Ever heard of the toilet tank soap hack? 

It's a DIY trick that's been making waves online, promising an easy way to keep your toilet clean. But before you rush to drop a bar of soap in your toilet tank, I want you to read this post. 

This popular cleaning hack might seem clever, but it comes with some surprising risks that could leave you flushing money down the drain.

In this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know about putting a bar of soap in toilet tank.

Can You Put A Bar Of Soap In A Toilet Tank?

You can technically put a bar of soap in your toilet tank, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

The idea behind this hack is that as the soap slowly dissolves, it releases soapy water every time you flush. This is supposed to help keep your toilet bowl clean and fight off stains and mold. 

People see it as a cheaper option compared to those toilet cleaning tablets you buy at the store. 

But here's the thing - the downsides of doing this might actually outweigh any benefits you think you're getting.

This is why I don’t recommend putting a bar of soap in the toilet tank.

Also Read: What To Put In Toilet Tank

Risks Of Putting Soap In Toilet Tank

Here’re the risks of putting a bar of soap in your toilet tank:

Clogging

One of the biggest problems you might run into is clogging. 

If you're not super careful, that whole bar of soap could get stuck in your plumbing, especially around the flapper valve or fill valve. 

This can really mess up your toilet's flushing, and you might end up having to call in a pro to fix it. 

The soap takes a long time to fully dissolve, and as it breaks down bit by bit, it can cause blockages in other parts of your plumbing as it moves through.

Damage To Tank Components

Now, let's think about what's happening inside your toilet tank. 

Having soap constantly floating around in there can be rough on the rubber parts, like the flapper and seals. 

Over time, these parts can start to wear down, which can lead to leaks. And leaks aren't just annoying - they can make your toilet flush less effectively. 

You might not notice it at first, but your water bill could start creeping up. Even a tiny leak can waste a surprising amount of water over time. 

Before you know it, you're looking at some costly repairs and a higher water bill. 

Not exactly the money-saving hack you were hoping for, right?

Staining And Residue In The Toilet

Here's where it gets a bit ironic. You're trying to keep your toilet clean, but putting soap in the tank might actually make it dirtier in the long run. 

Also Read: Ring In Toilet Bowl

Some soaps, especially the ones with pretty colors or strong scents, could leave marks on your toilet bowl that are a real pain to scrub off. Over time, you might start noticing ugly stains that just won't budge no matter how hard you scrub. 

And it's not just stains - if the soap doesn't dissolve completely, it can leave a layer of soap scum inside your tank and bowl. 

This gunk can actually attract more dirt and bacteria.

Potential Chemical Reactions

Depending on what kind of soap you use, it might not play nice with other cleaning products or the chemicals in your water. 

These reactions could make your plumbing problems even worse or create some weird smells.

Remember, your plumbing system isn't designed to handle random soaps.

Maintenance Headaches

When you put soap in your tank, you'll probably need to clean it more often because of soap buildup. 

If soap gets stuck on the parts inside your tank, you might even have to take everything apart to clean them properly, or worse, replace them entirely.

This takes time, and if you need professional help, it costs money too.

Also Read: Corroded Bathtub Drain

Other Issues

On top of everything else, there are a few more problems to think about. 

For example, if you try to contain the soap in something like a face mask or cheesecloth, these materials can fall apart over time. 

As they break down and mix with your plumbing, they can create even more clogging risks. And if soap does get stuck, it can be super hard to get out. 

In really bad cases, you might even have to take the whole toilet out just to clear the blockage.

A Safer Way To Put Soap In Toilet Tank

If you're still set on trying this hack despite the risks, there is a slightly safer way to do it. 

Instead of just dropping the bar in the tank, put it inside a mesh or porous bag. 

This can help stop the soap from clogging up your plumbing. 

Just make sure to tie the bag securely so it hangs without risking a fall into the important bits of your toilet mechanism.

But keep in mind, even with this precaution, you're still playing with fire - or in this case, water and soap. Many of the risks we talked about earlier still apply, so proceed with caution!

Bottom Line

Look, I get it. The idea of having a self-cleaning toilet sounds amazing. Who wouldn't want that? 

But when you weigh the pros and cons, putting a bar of soap in your toilet tank is more likely to cause problems than solve them. 

The risk of damaging your toilet, and the extra maintenance make this hack pretty risky. 
Instead of setting yourself up for potentially expensive repairs and plumbing drama, why not stick with the tried-and-true cleaning methods?