How to Unclog a Toilet in Many Ways

There’s nothing worse than a clogged toilet. Unfortunately, it simply happens sometimes. And when it does, if you follow the methods outlined in this article, then it won’t remain clogged for very long. Whether you’ve flushed too much toilet paper down your toilet or accidentally flushed something that you shouldn’t have, such as a sanitary product, you can easily resolve the issue through one of these methods.

We’re going to begin our article with the most trusted plunger of all, which should the vast majority of clogged toilet problems. However, if you don’t have a plunger in your home, then you may wish to try one of the other methods for how to unclog a toilet. These methods rely on objects, products, and materials that can be found in most people’s homes.

Method One: Using a Plunger and Rubber Gloves

The most effective way of removing a clog from a toilet is to use a plunger. If you’ve not yet purchased a plunger, but are planning to so that you can unclog a toilet, then you should consider purchasing a plunger that’s gon an extension flange. Choose a plunger with an extension flange. It will be able to get further inside your toilet, which translates into more powerful plunging capabilities, which means that you’ll likely be able to remove the clog a lot easier and quicker.

Once you’ve got your plunger, then you’re ready to remove the clog inside your toilet. It isn’t as simple as stuffing the plunger into the toilet bowl and then start plunging in the hope that you’re going to remove the clog. This method might work by chance, but it could equally lead to a lot of mess and an unsuccessful attempt at removing the clog from your toilet drain.

To remove toilet clogs with a plunger, you should firstly put on some rubber gloves. This is important because of the germs that reside in a toilet bowl. You could easily find the water from your toilet bowl getting onto your hands while plunging, and if these germs get onto your face or into your eyes or mouth, then you run the risk of becoming extremely sick. Put on the rubber gloves, then go to your toilet armed with your plunger.

To successfully unclog a clogged toilet with a plunger, you need to make sure that you get the very first plunge right. The first plunge is the one that will help you establish a seal. You want to take it slow with the first plunge. That’s because the bell of the plunger will be full of air when you first put it in the toilet. If you go to vigorously, then you’re going to end up covered in water from the toilet bowl.

You also need to ensure that there’s enough water in the toilet bowl before you start plunging. Most experts recommend that there should be enough water inside the bowl for it to fill up the bell of your plunger. You’re going to want the bell of the plunger to be filled with water when you’re plunging. Why? Because the water makes it a lot more powerful, meaning that you’ll be more likely to remove the clog in the toilet trap.

When you put the plunger inside the toilet for the first plunge, then ensure that it is angled. Then you want to push down slowly but firmly so that a seal can be established inside the hole in the toilet. Once you’ve done this, then it’s time to put your plunger skills to the test. You want to make sure that you plunge with vigor. But you also don’t want to become reckless, which will simply lead to the seal being lost and, therefore, just causing yourself a lot of mess, while making it highly unlikely that the clog in the toilet trap will be removed. It’s recommended that you take the plunger in both hands to ensure that you keep a solid grip on the plunger and to add more thrust to your plunges.

It can feel like a thankless task when using a plunger for the very first time. But you might have removed the clog in the toilet trap without realizing it. After about 6 or 7 plunges, then remove the plunger, and check if you’ve removed the clog. If not, then continue plunging. However, after approximately 15 plunges, there is a point when it’s unlikely that the stubborn clog will be removed with the plunger. If you reach this point, then you may want to try one of the other methods in this article.

Alternatively, you can head to your local DIY store and purchase a toilet snake, which can help with toilet clogs that a plunger cannot successfully unclog. You may also want to consider if you should call a plumber. A plunger is a highly effective way to unclog a toilet, and if this method doesn’t work, then there may be a major problem that only a professional can deal with. Before resorting to a plumber, it’s worth trying the following methods of unclogging a toilet without a plunger.

Method Two: Hot Water

Sometimes the simplest things can have effective results, and that’s certainly true when it comes to removing a clog with hot water. For this method, you need to have a bucket. You want to heat some water in a pan, or you can simply run the hot water tap in your bath and shower and use this water to fill up a bucket. The water mustn’t be too hot. If you were to use a kettle to boil water, for example, and then poured it into your toilet, then there’s a high risk that your toilet bowl cracks.

Why? Because porcelain is susceptible to cracking when it is confronted with high temperatures. Once you’ve filled up your bucket with hot water, you just need to pour it into the toilet bowl, aiming for the toilet drain hole. Don’t pour it from a great height, as this will lead to splashing, which no one wants – about hip level should do the trick. Then, you want to let it sit for a while. After a couple of minutes, you should then flush your toilet. You might need to do this more than once, but if you notice that water has started to train away as normal, it looks like the clog has gone.

