There’s nothing worse than a foul-smelling dirty toilet which is why many people will use multiple cleaning products to ensure their lavatories are sparkling clean.
However, certain cleaning items can do more harm than good, including cistern blocks. Cistern blocks are solid blocks that are designed to be put and left in the cistern of a toilet to keep it clean.
They come in a range of colours and scents and are designed to clean and freshen toilets as well as prevent limescale.
When the toilet is flushed, the block dissolves slightly, changing the colour of the water and leaving the toilet clean and fresh.
Gas engineer Daniel Khanlarpour has shared a plethora of water-saving tips over the years and has shared a particular warning about the popular toilet cleaning item.
Daniel, who is a verified member of Checkatrade, told The Sun that cistern blocks can cause issues with components inside the toilet which could lead to a broken flush.
If the flush breaks, homeowners may have to call out a plumber to fix the problem which can be pricey.
According to Checkatrade, homeowners can expect to pay between £40 to £60 per hour to call out a plumber to their homes.
One social media user took to the Facebook group Hinch Army Cleaning Tips to share her own experience using toilet blocks.
The woman said after using cistern blocks her toilet “wouldn’t stop flushing” and so she had to call out a plumber.
She wrote: “Did anyone else know that these are super damaging to the cistern of your toilet?
“I recently had an issue with my toilet where it wouldn’t stop flushing, had to get the plumber out and the first thing he said was ‘I bet you use those cistern blocks don’t you?’
“The chemicals in these blocks broke down the rubber seals in the cistern and I had to get it all replaced.
“The packaging said that they were suitable to use in the cistern but clearly not! Hopefully, this saves anyone else a plumbing bill!”
