Why Your Poop Sticks on the Toilet and How to Stop It

Last Updated on August 25, 2023 by toilethaven

If you have ever dealt with or are already dealing with poop sticking on the toilet bowl, then I am sure you are well aware of the drill:

• Flush the toilet.
• Take a toilet brush and scrub away all the poop stains.
• Flush again and clean the toilet brush.

It just makes you dread visiting the bathroom, especially if you are at a friend’s/relative’s house. Even when you are at home, you must agree that this is a very embarrassing thing, and it can, at times, take a toll on your self-esteem.

So why do some people have sticky poop? And how can you poop without the poop sticking on the toilet bowl? Let us dig deeper into this issue and see why it happens and what you can do to have your poop sliding down the drain easily without a mark.

By the way, is it true that men/boys are by far worse bathroom users than women and girls? Just ask 10 random parents with young boys, and you will have at least 5 of them confess that they are dealing with a toilet “clogger” or one who stinks up the bathroom.

So what’s up with boys? If they are not clogging the toilet, they are having a bad aim of the toilet bowl. I would happily read what you think about that in the comments.

Back to poop sticking on the toilet. What are its causes?

Why Your Poop Sticks on the Toilet Bowl

The following are the reasons why your poop sticks on the toilet bowl every time you visit the bathroom. It could be one of the reasons or a combination of reasons and will differ from one person to the next.

1. Fatty Diet

According to Healthline, your body only needs a certain amount of fats in your diet. If you overwhelm the body with more fat than it can absorb, the excess fats are passed down your gut and come out with feces.

The feces exhibit a greasy texture, which will, without a doubt, leave a streak on the bowl and will not come off even after flushing the toilet. And that’s how you end up scrubbing the toilet bowl every time after pooping.

2. A Stained Toilet

A stained toilet bowl can greatly affect how flush water and poop moves down. This is especially worse in areas with hard water. Minerals like calcium and iron will stain the otherwise smooth porcelain surface forming small bumps where poop can stick.

Remember, in order to have an efficient flush, the bowl surface has to be smooth. If it is rough, the water pressure and movement in the bowl will be inhibited and, as a result, affect the flushing action.

3. Manufacturer Defect

This is not new. Toilets are made from porcelain, which has to be smoothed in order for them to function properly, especially the bowl. In every few hundred toilet pieces that are manufactured, one comes out defective. That is why they give you a warranty.

A defective toilet bowl will have small ridges, some of which are impossible to see with a human eye. When you poop, some poop will get trapped in those ridges and will simply not come off even after flushing the toilet.

Try holding a magnifying lens against your toilet bowl and see if that is the case. If your warranty is still active, you can return the toilet and get a good one.

How to Prevent Poop Sticking on Your Toilet

There are several things you can do to prevent poop from sticking to the toilet bowl. These solutions will always depend on what is causing the problem in the first place. Here are things to try:

1. Improve Your Diet

If you are guilty of consuming foods rich in fats, consider cutting down on your intake. These are fast foods like potato chips, burgers, and pizza, commonly called junk. I know most people cannot completely remove these foods from their diet, so the best thing is eating in moderation.

As you reduce your fat intake, replace them with fiber-rich food. I am not a nutritionist, but I know fiber comes from plants. Add more veggies and fruits to your plate, therefore. Another important thing to do is increase your water intake to soften the stool.

2. Flush the Toilet Before Using

This is a simple technique that is easy to implement. Think about it. Have you ever walked into a building and seen the sign “Wet Floor”? Why do you think janitors put up these signs after cleaning the floors?

They know that if you walk without the knowledge that the floor has bits of water, you are bound to slide and fall badly. You can use that same technique with your toilet, only that you will not warn your poop. That will be a little surprise.

Of course, this will increase your water consumption and, in return, your water bills, but what can you do differently? Nothing, I suppose. If you have a dual-flush toilet, consider using the half-flush initially.

3. Remove the Toilet Stains.

The worst thing about hard water toilet stains is that you can’t remove them permanently. As long as hard water flows in your house, ugly stains will always be lingering. The best thing is cleaning your toilet regularly and properly to prevent it from happening in the first place.

The two best products for removing toilet stains at home and preventing them are vinegar and baking soda. If the stains are severe, you can replace baking soda with borax. Borax is legal in the United States but banned in the European Union.

If you have a toilet ring, consider using a pumice stone to remove it. I wrote this post on removing hard water toilet stains some time back. You can have a look at it to determine the best way to go about it.

4. Buy a Better Toilet

It’s not a secret. Some toilets are just better than others. If your poop does not stick on other toilets but somehow sticks on a certain one, you clearly need to replace it.

Modern toilets come coated with a mirror-like substance, making it super easy for poop to move down the toilet bowl. Toto calls theirs Cefiontect glaze, while American Standard calls their EverClean surface.

These substances also make it easy to clean the toilets without using any chemicals and keep the toilet looking newer for longer. To have a look at the best of these toilets, check out this post that I wrote a while back.

5. Seek Professional Help

If you suspect that your problem has more to do with your health rather than your behavior, please see your doctor. They will be able to advise you accordingly.

Conclusion

Having your poop stuck in the toilet bowl can be inconvenient and embarrassing. When people hear you flush a toilet a couple of times while scrubbing it, they definitely look at you differently. Fixing the problem once and for all is the way to go.