Method Three: Home-Made Drain Snake

As we have already mentioned, a toilet snake is an effective way of how to unclog a toilet. But many people don’t have a toilet snake in their homes. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to make a toilet snake with a simple coat hanger. Of course, you want to ensure that it’s a wire, metal coathanger that you use for obvious reasons.

To make the toilet snake from a wire hanger, all you need to do is to unwind it so that you’re left with a long, straight piece of metal wire. Don’t alter the hook at the top of the wire hanger, though, as you’re going to need that for removing the clog. It’s important to avoid causing any damage to your toilet bowl or the inside of your toilet, so it is recommended that you wrap the hook in an old cloth or any rag that you no longer need.

To unclog a toilet with the hanger, you just want to insert it into the drain hole and then push and pull once you’ve reached the clog. If toilet paper is the cause of the clog, then you should find that this will effectively break it down, allowing the water to drain as normal so that your toilet is no longer clogged.

Method Four: Dishwashing Liquid Soap

Another simple way of dealing with a clogged toilet is to use the dish soap that you use when washing up your plates, cutlery, pots, and pans. Essentially, the dish soap will work as a lubricant. You want to squirt it into your toilet directly. Preferably, you should aim for approximately half of a standard cup. Some people recommend that this method be used in conjunction with hot water. And if you want to raise your chances of this method fixing your clogged toilet, then it could be a good idea to try both dish soap and warm water at the same time. Remember to let it sit for a while before you attempt to flush the clogged toilet again.

Method Five: Home-Made Chemical Solution

If you’ve tried the four previous methods and are still scratching your head and asking yourself: ‘How to unclog the toilet?’ Then you want to try a bit of amateur chemistry. What you’re going to try to replicate is the same sort of results as you’d get when using a product like Draino. To do this, you’re going to need to get a bowl and either muffin liners or cake liners that you’d use when baking. The first ingredient you’ll need is baking soda. Pour two cups of it into the bowl. Then you want to add some Epsom salt. You only need a quarter of a cup.

The final ingredient is dishwasher powder. Using a tablespoon, you want to add somewhere between 8 and 10 spoonfuls. Then you want to take this solution from the bowl and put it into the muffin or cake liners. Next, you’ll have to leave your chemistry project for approximately 24 hours. This will give it time to harden. Once it’s ready, then it’s time to drop it inside the toilet bowl. Again, you’re going to have to wait a little while until it works. After a couple of hours, return to the clogged toilet and see if these home-made Draino alternatives have worked.

Method Six: Baking Soda and Vinegar

A more simple alternative to the previous process is to use baking soda and vinegar. Before you can add these two ingredients to your clogged toilet’s bowl, you will want to remove some of the water that’s inside the bowl. Make sure to get some rubber gloves before you do this, as it could get messy. Take a cup, then remove the water from the bowl and pour it down a drain. You don’t want to remove all the water but try to get as close to the usual water level that you have in your toilet bowl when it isn’t clogged. Once you’ve done this, wash your hands, rinse out the sink where you’ve poured away the toilet water, and then go to your kitchen and fetch some baking soda and white vinegar. Fill up a cup with the vinegar, pour it into the toilet bowl, fill up the cup with baking soda, and pour it into the bowl.

You’ll notice that there will be some bubbling in your toilet at the baking soda, vinegar, and water all react together. This is a good sign. You now need to leave the clogged toilet for a little while. Half an hour should be fine. When you return to the toilet, have some warm water with you, and then pour this into the toilet before you try flushing the toilet. If the toilet is still clogged, then just repeat the process for a second time. This should work if your problem is simply toilet paper.

Method Seven: Call a Plumber

If all else fails, then it’s time to call a plumber. The toilet will likely need to be removed so that the clog can be removed by hand. While it is possible to remove the toilet yourself, this is a somewhat complicated procedure, and if done incorrectly, you could end up with a lot of unsanitary mess inside your bathroom. Your best option is to call a plumber who will be able to deal with the clogged toilet effectively but at a price. This should always be your last option, though, as you’ll find that the previous six methods should unclog a toilet in most cases.

Summary

No one likes a clogged toilet. Now that you’ve read this article, however, which has explained how to unclog a toilet, then you’ll see just how easy it can be to unclog a toilet, whether that’s with a trusty plunger, or with one of the other methods for unclogging a toilet without a plunger. In most cases, a clog can be removed easily without any professional help required. If you have attempted the first six methods on this list and are still left with a clogged toilet, your last option is to call a plumber.