First world problem - too many bathrooms!

[Lost Californian]

We have 3 full bathrooms in our home. It was great when the kids were still here, but they flew the coop years ago. Nowadays, my Sweetie gets worked up that the upstairs toilet will evaporate and leave deposits behind, because it is not used enough.

Short of going upstairs on a weekly/monthly basis to use the pot, are there any suggestions for combating this situation? Sweetie suggested turning off the water to the toilet, which I think would work, but then I have wonderings if the water will leave the trap and let sewer smells out. We are on a septic system, if that makes a difference.

Thanks, y'all!

 

[BE Mike]

Walk up and down those stairs. The exercise will do you good!

 

[femurphy77]

We use vegetable oil in unused patient rooms to slow down the evaporation rate. Smell becomes a real issue when you have several dried out toilets concentrated in one area. Just pour in enough to get a thin film across the water and you're good to go for awhile.

 

[rhamersley]

We use vegetable oil in unused patient rooms to slow down the evaporation rate. Smell becomes a real issue when you have several dried out toilets concentrated in one area. Just pour in enough to get a thin film across the water and you're good to go for awhile.

^^THIS^^
Also works for floor drains and sink/shower drains in unused rooms. Just a teaspoon or so down the drain and it floats on the water keeping it from evaporating.

 

[HoughMade]

I am rapidly approaching this issue with 4 bathrooms.

 

[EyeCarry]

I have a not used bathroom to go into once a week to flush and run water as well. I like the oil trick, did not know about this one.

 

[Ark]

We use vegetable oil in unused patient rooms to slow down the evaporation rate. Smell becomes a real issue when you have several dried out toilets concentrated in one area. Just pour in enough to get a thin film across the water and you're good to go for awhile.

I have never heard this trick before. Oil film to put a barrier between water and atmosphere to slow evaporation... that's pretty darn slick.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I have never heard this trick before. Oil film to put a barrier between water and atmosphere to slow evaporation... that's pretty darn slick.

An oil slick in fact.

 

[Cameramonkey]

This is the purpose built product for the toilet. Its actually for waterless urninals, but also works in floor drain traps. Im sure the vegetable oil would be good enough.

Zurn ZGS-128OZ | 128 oz. (1 gallon) Bottle of AquaGreen Sealant for Z5795 Waterless Urinal

Zurn ZGS-128OZ 128 oz. (1 gallon) Bottle of AquaGreen Sealant for Z5795 Waterless Urinal

www.airdelights.com

 

[BE Mike]

Only

This is the purpose built product for the toilet. Its actually for waterless urninals, but also works in floor drain traps. Im sure the vegetable oil would be good enough.

Zurn ZGS-128OZ | 128 oz. (1 gallon) Bottle of AquaGreen Sealant for Z5795 Waterless Urinal

Zurn ZGS-128OZ 128 oz. (1 gallon) Bottle of AquaGreen Sealant for Z5795 Waterless Urinal

www.airdelights.com

Only in America!

 

[gregkl]

I would just use it once in awhile. We have three bathrooms also and just the two of us. It isn't that tough to use the less used one enough to keep the traps from drying out.

We also be sure to run the sinks and if a long time goes by, the tub/shower also.

 

[Tactically Fat]

We have this issue, too.

The absolute easiest way to solve it: put your favorite magazines on the back of the toilet tank in the "other" bathroom.

 

[hoosierdoc]

We use vegetable oil in unused patient rooms to slow down the evaporation rate. Smell becomes a real issue when you have several dried out toilets concentrated in one area. Just pour in enough to get a thin film across the water and you're good to go for awhile.

Wow, i can't imagine the cost of vegetable oil we've gone through in the last year then