Why You Should Not Put Fabric Softener in Your Toilet Tank, Despite This TikTok Hack

The world of TikTok is no stranger to hacks and tricks, especially for household cleaning. One such trend: The notion of pouring fabric softener into your toilet tank to keep your bathroom smelling fresh. But is this hack as effective and safe as it seems?

“No, no, no! It may smell nice, but it hurts your toilet and can clog the parts inside, break the rubber seals and trap bacteria, making smells worse,” says Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa.

Constantin Geambasu, owner of Water Rehab agrees. “Never use fabric softener or any laundry style detergents in your toilet,” he says. “They can cause major issues as fabric softeners contain many chemicals not suited for toilet plumbing, especially the internal components in the tank.”

Here is more advice from the exerts about why should not put fabric softener in your toilet tank, and what to do about it if you already fell for this faulty hack.

How It Works

@hyper_kelz Try This Amazing Tip For A Clean And Fresh Bathroom And Thank Me Later ✌️. #fypシ #foryou #foryoupage #cleaning #bathroom #cleaninghacks #tiktokviral @Bezerra Good USA ♬ Wonderful Day – Satria Petir

The premise behind this hack is simple: By adding fabric softener to your toilet tank, every flush releases a burst of fragrance, making your bathroom smell like freshly laundered clothes.

Some variations of this hack suggest a mixture of fabric softener and water in a soda bottle, while others recommend pouring the softener directly into the tank.

What Do Pro Plumbers Say?

Pro plumber Jessie Cannizzaro of Milestone Plumbing, Inc. expressed concerns about this hack. She said watching the TikTok video made her anxious, especially when the soda bottle concoction was added to the toilet tank.

Her primary worry: The potential for the bottle itself to interfere with the internal components of the tank, leading to continuous water running and possible property damage.

Plus, many people might not be aware that adding chemicals or cleaning agents to the toilet tank can deteriorate its internal parts. This can lead to premature failure, increased water consumption, or even property damage. Cannizzaro says never add anything to the tank that isn’t specifically allowed by the toilet’s manufacturer.

And if the fabric softener solution isn’t diluted correctly, it could cause issues inside the tank or even etch the surface of the bowl, leading to permanent stains. Given these risks, the benefits of a fresh-smelling bathroom might not be worth it.

Should You Try This at Home?

The short answer: Absolutely not.

While the idea of your bathroom smelling like fresh laundry with every flush might be tempting, the potential risks outweigh the benefits. The chemical makeup of fabric softeners can be harmful to septic systems, leading to clogged pipes and potential damage to the flushing system.

The Science Behind Fabric Softeners

Fabric softeners are for laundry, not plumbing. They contain chemicals and fragrances that make clothes soft and pleasant-smelling.

When introduced into a toilet tank, these chemicals can interact with the water and the tank’s components in unpredictable ways. Over time, they can cause significant damage.

Environmental Concerns

Beyond the potential damage to your plumbing, there’s also an environmental aspect to consider.

Every time you flush, the fabric softener-infused water goes down the drain and eventually into the water system. These chemicals can be harmful to aquatic life and might contribute to water pollution.

It’s always essential to think about the broader environmental implications of our household practices.

Safer Alternatives for a Fresh-Smelling Bathroom

If you really want a pleasant-smelling bathroom — and who doesn’t? — you’ve got several eco-friendly and plumbing-safe methods. My bathroom smells clean and fresh, and all I do is add a few drops of a pet-safe essential oil to a spray bottle of water and white vinegar and spritz a little into the air.

I also love to make pomanders. I dry the oranges in my dehydrator before studding with cloves and tying with a ribbon and a cinnamon stick and hanging in the bathroom.

Here are a few other options to try:

• Essential oil diffuser: If you don’t have pets, use an essential oil diffuser to spritz all kinds of lovely natural scents into the air automatically. Lavender, eucalyptus and lemon are popular choices.
• Baking soda: Placing a small dish of baking soda in your bathroom neutralizes most odors. For added fragrance, mix in a few drops of essential oil.
• Natural cleaning: Regular cleaning with natural products like vinegar and baking soda can keep your bathroom smelling fresh without chemicals.

FAQs

What else should I avoid putting in my toilet tank?

• Cleaning tablets with bleach in them, which can damage flushing mechanisms and cause corrosion;
• Vinegar, which can hurt rubber seals. It’s okay to use vinegar to clean, just don’t let it stay in there for too long;
• DIY deodorizers like oils and scent beads, which can clog things up.

Also, “Never ever use Drano or similar products in your toilets,” says Geambasu. “These products are very dangerous and can cause severe plumbing issues. These are also dangerous if you hire a plumber because it can burn their skin.”

What should I do if I’ve already put fabric softener in my toilet?

No big deal! Just clean it out, says Knoll.

• Turn off the water and flush the tank so it empties.
• Scrub it out with a stiff brush, warm water and either vinegar or couple of drops of soap.
• Get into all of the crevices and forget to wipe down the rubber bulb, chain, plunger and walls.
• Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
• Refill the tank and flush a few times until the water is clear.
• Check the parts inside. If your toilet runs or flushes weird, you might need a new part.

About the Experts

• Ryan Knoll is owner of Tidy Casa, which he founded in 2015. The company cleans more than 600 homes a month in the Phoenix and Tucson areas.
• Constantin Geambasu is the owner of Water Rehab in Gilbert, Arizona and has been in the plumbing industry for more than 25 years.