He's repaired over 15,000 toilets. What he finds in the drainpipes makes even him sick to his stomach. Now he reveals why most blockages don't happen suddenly — and how a German cleaning powder solves the problem where no tool can reach.
The disgusting truth your plumber never told you
Does your toilet look clean? Is the ceramic shiny? No smell?
Then take a closer look. Or better yet: Look where you can't see.
Directly behind your toilet begins a pipe system you'll never see. A dark, damp labyrinth of drainpipes, bends, and fittings. And right there, something is happening that most people never notice in their entire lives—until it's too late.
Until one day the toilet stops draining.
Stefan Hofer knows this better than anyone. The master plumber from Essen has repaired over 15,000 clogged toilets in 28 years. Private homes, hotels, offices, nursing homes.
"People call me and say: The toilet is suddenly clogged. But that's almost never true. A toilet doesn't suddenly get clogged. The problem builds up over months and years. Deep in the pipes, where you can't see it and you can't smell it — until it's too late."
What's really happening inside your pipes (and why you don't notice it)
Every time you flush, water flows through your pipes. That much is clear. But what few people know is:
Not everything flows.
A very thin layer remains on the inside walls of your drain pipes after every flush. Grease, limescale, soap scum, organic residue, cellulose from toilet paper. Individually, these substances are barely measurable. But over weeks and months, this layer thickens into a tough, sticky coating.
Stefan Hofer calls it the "biofilm armour."
"Imagine your pipes are like arteries. And this biofilm is like cholesterol. It builds up layer by layer. Slowly. Invisibly. And at some point, the pipe is so narrowed that nothing can get through anymore."
And this is where it gets really disgusting:
This biofilm isn't just dirt. It's a living ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms. There are more bacteria per square centimetre in an average toilet drainpipe than on a public toilet seat.
And the worst part: When you clean your toilet—with Duck, chlorine cleaner, tablets, or the toilet brush—you're only cleaning the ceramic. The visible surface. The pipes behind it? You can't reach them. Not with a brush. Not with a gel. Not with a tablet.
They are cleaning the front door while the rats multiply in the basement.
The 3 phases of a pipe blockage (and why phases 1 and 2 are invisible)
Stefan Hofer explains how a blockage really develops:
Phase 1: The invisible construction (months 1-12)
The biofilm begins to build up on the pipe walls. Thin as a film. Invisible. Odourless. Your toilet works perfectly. You notice nothing.
But: The pipe diameter is already narrowing. From 100 mm to 90 mm. Then 80 mm. Imperceptibly.
Phase 2: The first warning signs (months 12-24)
The water drains a little slower. Sometimes it gurgles. Occasionally, an unpleasant odour rises—especially in warm weather. Most people think, "It'll be fine." Or they pour down a drain cleaner.
The drain cleaner dissolves the top layer. The biofilm underneath? It remains. The smell returns after two weeks.
Phase 3: The complete blockage (sudden, but predictable)
The pipe diameter is now so constricted that a single larger piece of toilet paper, a sanitary wipe, or even a slightly firmer stool can block the remaining passage.
The water level rises. Panic. Plunger. Emergency plumber on Sunday evening. £180 to £350.
"And then I tell people: This didn't have to happen. If they had cleaned the pipes regularly—not the toilet, the pipes—this would never have happened."
Why conventional cleaners don't solve the problem (and often make it worse)
Stefan Hofer has seen it all in 28 years. And he has a clear opinion on the common methods:
Duck toilet cleaner, Domestos and similar liquid toilet cleaners: "They clean the ceramic. Period. The liquid runs through the pipes when flushed, but it has no contact time. The biofilm in the pipes isn't even touched. You can use Duck toilet cleaner every day—your pipes will still be clogged."
Chemical drain cleaners (Drano, Mr. Muscle Drain): "They are aggressive, yes. They dissolve the top layer of the blockage. But the biofilm that has built up over months is so firmly attached that even sodium hydroxide doesn't remove it completely. And the worst part: these products attack your pipes. This can be particularly expensive in older houses with plastic or cast iron pipes."
Plunger: "Works for minor blockages. But it only pushes the plug further down. The biofilm remains. The next blockage is guaranteed. And for stubborn blockages? Useless."
Spiral: "It drills a hole through the blockage. Good. But what about the biofilm on the pipe walls? A spiral can't reach that. It bores a tunnel through the dirt instead of removing it. The pipe narrows further."
Emergency plumber service: "Of course I'll solve the problem. But for £180 to £350. And I tell every customer: I'm happy to come. But if you maintained your pipes, you'd never have to call me again."
The discovery that made Stefan Hofer sceptical — and then convinced him
“A colleague from the Netherlands told me about a cleaning powder. You pour it into the toilet, and the foam creeps into the pipes on its own. It dissolves the biofilm and clears blockages. No tools required.”
Stefan Hofer laughed.
“I’ve been doing this for 28 years. If such a miracle product existed, I’d know about it.”
His colleague sent him a video. Stefan watched as the powder, upon contact with water, transformed into a thick foam that spread downwards into the pipe. After 20 minutes: a clear drain. Without lifting a finger.
