Unless anything goes wrong, we rarely think twice about toilets. It can be more than a little inconvenience when our toilet breaks down or becomes clogged, especially if we don’t have a plunger. Keep in mind that a badly clogged toilet might cause your entire household to be disrupted.
Although clearing a clog is often as simple as plugging the drain, you may need to use an auger to get the job done. If you don’t have a plunger or if it doesn’t work, think about your unclogging options before calling a plumber.
There are many techniques to deal with a toilet overflow or blockage. Many of these can be done with the items you already have in your bathroom or kitchen cupboards. In this article, we’ll discuss the methods to unclog a toilet.
Methods To Follow
1. Using a Plunger
While a plunger may appear simple, it is nevertheless the most effective technique to unclog a toilet. Every family should have this tool, preferably one with a flange because they are the most effective at unblocking toilets.
When utilizing this instrument, place the plunger in the toilet bowl and gently press it down. The first step is to get rid of the air.
If you press too hard, you can end up splashing dirty water all over yourself. Ascertain that the plunger fills the opening.
Submerge the plunger entirely in water, allowing only water to enter through the opening, not air. Fill the bowl with water from the bathroom sink if there isn’t enough to cover the plunger in the basin.
Over the hole, press the plunger down:
At the start, take it gently because the first dive will pump air into the bowl. To loosen the blockage, push down and then pull up firmly. Push and pull hard until the water starts to drain.
The toilet may need 15 to 20 cycles to unclog. Wait patiently. Plunging alone often suffices if you don’t have a hard object caught in there. It might not work immediately, but it usually does after a few dozen plunge cycles.
Check the drainage by flushing the toilet:
If the bowl ultimately drains, but the blockage still prevents a free flow down the drain, leave the plunger in the bowl and refill it with water. Fill it to the point where it should be after a typical flush, then plunge it once more.
If you have stubborn clogs, you may need to repeat this process. Once the plunging, flush the toilet 2-4 times to move the obstruction through the sewer system.
2. Using Baking Soda & Vinegar
If the toilet frequently clogs due to trying to flush too much trash, a solution of hot water, baking soda, and vinegar can typically replace a professional drain cleaner.
Boil half a gallon of water, then set it aside to cool while you finish assembling the toilet bowl. Pour one cup of baking soda into your toilet and let it sit for a few minutes to unclog it.
After that, add two cups of vinegar. Pour slowly because you don’t want the frothy, chemical reaction these two goods produce to burst out of your toilet. Allow the mixture to settle for several minutes. After that, flush the toilet to see if the clog has been cleared.
3. Using the Snake
A “snake,” sometimes known as an “auger” in the plumbing trade, is a tool used to clear drain obstructions. Snakes can range in complexity from simple plastic tools to complex metal devices.
Insert the item into your toilet and crank the handle carefully until you’ve located and punctured the clog. The clog should be broken up by the time you wound the snake back up, and you should be able to flush normally again.
If you don’t succeed the first time, repeat the process. Hiring a plumber is generally the best option if snaking your toilet does not work after multiple efforts.
4. Using a Wire Hanger
This is another cheap yet effective method to unclog a toilet. You can make your own drain snake using a wire coat hanger if you don’t have access to one. Except for the hook, simply unwind the hanger until it is fully straight.
Then, Then, wearing rubber gloves, carefully slant the hanger down the drain until you reach the clog by wrapping a little rag around the hook to prevent scratches or damage to the porcelain. To empty the toilet, flush it a few times once the water has started to drain.
5. Using Hot Water
Toilet clogs can be surprisingly easy to remove with hot water and a little dish soap. While waiting for the water to boil, pour a little dish soap into your toilet bowl.
After that, carefully pour the water into your toilet, ensuring it doesn’t overflow. Then, flush your toilet after a few minutes to soften the clog. This can also be done using shampoo and hot water from the sink.
6. Using Household Bleach
The decomposition of trash is aided by household bleach, just like soap. Dish soap can be used in the same manner. Dishwashing soap (solid or liquid) can be replaced with 2-3 cups of bleach.
After a minute or two, pour in one cup of powdered soap. Flush your toilet after 10-15 minutes. You’ll find this method more effective for a severely clogged toilet.
7. Remove the Clog Using a Wet-vac
While this procedure is only suitable for the most severe clogs if you have a chance to have one sitting around, using a wet/dry vacuum to remove a toilet clog can be highly successful.
Put on rubber gloves before you begin. After that, tie an old towel around the vacuum hose and insert it directly into the toilet drain to produce suction.
Finally, switch on the vacuum while firmly holding the hose in place and wait for the clog to be vacuumed out. When you’re through, make sure to clean and sterilize the vacuum. This should not be attempted with a conventional vacuum. Only a wet-dry vacuum has the unique capability to remove a toilet clog.
8. Take the DIY Approach
You can use various home objects to help break up a toilet clog if you don’t have any other options. Straightening a wire to make a handmade plumbing snake is one of the most dependable DIY solutions to remove drain obstructions.
If you’re in a hurry, you can also use a toilet brush to break up a blockage. Simply put, think outside the box. When it comes to your toilet, DIY is usually not the best option, but sometimes desperate measures are necessary.
9. By Using a Bio-cleaner
Liquid drain cleaners contain hazardous chemicals that are not only ineffective but may also eat away at your pipes over time. Go with a bio-cleaner if you want a safer store-bought solution.
These organic drain cleaners are more difficult to come by, but they’re safer for your plumbing system and can be highly helpful for clogs that haven’t grown too large.
So these were some best methods to unclog a toilet. I hope you now have enough knowledge about it. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments.