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Clog toilet home remedy


How to Unclog a Toilet in 7 Ways

We tend to take a lot of things for granted, like the fact that our toilets flush as needed. No need to think about anything, everything just works the way it is supposed to. We don’t learn how to unclog a toilet because it always works.

Until it doesn’t.

Bathroom business isn’t perhaps high on the list of things we like to talk about, but the fact is we all at one time or another face the problem of a clogged toilet. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Stuff happens. And when it does, believe it or not, there’s more than one way to unclog a toilet. In fact, there are seven different ways to unclog toilets quickly. In this post we review:

First things first. A clogged toilet is a toilet that can overflow. If water is rising to the top of the bowl, you need to act fast to prevent a potentially flooded bathroom. There are two ways to stop a clogged toilet from overflowing with water:

Take the lid off the toilet and close the open flapper that is allowing water to continue to flow. Don’t worry about the water in the tank; it is as perfectly clean as your home’s drinking water or the water in the shower.
Reach behind the toilet and turn the water supply off.

Once you stop the toilet overflowing, you can move on to unclogging the toilet. You may not need them, but it’s probably a good idea to have some rags handy in case some water spills out in your attempts to unclog your toilet, especially if you decide to use some of the tools recommended below.

How to Unclog a Toilet 7 Different Ways

The Old Stand By – The Plunger

Every household should have a plunger. Why? Because a plunger is the best way to unclog a toilet. A house without a plunger is a house that should have had one if there is a clogged toilet.

Believe it or not, there are many different types of plungers While flat plungers are fine for flat surfaces around shower or sink drains, a plunger with a flange is better designed to unclog toilets.

There is an art to effective toilet plunging. To achieve best results, follow these steps:

Put the plunger in the toilet bowl and push down gently until you achieve a good seal. The first push is to get rid of the air. If you push too forcefully, you could splash dirty water upon yourself.
Now that you have a good seal, pump the plunger up and down with some force, but make sure you maintain the seal.
Finally, pull the plunger up to break the air seal. The water should rush down the drain.
If this has not fixed the clog, repeat these steps until the clogged has loosened.

Once you’ve unclogged your toilet, put the plunger someplace where you can easily find it again. Because there’s always next time!

No Tools Required – Baking Soda and Vinegar

If you don’t have a plunger handy, turn to the trusted non-toxic household helper: baking soda and vinegar. You might know that baking soda and vinegar are fantastic for a variety of uses, including cleaning many surfaces, acting as an excellent deodorizer and keeping drains running smoothly. Baking soda and vinegar are equally great to fix a clogged toilet without a plunger following these simple steps:

  1. Add one cup of baking soda to the clogged toilet. 
  2. Wait two minutes.
  3. Slowly pour two cups of vinegar into the toilet. Baking soda and vinegar react to cause bubbles, so be sure to pour slowly and carefully so that the toilet water does not splash or overflow. 
  4. Allow the vinegar and baking soda mixture to work for several minutes. 
  5. Flush the toilet to see if the clog has cleared.

If this doesn’t work, consider buying a plunger or following the recommendations below.

Nothing to be afraid of – The Plumbing Snake

Like a plunger, plumbing snakes are handy tools for any homeowner. Regular plumbing snakes can scratch or damage porcelain toilets, so make sure to use a special toilet or closet snake, also called an auger. This special plumbing snake has a rubber coating that won’t scratch surfaces and protects the toilet’s porcelain.

To properly snake a toilet:

  1. Place the head of the augur in the toilet bowl.
  2. Slowly turn the handle of the augur clockwise.
  3. When you feel resistance, wind the snake back.
  4. Flush the toilet to see If the clog has loosened.
  5. If the toilet is still clogged, wind the snake back in and repeat until the clog is broken up and the toilet flushes easily.

Again, store the augur where you can get it easily, as just because you’ve unclogged a toilet once, doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.

Heat it Up – Dish Soap and Hot Water

Don’t have a plunger or snake? Out of baking soda and vinegar? Ok, here’s something you’re bound to have handy: dish soap and water.

  1. Put one gallon of hot water on the stove to heat up.
  2. While the water is heating up, squirt some dish soap into the toilet.
  3. When the water is very hot, but not boiling, carefully pour it into the toilet.
  4. Wait several minutes while the hot water and dish soap soften the clog.
  5. The toilet should now be unclogged and flushing freely.

Helpful Hint: You can also try to use shampoo and hot water from the sink if you want to try to clear the toilet without leaving the bathroom.

