Can You Flush Antifreeze Down The Toilet? Is It Safe

Putting certain chemicals and household products down the toilet is a bad idea. Can you flush antifreeze down the toilet? 

I used to have problems with my pipes freezing in the winter. I used insulation on the toilet and the exposed pipes to fix the problem. Never try to use antifreeze to prevent your pipes from freezing or put it in your toilet for any reason. 

Getting Rid of Toxic Products Properly

You have to dispose of toxic waste the right way. You can take it to a recycling center and they will accept your toxic products. Auto shops might also accept antifreeze. 

Don’t Use Antifreeze as a Plumbing Product

Some people use antifreeze as a toilet cleaner or to unclog a toilet. Don’t do it! Use a regular cleaning product or call a plumber if you can’t fix it yourself. 

Again, the antifreeze won’t work. It won’t fix a toilet that is clogged or flushes slowly. It won’t do what a real drain cleaner can do.

Warranty Issues

If you misuse or abuse a product, you may void the warranty. For example, the warranty on an electronic device might say that you cannot open it and try to repair it or you will lose all warranty protection.

Putting antifreeze down your toilet may void the warranty, which may state that you cannot use unapproved products. Possibly, antifreeze could damage the pipes or other components. 

Antifreeze Can Clog Your Toilet

Antifreeze can also clog rather than unclog your toilet. It doesn’t break down easily, so it can eventually lead to a clog. Remember that it is illegal and unethical to abandon toxic waste, flush it down the toilet, or put it in the garbage. 

Does Antifreeze Prevent the Pipes From Freezing?

Using antifreeze to prevent your pipes from freezing isn’t effective and will contaminate the environment with chemicals. 

If you have a problem with pipes freezing in the winter, you need to winterize your pipes. The toilet, the back of the toilet seat, and the pipes all need insulation in a cold environment. 

Instead of using toxic antifreeze, a simple jug of water can keep your toilet from freezing. Keep a container of water in your washroom and pour it into the tank behind your toilet whenever it starts freezing. 

Antifreeze is Poisonous

Antifreeze can harm or kill someone. If anyone has swallowed antifreeze, call 911 right away. The poison works slowly enough that a hospital can usually save them. 

It takes 30 minutes to 12 hours for the first symptoms of poisoning to appear. There may be nausea and vomiting, dizziness, slurred speech, loss of coordination, or tiredness. 

Oddly, there could even be euphoria. Seizures might appear during the first stage. A person might fall into a coma. 

The Second and Third Poisoning Stages

The antifreeze will break down in the person’s body and turn into acids. This happens after 12 to 24 hours. The person’s blood will become acidic.

If they remain conscious after the first stage, they may experience confusion or fatigue. There may be shallow breathing or an irregular heartbeat. 

During the third stage (after 24 to 72 hours), calcium oxalate crystals may seriously damage a person’s kidneys if they still haven’t received treatment. 

Treatment

Doctors have antidotes that work for antifreeze. They can also use intravenous solutions to prevent a person’s blood from becoming acidic. 

A lot of the time, you can keep a person alive and prevent long-term organ damage. 

Keep Antifreeze Out of Reach of Children

Antifreeze does not smell or taste poisonous. A pet or a young child might think sweet-tasting antifreeze tastes good and drink it, which may have very serious consequences. 

Only Use Antifreeze in Your Car

Antifreeze can be used safely and works well for its intended purpose. It is an engine coolant that both cools off your engine when it’s running and prevents your cooling system from freezing solid in the winter. 

If you mix too much water with too little antifreeze (it should be half and a half) your engine coolant might freeze or turn into slush in the winter. 

This could damage your car. Antifreeze also has a higher boiling point than water, so it won’t turn into steam when exposed to your engine’s heat. 

In cars, antifreeze prevents corrosion. However, this is only true if it is in contact with the metals found in vehicles. If you put it in house pipes, it will cause corrosion. 

Vinegar in Your Toilet Tank

Unlike antifreeze, vinegar is safe. It is a weak acid that you can flush down the toilet without contaminating anything. Putting vinegar in your toilet tank even has benefits.

While the acidity in vinegar is safe for people, it can kill mold and bacteria. Pour a couple of cups of vinegar into the tank, wait a few hours, and then flush it. 

After putting vinegar in your toilet tank, flush it with water. This can keep your washroom clean and mostly germ-free. 

Vinegar Can Remove Sediment

Sediment can build up in certain parts of your toilet or pipes over time, eventually causing problems. Vinegar can break down sediment.

Sometimes, putting vinegar in the bowl instead of the tank is the best way. Put two cups of white vinegar in the bowl and leave it there for at least 30 minutes. You can also use CLR instead of vinegar. 

Key Takeaways

• Putting antifreeze in your toilet is unsafe and illegal. It is toxic stuff that should be taken to a recycling center that will accept toxic waste. It should not go down the drain, on the ground, or in the garbage. 
• Don’t use antifreeze to kill germs or break down sediment in your toilet. Antifreeze is for car engines and isn’t effective as a cleaning product. Use CLR or vinegar instead. 
• Never use antifreeze to prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter. Instead, they need insulation. They won’t freeze if you winterize the pipes properly.