Fabuloso in a Toilet Tank Long-Term is a Bad Idea
Author: Anne Cowart | Editor: Omar Alonso
Review & Research: Jen Worst & Chris Miller
Have you seen how people are putting Fabuloso in their toilet tank? This powerful cleaning agent has been used for decades, but it sometimes needs to be clarified how to use it properly. Let's explore the effects of following this trend and answer some common questions about its usage.
We'll also discuss why using Fabuloso can be an excellent choice for keeping your bathroom clean and fresh-smelling, despite the problems with the off-label usage people are discussing these days.
What is Fabuloso?
Fabuloso is a multi-purpose cleaner that can be used for various household tasks. It has become increasingly popular due to its effectiveness and affordability. Fabuloso is a convenient cleaning solution for multiple surfaces, from floors to countertops to wood floors.
It comes in various scents, including lavender, lemon freshness, ocean breeze, and more. Fabuloso contains biodegradable surfactants, which can disintegrate dirt and grease and deliver a pleasing aroma.
Fabuloso is crafted with non-toxic components (but never mix Fabuloso and bleach), so it's okay to use around kids and animals. Due to its lack of harsh chemicals and abrasive materials, Fabuloso is gentle enough to use on most surfaces without causing any damage or discoloration. Furthermore, Fabuloso also meets EPA standards for environmental safety.
It has many benefits, but it's essential to understand what happens when you put Fabuloso in a toilet tank before attempting this cleaning method.
Fabuloso Can Cause Deterioration in a Toilet Tank
When Fabuloso is put in a toilet tank long-term, it can have positive and negative effects. It's essential to comprehend the possible consequences before deciding whether to employ Fabuloso in this manner.
Fabuloso cleans and deodorizes toilets. It also leaves a thin coating of residue within your tank. Fabuloso's residue prevents bacterial development and smells. Some think this coating may prolong the lifespan of some parts by protecting flappers and fill valves against problematic water mineral corrosion.
At the same time, there is justified fear that prolonged exposure to these chemicals can cause your toilet flapper types and fill valve seals and gaskets to deteriorate, leading to a weakening of them and eventual leakages inside or dripping leaks from the tank bolts, causing issues like a continually running toilet. This should be taken seriously.
The irony is that It’s meant to protect tank components from problematic water corrosion. It may do that, but it causes its own set of deterioration problems from in the tank to your pipes and even toilet vent.
Because of its acidity, it can harm flappers or fill valves over time if misused. When introducing this product to toilet tanks, you should use far less than you initially think you should. It’s likely much better to only use it for cleaning the toilet tank and then flush it away.
Why People Put Fabuloso in Their Toilet Tank
Adding Fabuloso to your toilet tank offers numerous benefits, such as having cleaner and fresher smelling water, saving money on water and chemicals, and not having to clean as often. These benefits come with hidden costs, such as slowly corroding plastic and rubber parts, as we’ve mentioned. Here’s why people do it anyway, knowing the potential cost:
Better Smelling & Looking Water - By eliminating odors from bacteria and other organic materials, Fabuloso keeps your toilet bowl clean. Fabuloso also reduces tank mineral build-up, which can create clogs and other plumbing concerns. Some people like the discolored toilet water (as long as it's not brown or yellow!).
The Cost Savings of Using Less Water & Chemicals - It minimizes how often you need to flush or use harsh chemicals for cleaning, saving you money. Fabuloso accomplishes all these things for free, reducing the need for expensive toilet cleaners like bleach.
Cleaning Less - Their antimicrobial capabilities keep surfaces clean and save time from more rigorous cleaning. The bottle also fits in compact places, like putting the actual bottle in the toilet tank, which we'll discuss next.
The Entire Fabuloso Bottle in the Toilet Tank - A Bad Idea!
When this “bathroom hack” started going around, people were suggesting that you take the entire bottle of cleaner and slide the side of it so there’s a cut in the plastic that punctures all the way through. This cut would remain mostly closed but allow some of the product to leak out and mix with the toilet water.