Not for the Faint of Heart – Wet/Dry Vacuum.

This is a truly unique method for fixing a clogged toilet. Caution: Consider only if you have wet/dry vacuum. Do not try this method with a regular household vacuum. You risk ruining the vacuum and, more importantly, the possibility of shocking yourself.

  1. Wear plastic gloves because you need to hold the wet/dry vacuum hose inside the toilet. If the bowl is not empty, vacuum the water out. 
  2. Place the wet/dry vacuum hose in the toilet drain and wrap an old towel around the hose to create suction. 
  3. Turn the wet/dry vacuum on, firmly holding the towel and hose in place. The wet/dry vacuum should create enough suction to pull the obstruction out. Thoroughly clean and sanitize the vacuum afterward.

Science to the Rescue – Drain Cleaners (Bio Ben)

While chemical drain cleaners are not recommended because they can damage plumbing and create chemical burn hazards, we do recommend you try an enzyme or bio cleaner, like BioBen. This product is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as safe for the environment.

  1. Pour the measured amount of BioBen down the toilet.
  2. Wait for BioBen to clear the toilet clog.
  3. Flush the toilet.

BioBen claims it can continue to work in your pipes to keep flowing free of clogs for up to a month.

When DIY Fails – Call a Plumber

If none of these methods works to unclog your toilet, or if you don’t have the necessary tools to properly unclog your toilet, it’s time to call in a professional plumber. A plumber is also your best option if you have a toilet that frequently clogs—that means you’ve got a serious problem somewhere deeper in your pipes.

You can count on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to effectively unclog your toilets and drains. We take to heart the words of our namesake, Benjamin Franklin, who famously said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” We’ve built our company around bringing a higher level of excellence to every customer experience. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and our licensed plumbers proudly offer an on-time guarantee and a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee to meet all your plumbing service needs. Because we’re locally owned and operated, our plumbers are familiar with the plumbing challenges you face. If there’s any delay in providing your service, we pay!

And, by the way, there are other problems that can occur with your toilet besides an occasional clog. Toilets rely on the interaction of numerous parts to function properly. If a toilet isn’t flushing properly, it could be a problem with its plumbing or with the parts that make it work. Sometimes a toilet will function even though it has malfunctioning components. Even though it’s tempting to ignore, a toilet’s parts should be replaced once they start to break. If left ignored, they could fail. Even if they don’t completely break, malfunctioning toilet parts waste water and increase your bills.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing answers your service calls 24 hours a day at 800-259-7705. Or request an appointment online.

How to Unclog Toilet Without a Plunger

If you don't have a plunger, you can sometimes get things in working order with a few common household items.

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How To Unclog the Toilet Without a Plunger

The best way to handle a clogged toilet is to use a plunger but there might be situations where you don’t have access to one. If If the toilet is clogged and you don’t have a plunger handy, have no fear. There is more than one way to clear out the toilet and some of these ways include common household items that you likely already have.

If a clog is particular troublesome, you may need to use a drain snake to unclog it. But these home remedies will help push through some of the more minor clogs you’re likely to encounter.

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Family Handyman

Dish Soap

Plunging a clogged toilet is no fun, but there’s a better way. To unclog a toilet without a plunger, head to the kitchen for some dish soap. The slippery soap can help lubricate the clogged pipe and allow the lodged debris to slide down more easily.

Pour about a half-cup into the toilet. If you’re out of dish soap, chop a bar of hand soap into small chunks and drop the pieces into the toilet.

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GWImages/Shutterstock

Add Hot Water

If dish soap alone doesn’t do the trick, adding water might move things along. Fill a bucket with hot bath water (boiling water could cause a porcelain toilet to crack) and pour the water into the toilet from waist level. The force of the water could dislodge the cause of the clog.

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DIY Wire Hanger Drain Snake

A more severe blockage could require manually moving the item. To do this without a plunger, unravel a wire coat hanger until it’s straight. Push one end of the wire into the clogged area. Prod the debris until it becomes free and flows down the drain. A drain auger is a better choice, but the wire hanger will work in a pinch.

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Shutterstock/JPC-PROD

Baking Soda Mixture

As an alternative to using dish soap for those situations where you’re without a plunger, try this all-natural solution. Pour one cup baking soda and two cups vinegar into the toilet. Allow it fizz for a half hour. If clog doesn’t dissipate, try the hot water trick.