"I watched the video three times. Then I ordered."
The product: Orthena.
Why Orthena works where everything else fails — in your pipes
Liquid cleaners flow downwards—past the pipe walls.
Orthena foam expands—and presses against the pipe walls.
As soon as the powder touches the water, millions of microscopic foam bubbles are created. This foam actively expands and fills the entire pipe — 360 degrees, from wall to wall.
The foam doesn't stay on the surface. It creeps into every pore, every nook and cranny, every bend of the pipe system. To places where no brush, no drain snake, and no liquid cleaner can ever reach.
What happens in the next 20 minutes:
Step 1: The foam envelops the biofilm. The microbubbles press against the pipe walls and envelop the biofilm, which has built up over years, from all sides.
Step 2: Enzymes break down the biofilm from the inside out. The formula contains specially developed enzymes that dissolve organic deposits—grease, limescale, cellulose, and bacterial colonies—at the molecular level. The biofilm is literally eaten away from the inside.
Step 3: The foam carries everything away. During flushing, the foam carries away all the dissolved biofilm, bacteria, and deposits. What remains: clean, unobstructed pipe walls. Full diameter. Unobstructed flow.
The result: Not only is the current blockage cleared, but the biofilm that would have caused the next blockage is also gone. Your pipes are as clean as the day they were installed.
What most people don't know: Their pipes are a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria.
And now comes the part that's truly alarming.
The biofilm in your pipes isn't just the cause of blockages. It's also a massive hygiene problem.
"People clean their toilets every day," says Stefan Hofer. "The ceramic shines. But right behind it, in the pipe, sits a film of bacteria several centimetres thick. And every time they flush, microscopic particles from this biofilm are flung upwards."
The phenomenon is called "toilet aerosol." When you flush, tiny droplets are propelled up to 1.8 metres into the air. These droplets contain bacteria from the pipes—not just from the toilet bowl.
This means that even if your toilet is spotless, the bacteria from the biofilm in your pipes will end up on your towels, your toothbrush, and your bathroom floor.
You can clean the toilet as often as you like. As long as biofilm remains in the pipes, your bathroom isn't truly clean.
Orthena doesn't just clear blockages—it eliminates the entire biofilm in your pipes. The source of bacteria is removed. Not masked, not covered up—eliminated.
And as a bonus: As it travels down the pipe, the foam also cleans the toilet bowl itself—including the areas under the rim that no brush can reach. Limescale, urine scale, stains—everything is dissolved and flushed away.
One product. Uncluttered pipes. Clean toilet. Bacteria gone.
What users report after the first use
Margaret S., from London: “I used to have the plumber come twice a year. Always the same spot, always the same blockage. £200 each time. My grandson gave me Orthena. I now use it preventatively once a month. Not a single blockage in eight months. The plumber was probably wondering why I didn't call anymore.”
Harry B., from Manchester: “I tried everything. Plunger, drain unblocker, even boiling water. Nothing worked permanently. Orthena was different. You can actually see the foam working in the pipe. After 20 minutes, everything was clear. And the best part: it doesn't come back. Because all the dirt in the pipes is gone, not just the blockage.”
Ingrid W., from Birmingham: “The hygiene aspect convinced me. My daughter is a nurse and explained to me what accumulates in pipes. Since then, I've used Orthena every fortnight. Not because something is blocked—but to prevent it from getting blocked in the first place. And the smell in the bathroom? Completely gone. It simply smells of nothing. And that's exactly how it should be.”
Erica D., from Leeds: “Emergency plumber on Sunday evening. £310. Just because the toilet was blocked. My son said: Mum, that won't happen to you again. He ordered Orthena for me. That was six months ago. Since then: zero problems. Zero pounds for the plumber.”
Orthena works wherever pipes can become clogged.
What many don't know: Orthena isn't just for the toilet.
Sink drain: Hair, soap, toothpaste—the same biofilm builds up here, too. Just add the powder, pour on some water, and wait 20 minutes. Drain clear.
Shower and bathtub: Clogged shower drains from hair and soap scum? Orthena dissolves the blockage and the biofilm behind it.
Kitchen sink: Grease buildup in the drain? The foam creeps through the pipes and dissolves everything. No more odours.
Washing machine drain: Lint, detergent residue, bacteria—it dissolves it all.
"I used to have five different cleaners in my house," says Stefan Hofer. "Now I only recommend one to my customers: Orthena . For everything related to pipes."
Where can I buy the original? (Beware of counterfeits)
Due to its enormous success, imitations are increasingly appearing on Amazon and eBay. These products do not feature the patented microfoam technology.
The original is available exclusively from the official webshop, directly from the manufacturer.
Why not in supermarkets or high-street shops?
"If we were to sell through supermarkets, we would almost have to double the price. My goal was to make professional quality affordable for everyone. That's why we ship directly to your home."
Your advantages when ordering directly:
CURRENTLY: Up to 70% discount — only while stocks last
Due to the change of seasons, the manufacturer has launched an exclusive spring promotion.
Check now if the 70% discount voucher is still active for your region: