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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 20:40:51
This new cat litter I got says it can be flushed down the toilet, so I scooped out the clumps and flushed. It got stopped up. Being the intellectual that I am, I flushed it again. So of course it overflowed ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!! THEN, I read the box and saw you are only supposed to flush one clump at a time. So now I have every towel and spare blanket in the bathroom floor trying to soak it all up, AND the water is still all the way to the top of the toilet. So what do I do? Should I get some Draino? Should I wait awhile and see if it goes down? I'm such an idiot!!!
-T
Posted by Deneb on February 10, 2008, at 20:52:36
In reply to I am a freaking idiot!!!, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 20:40:51
Try a plunger.
Sorry about toilet. Sounds like a nightmare!
Posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 21:15:20
In reply to Re: I am a freaking idiot!!!, posted by Deneb on February 10, 2008, at 20:52:36
Thanks Deneb. I have been trying the plunger, to no avail. I just got through picking up all the wet towels and stuff and put them in the washer, which makes things a bit better, but the toilet is still stopped up. I'm about ready for bed though and not up to going to the store. I guess I'll wait until tomorrow, and if it hasn't gone down I'll run out and get some Draino before work. Blech! It is a nightmare!!!
-T
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2008, at 21:49:33
In reply to Re: I am a freaking idiot!!! » Deneb, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 21:15:20
Motto of the story to me don't flush kitty liter. Thanks T as now I never will what a nighmare!!!!! Love Phillipa
Posted by Deneb on February 10, 2008, at 21:53:37
In reply to Re: I am a freaking idiot!!! » Deneb, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 21:15:20
I found this:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/opencloggedtoilet
Try a force ball type plunger.
I think Draino is only good for hair in drain type scenarios. I could be wrong. I'm not sure how good Draino would work on dissolving kitty litter.
Posted by Sigismund on February 10, 2008, at 22:21:48
In reply to I am a freaking idiot!!!, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 20:40:51
It seems to me you have been entirely rational. The definition of 'clump' must have given you pause. There are, I imagine, clumps of various sizes, some of which, you now know from experience, are quite sufficient for a single flush. Anyway, if you start reading directions you will give yourself a nervous breakdown. On a distantly related note, I once threw a shirt into the toilet instead of the washing basket. Alzheimers, I thought.
Posted by MidnightBlue on February 10, 2008, at 22:56:18
In reply to Re: I am a freaking idiot!!! » Deneb, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 21:15:20
Not a good idea.
MB
Posted by Justherself54 on February 11, 2008, at 8:23:17
In reply to Do NOT put Draino in a Toilet!, posted by MidnightBlue on February 10, 2008, at 22:56:18
I'm having the same toilet problems except I suspect one of my grandkids (the 3 years old perhaps hmmm) may have thrown something down it..I've plunged, augered, and thrown a tantrum..
A lot of people swear by dish soap and hot water..put about 5 squirts in bowl, let sit, plunge, then pour some buckets of hot water down..it worked for me once before..but nothing is going to dislodge this critter except a plumber..crap..literally!
Posted by texaschic on February 11, 2008, at 9:12:03
In reply to Re: Do NOT put Draino in a Toilet!, posted by Justherself54 on February 11, 2008, at 8:23:17
At lunch I am going to go get the correct type of plunger (after researching this I've found the one I have is apparently for sinks) and try that and the hot water route.
Oh, and another thing I found out, if your toilet clogs and the water rises higher than normal, flushing it again will cause it to overflow. That may seem like common sense, but apparently this is a common mistake.
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!
-T
Posted by Kath on February 11, 2008, at 18:39:36
In reply to I am a freaking idiot!!!, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2008, at 20:40:51
NO - DANGER.....
Kath
Posted by TexasChic on February 11, 2008, at 19:22:42
In reply to NO DRAINO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! » TexasChic, posted by Kath on February 11, 2008, at 18:39:36
I've already done the draino, half a bottle at lunch time, and the other half when I got home. And I've used the plunger, and poured boiling water in it (twice), and stuck an untwisted wire coat hanger in it - which actually did the best so far. I just poured the second pot of boiling water in it (the water level went down after the coat hanger), so I'm hoping it will clear soon. Man, this whole mess is gross. But it could have been way grosser. Its really just gray water that smells like the highly deodorized kitty litter I use. I've had grosser experiences (unfortunately).
-T
Posted by MidnightBlue on February 11, 2008, at 20:11:06
In reply to Well...., posted by TexasChic on February 11, 2008, at 19:22:42
TC,
You should not have put Draino in the toilet! It is VERY caustic and now will be very hard to clean up. It is for tubs and sinks ONLY. When you call out the plumber (or the repair guy at your apartment complex) PLEASE be honest and tell him you put Draino in the toilet.
Someone I know put Draino in a stopped up air conditioning drain (another no-no)and the poor repairman was burned by the lye when he cleaned it out!
MB
Posted by Phillipa on February 11, 2008, at 20:20:02
In reply to Well...., posted by TexasChic on February 11, 2008, at 19:22:42
T if the water level is down I've poured a pot of water in the toilet and it's gone down and all was well. But I don't want to responsible if it doesn't work but did for me many times. Love Phillipa
Posted by TexasChic on February 11, 2008, at 20:42:35
In reply to Re: Well.... » TexasChic, posted by Phillipa on February 11, 2008, at 20:20:02
Posted by Justherself54 on February 11, 2008, at 22:00:34
In reply to Thanks yall, its all good now! (nm), posted by TexasChic on February 11, 2008, at 20:42:35
You know those wands they advertise with the little sponge on the end to clean your toilet..they say you can flush em..DON'T..I augered and augered and that's what finally hooked on to it..swollen to 4 times it's original size..glad I kept at it, cause I was able to cancel the plumber!
Posted by texaschic on February 12, 2008, at 9:23:53
In reply to Re: Thanks yall, its all good now!, posted by Justherself54 on February 11, 2008, at 22:00:34
That's good to know!
Yeah, mine took forever too. I don't know whether it was any one thing that fixed it or a combo of all of them, but I sure am glad its over with!
-T
Posted by Kath on February 12, 2008, at 17:17:38
In reply to Re: Thanks yall, its all good now! » Justherself54, posted by texaschic on February 12, 2008, at 9:23:53
I've only used it in sinks, but have used it in sinks that are almost totally clogged.
Once the water finally goes down the drain,
sprinkle baking soda down the drain...
then pour white vinegar down...
it'll all foam up like crazy; you can add more vinegar bit by bit, then leave it for a while, then pour down LOTS of VERY hot water.
Repeat if necessary. It works really well.
Kath
PS - plus it's sort fun!!!
Posted by TexasChic on February 12, 2008, at 18:09:23
In reply to An excellent, really safe drain-unclogger......., posted by Kath on February 12, 2008, at 17:17:38
I thought of that, but I had no baking soda.
Also, I guess I should reiterate that using Draino in the toilet is NOT recommended. I believe its because when you use the plunger you can cause it to splash on your skin or in your eye, and that can be very harmful (being as its acid). If anybody knows of another reason its harmful, please feel free to contribute. I wouldn't want to be the cause of anyone being injured.
-T
Posted by Kath on February 12, 2008, at 19:05:22
In reply to Re: An excellent, really safe drain-unclogger....., posted by TexasChic on February 12, 2008, at 18:09:23
So are things totally back to normal now?
K
Posted by MidnightBlue on February 12, 2008, at 23:58:48
In reply to Re: An excellent, really safe drain-unclogger....., posted by TexasChic on February 12, 2008, at 18:09:23
Texas,
Actually Draino is a lye so it is a BASE not an acid. Something doesn't have to be acidic to be dangerous.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lye
MidnightBlue
Posted by TexasChic on February 13, 2008, at 18:57:26
In reply to Re: An excellent, really safe drain-unclogger..... » TexasChic, posted by MidnightBlue on February 12, 2008, at 23:58:48
Okay, appreciate the info!
-T
This is the end of the thread.
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