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Use a Plastic Bottle to Create Water Pressure

This unclogging trick could get messy.

Start by removing as much water from the toilet bowl as possible; you can do this by repeatedly filling a small container with toilet water and pouring the water into a bucket. Next, fill a large plastic bottle with warm water.

Place your thumb over the top of the bottle and fit the top end of the bottle into the outlet at the bottom of the toilet. (You’ll want to wear rubber gloves for this step.) Remove your thumb and squeeze the bottle so the water inside shoots down the pipe. The added pressure could dislodge whatever was causing the clog.

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Family Handyman

Squirt Gun Toilet Drainer

If you decide to drain your toilet bowl before dealing with the clog, here’s a unique tip to get the water out.

“When you’re repairing or replacing a toilet, you need to remove all the water. Simply shutting off the water supply and flushing won’t do it. A sponge works, but it’s kind of slow. So I use an old squirt gun to suck the water out and squirt it into a bucket, leaving just the last few drops to sponge out.” — reader Dale Conklin.

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Originally Published: November 16, 2021

What to do if the toilet is clogged: how to eliminate the clogged toilet

A clog in the toilet is a serious domestic problem that can lead to big troubles up to the flooding of the neighbors on the floor below. What to do if the water does not go away? You can call professional plumbers to your home or try to cope with the situation yourself. Next, we will look at several proven ways to help clear blockages at home.

Causes of clogged toilet

The sewer pipe from the toilet can become clogged in different cases. The main reason is the ingress of foreign objects into the drain hole: diapers, rags, sanitary pads, children's toys, cat litter, etc.

Problems associated with improper installation or design of the sewer system should not be ruled out. Small slopes during laying, a large distance of the toilet bowl from the main pipe, the absence of a vent pipe and much more lead to blockage. If a gap has already formed, what can be done?

Locating the plug

Start cleaning yourself by determining the location of the blockage. If it arose in the toilet cavity, this is one thing, but if the blockage appeared further along the sewer pipe, you will have to act differently.

Turn on the taps in the bathroom and in the kitchen to roughly understand where the pipe is blocked. If the water from the sink drains normally, it is the toilet that is clogged, and not the sewer pipe at some distance from it.

Do not drain the water tank, as it holds about 3 liters. If the toilet overflows, dirty water will leak onto the floor and create additional problems. When the blockage is localized further down the pipe, when flushing the toilet, its contents may spill out of the bath drain (according to the principle of communicating vessels).

Household chemicals for toilet clogs

In specialized stores and on supermarket shelves, you can find various chemicals from well-known brands designed to clean toilet clogs at home without a plunger, a cable and the help of a plumber. The following products are most in demand:

Buy any of these and use them as directed and safely. Be sure to protect your hands and avoid getting the product in your eyes. Each contains the strongest aggressive components that can harm health.

All chemicals work on the same principle: you pour or pour the contents of a bottle or other package into the toilet hole and leave it for a while (from 15 minutes to several hours). After a while, you need to drain the water from the tank several times, thoroughly flushing the system.

To avoid damaging plastic sewer pipes and causing leakage, never mix two different products. The substances included in their composition can react, which will corrode the sealing gum and even the plastic walls of the pipeline.

How to clear a blockage in the toilet with improvised means

You can sometimes quickly clear the blockage in the toilet with your hand, wearing a rubber glove or pulling a tight bag over it. This method helps if you know exactly what caused the blockage: for example, you flushed a diaper, a pad, or a rag that could be stuck in the toilet itself. Remove the item and the water will begin to flush normally without lingering.

Boiling water

The simplest tool at hand is boiling water poured into the toilet bowl. You need to pour a bucket or pot of hot water and wait 15-20 minutes for it to dissolve the contaminants that caused the congestion. But be careful if the toilet is connected to the sewer with a corrugation. A thin-walled connection may burst due to boiling water. Also, it is impossible to flush immediately after pouring hot water, as a sharp temperature drop can damage the sanitary ware bowl.

Mustard

This is mustard powder, which must be dissolved in warm or hot water: 2 tablespoons per 5-6 liters of water. This composition must be poured into the toilet and left for half an hour, and then rinsed with water. If it starts to go away, repeat the procedure a few more times in a row to completely clear the congestion.

Citric Acid

It destroys mineral deposits and other contaminants, helping to clear toilet clogs by hand. Dissolve 200 g of powder in several liters of water and pour into the toilet bowl. It is better to remove the water from it beforehand so that the product has a stronger effect.

