When you’re doing your business on the toilet, you don’t think about what’s going on inside the toilet bowl; you simply finish what you came to do and hit the flusher. If everything is fine and dandy, your toilet should be clean after the flush, and you might just use the brush if there is a bit of leftover poop. On the other hand, there are cases when the aftermath following the flush brings a chill to our tailbone: poop sticks to the side of the toilet bowl like a leach in a swamp.
What can you do about it? Well, the first step is to determine why this is happening, and the second step is to apply some of our nifty tips and tricks to prevent it and keep your toilet sparkling clean.
Keep reading to unveil the mystery of the sticky poop in the porcelain toilet.
What Makes Your Poop Stick to the Toilet?
There could be a wide range of reasons why your poop behaves like this, but we’ve singled out the most common causes. Here are the four possible causes that curse homeowners with images of poop stuck to their toilets.
Check the Flushing System
If you notice that your toilet isn’t flushing like it used to, then that’s probably why your poop sticks to the bowl after flushing. Usually, the toilet should flush with enough force to remove debris or waste from the bowl. The flushing system is a bit less durable than the whole toilet, and lower-end models might require you to replace the entire system after some years of use.
Lack of Cleaning
We all hate cleaning the toilet, and most of us are guilty of skipping it more often than we’re supposed to. If you have a large family or multiple toilet users in the same household, then random toilet debris and minerals can quickly create a fine crust over the porcelain, thus making the poop stick.
If you see stains, debris, or rings inside the toilet bowl, chances are those are the culprits for the weak water flow. This is especially true if there are rust or calcium buildups on the crevices of the porcelain’s surface.
The culprit for the stains or rings is the hard water with high magnesium and calcium contents. These two natural elements quickly bind to each other when they are in contact with water and other particles that you’re flushing and result in the perfect recipe for forming stains, ridges, and stickiness.
Ridges and Folds
There are cases when the toilet malfunctions due to ridges and folds on the fine porcelain’s surface. If the bowl has a lot of ridges and folds on the inside, then not only poop but other debris will stick to that surface and have to be manually pushed. Flush the toilet when it’s clean and observe the water flow. If you see ridges and folds when the clean water passes through the bowl, then your problem probably lies here.
This issue can escalate without warning, and you might end up with a clogged toilet in no time. This also might be a manufacturing defect, so you should check your warranty or inquire about repairs, or as a last resort, buy a brand new toilet.
Too Much Fatty Foods
If you’re in the habit of munching down on fatty snacks, meats, and similar fatty foods, then your poop might be at fault. Eating fatty foods can make your poop clingy as it will develop a greasy texture that sticks to the porcelain toilet. When your poop is sticky, the flusher can’t flush it down all at once, and you may be left with some sticky poop residue to battle on your own.
How to Prevent Poop From Sticking to the Toilet
While the four most common causes of sticky poop might help you understand why your poop sticks to the toilet, here are a few tips and tricks to prevent further incidents and start pooping without dreading the fact that you have to scrub and brush after yourself.
Use a Toilet Cleaner
Regular old toilet cleaners should do the trick just fine. Make sure you use biodegradable toilet cleaners just to be on the safe side and go green. The toilet cleaners create a smooth layer on top of the porcelain, allowing your poop to go down the drain smoothly without sticking.
The problem with toilet cleaners is that they lose their smoothness after a dozen flushes, so you will have to apply another layer after seeing signs of stickiness. You can make it a part of your weekly toilet cleaning activities.
Clean the Toilet After Every Use
Every time you flush your toilet, some debris is left behind the flush, and if you don’t apply the brush posthaste, it can build up and stain your toilet. Cleaning the bowl with the brush can prevent your poop from sticking to the bowl, and all you have to do is apply some brushing action after use. This isn’t a weekly or daily endeavor, as skipping on brushes will eventually lead back to the old sticky ways.
Change Your Food
If you’ve tried the previous two steps and you’re still experiencing sticky poop, then changing a thing or two in your diet might be the best way to go. You can try avoiding fatty foods that make your poop sticky. Foods like meat, butter, hard cheese, chocolate, cake, sugar, and similar items are tasty, but it’s best to leave them for a day and see how your toilet behaves.
Low-fat foods such as whole wheat, oats, granules, legumes, fish, and fruits will make your poop silky smooth, and your stomach, toilet, and buttocks will thank you for it.
Cleaning Tip – Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are one of the best methods to use when you’re having toilet trouble. The combination of these two components creates a fizzy and bubbling effect that eliminates bacteria and minerals.
You need to brew an alchemical concoction with two cups of white vinegar and one cup of baking soda. Before you go to bed, pour the two cups of vinegar into the toilet bowl, and then pour the baking soda. Leave the solution to do its job overnight and flush the toilet in the morning.
Try Coca-Cola
The soft drink can do more than just quench our thirst; it also has toilet cleaning capabilities. To try this method, you must pour a bottle of Coca-Cola down the drain and leave it to fizz and fuzz for about 30 minutes. After the time is up, scrub the toilet with your brush and flush.
The best thing about this trick is that it is dirt cheap, and you can use it daily. While it may sound unconventional at best, give it a go, we promise you won’t be disappointed.
Spray a Non-Stick Spray
This one works similar to the toilet cleaners except that is a spray. Slippery sprays apply a coating to the toilet bowl that helps your poop slide down the drain with ease. The cons of the sprays are that they only last so long, so you will need to apply a fresh layer every couple of days.
Clean Your Toilet More Frequently
This is the most straightforward but least enjoyable way of handling sticky poop. Porcelain is naturally smooth, and poop won’t stick to it if it’s clean and tidy. The best way to help your poops go down smoothly is to have a clean toilet bowl. You have to spend one hour of your Sunday day for a tete-a-tete with your toilet bowl to achieve this level of cleanliness.
If your toilet has been neglected and abused from stains and debris, you might have to put your back into it to achieve that white glossy finish, but if you stick to the weekly cleaning sessions, your toilet cleaning endeavors will be much easier.
If you’re cleaning the toilet frequently and with gusto but still end up with messy aftermath, you might have to enhance your flushing system. Replacing the flushing system is cheaper than buying a new toilet, but you will have to be familiar with the model and make of the toilet, to tell the clerk at the plumber store.
When All’s Dumped and Flushed
If you don’t want to see poop stuck to the inside of your toilet bowl, then cleaning your toilet on a regular basis is the best way to go. You can use toilet cleaners, soft drinks, or a regular brush paired with some chemicals to keep your toilet pristine. You can also change your diet or replace the flushing system. See what works for you and enjoy your time on the throne without worrying about sticky-icky leftovers.