We’ve already described how this can damage the parts responsible for refilling and sealing the tank and causing flushing to occur. Not only that, but it will throw off the balance of your flushing. The bottle will take up a significant volume of space in the tank, meaning there will be less water available in each flush.
On top of that, you’ll have to adjust your floats so that your tank doesn’t overfill and run constantly, dumping water down the overflow tube. All three of these are annoyances that will cost you time and money. You’re better off not leaving this liquid in your tank at all.
How to Properly Clean With Fabuloso in a Toilet Tank
All these tricks and hacks always have a dark side to them. You should always stick to the on-label uses suggested by the manufacturers of a product and not invent new "clever" ways to use them.
Cleaning a Toilet Tank With Fabuloso
Rather than leaving this chemical in the tank constantly, it’s better to use it to clean and then rinse it away. This is how you do that:
- Turn off the tank's base water supply valve before introducing Fabuloso
- Flush to empty the toilet tank
- Pour a cup of Fabuloso into the tank
- Scrub interior surfaces with a brush or sponge to cover them in solution
- Turn the water back on to refill the tank
- Flush to rinse the Fabuloso down the drain
Wear gloves when handling cleaning chemicals like Fabuloso to avoid skin irritation or inhalation concerns. It won't stain your hands or the toilet, so don't worry about ending up with purple or blue toilet colors afterwards.
Questions About Using Fabuloso in a Toilet Tank
Let's summarize some of the main points from above in a question format for the benefit of the skimmers out there and to reiterate them for everyone else. Fabuloso provides a lot more questions and answers if you're still curious.
Can Fabuloso Overload My Toilet Tank?
If, like some people, you put an entire Fabuloso bottle in your tank (including the bottle itself), then you’ll need to adjust your fill valve and float because the water level will rise far too high, causing the tank to never stop running. You’ll just be literally pouring water down the overflow tube drain. Here is how to fix a running toilet without a ball float or with one to help you avoid this if you do decide to go through with it.
Will Putting Fabuloso in My Toilet Tank Damage It Over Time?
Fabuloso can keep your toilet tank clean and healthy, preventing the build up of grime and mold. Fabuloso should not damage your toilet tank if you use it safely. But that’s not to say it can’t cause damage to the plastic and rubber materials inside the tank, such as your fill valves, flappers, ball floats, and their gaskets. It is advised to not leave Fabuloso in your toilet tank water long-term for this reason.
It’s never a good idea to use more than the recommended amount of Fabuloso for extra cleaning power, as doing so can cause damage to your toilet tank components. Instead, stick with the manufacturer's instructions when using Fabuloso and only use as much as directed.
Is it Safe to Put Fabuloso in a Toilet Tank?
There are better choices than Fabuloso for your toilet tank, though it is safe if you clean with it and then rinse it away. It can cause build-up and blockages due to its high concentration of fragrances and cleaning agents if you let it linger.
In addition, the product may also damage certain parts of the plumbing system, such as seals or gaskets, over time. To ensure optimal performance and avoid potential issues, use products specifically designed for toilets instead of household cleaners like Fabuloso.
So Can You Put Fabuloso In a Toilet Tank?
Putting Fabuloso in your toilet tank can be a great way to keep it clean and smelling fresh, if you’re willing to face the fact that it can slowly damage some parts you’ll eventually need to replace. Applying Fabuloso only momentarily for cleaning can bring about the desired outcome without causing any harm to your plumbing system, though.
Before attempting to use Fabuloso in any manner in a toilet tank, make sure you understand how it works and what happens when you do so that you don't cause damage or have other problems with your plumbing system.
We’ve explained the potential consequences of putting Fabuloso in a toilet tank. You can safely and effectively use this product for your bathroom cleaning needs, but don’t let it linger in your tank day in and day out.