Chlorine and Whiteness

You can pour 400-500 g of bleach into the toilet in case of blockage or pour a liter of Whiteness and leave it overnight. The product is very aggressive, so be sure to lower the lid. Even in this case, the bathroom will smell bad, but you will most likely remove the blockage by simply flushing the water from the tank in the morning.

Vinegar + baking soda

A good way to quickly clean a clogged toilet bowl is baking soda with vinegar. First, pour 600-800 g of ordinary baking soda into it, which is in the kitchen of every housewife, and immediately pour a bottle 9- percent vinegar.

Be prepared for a strong chemical reaction with hissing and foaming. Leave the product on for 20-30 minutes so that it has time to act and dissolve the congestion. Pour a few liters of boiling water and wait another 15 minutes.

After this, check that the water has begun to drain and flush the clogged drain behind the toilet with water.

Note that all of the above products are ineffective in case of mechanical blockage of the toilet bowl with a rag, diaper or sanitary napkins.

How to open a clogged toilet with a plunger

A simple device gives a result that often exceeds all expectations. In order for the plunger to work, you need to choose a model suitable for the toilet:

All of these devices are equally easy to use. it is enough to follow the elementary instructions:

  1. Attach the rubber nozzle of the plunger to the hole so that it completely covers it.
  2. Press the handle in a few forward motions so that the suction cup sticks to the walls.
  3. Then, pull the handle sharply, prying the nozzle away from the hole. At this point, a water hammer will be created, releasing the congestion.

The plunger can be used to clean a toilet with newsprint, cat litter or other foreign objects.

Plumbing cable for clearing blockages in the toilet

This tool is used by professional plumbers, but you can also use it yourself at home. the device consists of a hollow tube with metal rings and a handle at the end. At the opposite end is a spiral nozzle. The length of the cable varies, but 2-3 meters are usually enough to clean the toilet in an apartment or house. It's easy to use:

  1. If possible, remove water from the toilet bowl.
  2. Insert the cable end into the hole until it stops.
  3. Start turning the handle clockwise, pushing the cable deeper (this is easier to do with a helper).
  4. Continue driving until the drain is clear and the blockage is no longer flushed.
  5. Flush drains with hot water to remove any remaining blockage.

If you see a dirty nozzle after pulling out the cable, repeat the procedure again.

How to remove blockage in the toilet with a plastic bottle

Finally, let's look at another simple and non-standard way - how to remove blockage in the toilet with your own hands using a simple plastic bottle. It may turn out that there is no plunger, no special chemicals, no plumbing cable at home.

The principle of operation of the bottle in this case is based on the laws of hydrodynamics, that is, it will work like a plunger. It is better to work with gloves, as you will get dirty:

  1. Cut off the bottom of the bottle with a knife and leave the cap in place.
  2. Insert the cut-off part of the bottle into the hole as far as it will fit. It is necessary, as it were, to press water into it (you will feel air resistance in the bottle - it will become solid).
  3. After that, sharply feed the bottle deeper, and immediately pull it back out. In this case, pressure is formed that caused water hammer. He will push the blockage deeper, and the blockage will be eliminated.

If you do everything right, one operation may be enough. Otherwise, repeat the procedure several times. Note that this method is not suitable for all models of toilet bowls due to the shape of the drain hole.

If you can't clear the blockage in the toilet on your own, it's better to turn to professionals to avoid trouble with your neighbors. Masters of the San Remo company inexpensively and in a short time will find out the cause of the blockage and eliminate it. But in some cases, it may be necessary to dismantle the toilet. Also, if necessary, our masters will install the toilet bowl, or repair the old one.

how to clean at home if the toilet is clogged, how to remove the blockage, blockage remover, cleaning, how to break through, cleaning cable

Content:

The design of the toilet and the features of blockages
Ways to clean the drain of a clogged toilet yourself
How to clean the toilet without a plunger
Eliminating a blockage in the toilet using chemicals
Professional removing blockages in the toilet
Video

The sewer system must function flawlessly around the clock. However, sometimes an unexpected emergency situation may arise that requires the intervention of a plumber. Everyone knows that you need to pay for the services of emergency service specialists, so many home masters try to solve the problem on their own. If the toilet is clogged, it is better to know how to clean it at home. In addition, you need to know about preventive measures that will prevent the formation of a blockage in the toilet.


