A viral social media trend suggested placing garlic cloves in toilet bowls to repel pests and freshen drains, leveraging garlic's known antimicrobial properties and strong scent. However, plumbers caution against flushing food waste, including garlic, due to the risk of pipe blockages. While studies show garlic's compounds can affect bacteria in laboratory settings at high concentrations, experts state a single clove is unlikely to disinfect home plumbing systems. The scent may temporarily mask odors but does not solve drainage issues.