hindering the flow.
- Wearing rubber gloves, push the hook inside the bowl, twisting it around to clear the path.
- Occasionally, you might fish out unwanted materials that were not meant to be inside.
- Your actions break the poop, eventually dissolving it.
- Ensure the hanger is long enough, and be careful you don’t scratch the porcelain.
- Once it is clear, flush out the remnants of the toilet.
Hangers are ideal for unclogging but are not effective in dissolving poop.
# 4. Vinegar and Baking Soda
These are common household chemicals found in the house. It’s an ideal chemical to dissolve stools, especially those resisting movement.
- Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of distilled vinegar.
- Let it sit for 20–30 minutes. Watch out for the foam, which comes up fast.
- Plunge the toilet bowl if it’s resisting going down.
- Flush it when it clears.
This option is effective in dissolving poop. It minimizes spillage and any contact with feces.
However, you might not have these chemicals within your reach, and the turnaround times might not work if you’re hard-pressed.
# 5. Dish Soap and Hot Water
This should be your best pick if you are looking for an easily accessible solution. Aside from cleaning high-intensity dirt, hot water and dish soap can pair up to clear poop in your toilet.
- Use 1 cup of dishwashing liquid.
- Add a mixture of hot water and dish soap to the toilet bowl. Ensure the water is relatively hot to avoid damaging the bowl.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes.
- The stool should have dissolved. If not, use a plunger to push it.
- Flush to clean it up.
This option is easy to execute. You’ll also avoid dirtying yourself. However, the flip side is that the duration it takes to clear is long.
# 6. Hydrogen Peroxide
When not used to kill germs or disinfect wounds, this chemical can dissolve poop. However, you should handle it carefully to avoid its harmful effects. Make sure you put on protective gear, for example, a pair of rubber gloves and goggles.
- Drain water from the toilet to increase the effectiveness of the chemical.
- For half an hour, mix half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the bowl and let it sit.
- Flush the toilet once more to clear it. If there are no results, repeat the procedure.
While you are there, why not clean the toilet seat from germs while giving your porcelain a shine.
Aside from the harmful properties, this chemical can be used at home.
# 7. Household Bleach
Bleach is an effective chemical that breaks down not only poop but other materials clogging the toilet.
- Pour 2-3 cups of bleach into the toilet, depending on the water in the bowl.
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Add hot water and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- You can flush to clear the content.
The emissions from this chemical are harmful, and it’s important to ensure your toilet is well ventilated. You should also wear rubber gloves and goggles to protect your eyes from any contact with this chemical.
What Causes Toilets to Clog Constantly?
It’s common for your toilet to block occasionally. However, when it becomes a prominent affair, it turns into a problem.
Your toilet could be ailing from three issues: the content inside, your toilet model, or your plumbing system.
Let’s delve into some of these problems and find your way out.
Older Model
The old toilets have a smaller capacity to hold and drain water. However, they aren’t common and have been replaced over time. So how do you deal with the issue?
- You need to minimize the amount of tissue you use to avoid clogging.
- The best option is to replace the toilet.
- Have a plunger at the ready to tackle any clogging.
Non-flushable Materials
The toilet doesn’t accept everything you give it. You need to be watchful of whatever goes in. The clogging might not take effect immediately, but it builds up over time.
The best way to deal with this is to;
- Use the drain snake or hanger to clear whatever is inside.
- Teach your kids the proper ways of using the toilet.
- Use bleach to clear and dissolve blockages.
Clogged Plumbing Line
Your toilet problem could either be from the vent, the trap, or the sewer.
Fresh enters your home’s plumbing system through the toilet vent, increasing flush pressure. The toilet loses flushing pressure if a toilet vent becomes blocked. With low pressure, the toilet gets clogged more frequently and becomes a regular occurrence.
The toilet trap is S-shaped and sits between the toilet bowl and the drain line. The goal of the toilet’s trap is to catch things and prevent them from going into the drain line and causing a clog.
- Use the plunger to clear the toilet.
- Employ the hanger to unclog any remnants inside the drain.
- Find the vent and use a hose to push water down the sewer.
- Consult a plumber in case.
The main clogging problem has materials that don’t dissolve easily. Therefore, ensure your drainage is clear and consult a plumber if DIY doesn’t work.
In The Long Run
Poop can be embarrassing, especially when it hangs around your bowl instead of flowing into the sewer. You aren’t alone, and there are easy ways to help dissolve this waste into the water.
Luckily, there is no definite answer when looking at what breaks down poop in the toilet.
You’re now exposed to the various options which allow you to break stool and dissolve it on its way into the sewer.
Identifying the main cause of the problem is the first step in fixing the situation. Most of these options work when doing it yourself.
The materials are readily available, most of which will be useful in other household tasks.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.