Getting toilet paper stuck in your toilet or sewer line can be a nightmare. It can cause your toilet to back up, and that’s a mess you don’t want to end up cleaning. Technically, toilet paper is designed to dissolve when it comes in contact with water, but there are cases where it can get clogged up and cause a blockage.
Toilet paper can be dissolved using different methods, including vinegar and baking soda, dish soap, hot water, RID-X, or Epsom salt. You can also remove the clog using a toilet snake or auger equipment.
Whatever the situation, blocks in the sewer line or your plumbing, in general, can cause damage to the plumbing system. It can also create a lot of mess for you to clean up. It’s best to avoid the situation in the first place, but if it’s too late, read below to find the perfect solution for your case
6 Ways to Dissolve Toilet Paper Stuck in Toilet
When you’ve got a tissue paper clog stuck in your plumbing, you must get it out. Here are six ways to dissolve toilet paper stuck in the toilet.
Epsom Salt
You probably have this lying around the house if you use it to soften your bathwater. It’s also an essential ingredient in most toilet cleaning products.
It’s unique to break down and dissolve organic waste quickly. Here’s how you can use it to dissolve toilet paper stuck in your toilet or sewer line:
- Pour a cup of salt in the toilet
- Follow with a bucket of hot water
- Let the mixture seep into the drain
- Wait for 30 minutes and repeat the process
- Flush the mixture down the drain
Make sure you wait for some of the mixture to drain before you pour the second batch of liquid because you can end up overflowing your toilet bowl with excess water.
Dish Soap
Even though dish soap won’t completely dissolve the tissue paper in the drain pipes. It will aid in keeping it from sticking to the sides of the drainpipe walls. Here’s how you use it to break down clogs:
- Remove all water from the toilet using a sponge or cardboard boxes etc
- Pour a good amount of dishwashing liquid around the rim of the toilet
- Pour a bucket of hot water over the soap
- Flush the toilet
The whole goal here is to unlodge the clogs and make them slippery so they can drain away on their own.
Chemical Additives
A wide array of chemical cleaning products can help dissolve toilet paper. RID-X is one of the most widely used chemicals to dissolve clogs, grease, and other waste items that can clog up the plumbing.
It’s super quick and efficient to use. All you need to do is pour RID-X to the toilet and flush. It also works in minutes to dissolve tissue paper.
You can do another round of RID-X if you want to ensure that the toilet paper clog is dissolved. This chemical won’t harm your sewer lines and will get rid of debris in the pipes as well.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
The miracle mix – baking soda and vinegar. There is literally no type of dirt, grease, or grime this mixture can’t break down. Toilet paper is no different. Here is how you can use it:
- Take 1 liter of water, ¼ cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda and mix
- Pour mixture around the rim of the toilet bowl and let it sink
- Flush the toilet after a few minutes
- You can add more baking soda or vinegar if required
This mixture causes a bubbling reaction which can break down toilet paper and other stubborn materials. Keep in mind that it may not work as well if the toilet paper gets stuck with plastic materials like a toy or Q-tips.
Toilet Plunger
Everyone has a plunger at their home. It’s used to push objects, materials and liquids out of your drain. You need to place the plunger against the surface of the toilet bowl. It should be placed right above the drain. Next steps, you start plunging vigorously.
This pushing will create a vacuum that will help take away the waste and debris. Your measure of success is a gurgling sound when the clog starts moving further down the drain.
This one’s a pretty fast and efficient solution as it allows for the toilet paper to dissolve and drain quickly.
Toilet Auger
An auger or a snake can help remove toilet paper clogs in the drain. The auger is long and has a corkscrew at the end, which helps break down the toilet paper clogs and other waste in the drainpipes.
Push it through the S-trap and twist it in there. Keep pushing by rotating it clockwise. Be careful not to use too much pressure. Once it hits the clog, you’ll know it. Then you can use it to break the clog into pieces till they break down and move down the drain. Take the drill out once you’re done.
Can Toilet Paper Dissolve on Its Own?
The short answer is yes. It is designed to dissolve unless you’re using a particularly stubborn brand or flushed down too much of it together. It’s best to wait for 15 to 20 minutes if your toilet gets clogged due to toilet paper.
If it’s still there after a few hours, it’s time to take matters into your own hands because now it’ll start causing an issue for your plumbing system. You won’t be able to use the toilet, and there will be a build-up of germs and bacteria that you want to avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does tissue paper take to dissolve?
Toilet paper is designed with biodegradable fibers and dissolves quickly. The average time for decomposition is usually 30 minutes or less. If it doesn’t dissolve, it could mean you flushed too much of it at the same time and it is now clogging your drain. Tissue paper clogs can block and damage your plumbing system if not removed timely.
2. Can bleach dissolve toilet paper?
Bleach cannot dissolve toilet paper. However, it can turn into clogs that can attach to the drainpipes and block your toilet, so we certainly would not recommend you try dissolving toilet paper with bleach. Instead, try dish soap or Epsom salt to solve your problem.
3. Is it okay to throw toilet paper down the flush?
Toilet paper is made up of paper and fiber. They are designed to dissolve quickly and not clog plumbing and sewage systems. So, yes, it is safe to throw it down the toilet.
Final Thoughts
Toilet paper is designed to dissolve in water. If it doesn’t, it has the potential to clog your drains and damage the plumbing. We hope the six tactics we’ve shared with you above help you dissolve any toilet paper clogs stuck inside your drain pipes.
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.