Toilet bowl design and blockage features

Regardless of the type of toilet bowl and the shape of the bowl, a special section of the pipeline is required to connect plumbing equipment to the sewer riser. It is here that a hydraulic seal is formed, which allows the sewer to pass freely and forms an obstacle to unpleasant odors from the sewer. This area has a complex shape, due to which solid and large objects can linger in the toilet. There is a need to solve the problem when the toilet is clogged, how to clean it.

The highest quality drain is provided by toilets with a vertical outlet. A similar result can be achieved in the case of a horizontal outlet, subject to a minimum distance to the vertical section or when creating the necessary slope.


Violation of the installation technology of plumbing equipment and improper operation leads to the accumulation of pollution of various nature. The most difficult are deposits of calcium salts, the cause of which is the high hardness of water. Such blockages are characterized by high strength, so it may be difficult to clean the toilet mechanically. With regard to the use of strong chemical compositions, their use to remove salt deposits can harm the components of the pipeline. This should be taken into account when choosing the best remedy for blockage in the toilet.

Sometimes a violation of the rules for operating plumbing equipment can cause clogging even of large diameter pipes. Congestion is formed by baby diapers, porous voluminous cat litter, and other foreign objects. When the most difficult situation arises, no remedy for eliminating blockage in the toilet gives an effective result. In this case, it is better to prevent the problem than to deal with its consequences.

There are several rules that, to a certain extent, are preventive measures and allow you to avoid unpleasant moments in the process of using the toilet:

Methods for clearing a clogged toilet drain yourself

A clogged toilet bowl can occur due to constructive reasons, in which case prevention will not give an effective result, major repairs will be required. However, hasty conclusions should not be drawn, it is necessary to check the performance of the system. Only after that, you should look for a solution to the problem if the toilet is clogged, and how to break through the resulting congestion at home.

First of all, you need to drain the water from the tank, but it is not recommended to do a complete drain. If the blockage in the toilet is serious, then a large amount of water can lead to the fact that the entire floor will be flooded with sewage. Therefore, the water supply tap should be turned off, and the test should be performed with a single dose of not more than 1.5 liters.


In addition, it is necessary to carry out additional diagnostics and check the efficiency of water flow from the sink, shower and other plumbing fixtures connected to the sewer system. If the liquid also stagnates at these points, then a blockage has formed in the sewer riser. Similar problems are solved by experienced plumbers from specialized companies using a cable for cleaning the toilet (read also: "How to choose a cable for cleaning sewer pipes - types, rules of use").

How to unclog a toilet without a plunger

The plunger is an inexpensive universal effective tool that takes up little space and is not particularly difficult to use. To achieve maximum results when deciding how to clean the toilet at home, you need to choose the right diameter of the flexible part. It should be 1-2 cm larger than the size of the toilet drain hole.

If there is no factory-made plunger, then it is quite possible to make a similar item to solve the problem of how to remove a blockage in the toilet. For this purpose, use a plastic bottle of 1.5-2 liters, in which you need to cut off the bottom as evenly as possible, and screw the lid tightly. The bottle should be inserted into the toilet drain and make several vertical sharp movements. Professionals note that such a product can give a greater effect than a factory plunger. According to experts, a plastic bottle creates a sufficiently large hydraulic pressure.


If a foreign object is the cause of the blockage and can be observed visually, then no action is needed to push the object further into the drain. In this case, to solve the problem of how to eliminate the blockage in the toilet, you need to try to pull this item out of the toilet by putting rubber gloves of the right length on your hands or a regular plastic bag.

In addition, in the absence of a plunger, you can try to clear the blockage in the toilet at home using a flexible polymer or rubber hose. Using this option avoids damage to plumbing and pipes, and also makes it possible to penetrate 1.5-2 meters into the drain. By rotating the hose, you can push it. Work is carried out in rubber gloves, they protect hands from contamination and damage, provide a stronger hold on the hose. See also: "How to clean the toilet - proven options for removing blockages."

Another option for resolving the issue when the toilet is clogged how to clean without a plunger is to use a small bag filled with sand. It should be noted that it is not recommended to take nuts, stones or other hard materials for weighting as a filler. They can damage the body of the plumbing equipment. A bag of filler is tied to a rope and immersed in a drain. Next, perform several shock movements and drain the water. In this way, you can eliminate a slight blockage at a great distance from the drain hole.

Cleaning toilet clogs with chemicals

You can eliminate a blockage in a pipe or toilet bowl using various chemical compounds, which are widely available in specialized stores. When using such products when cleaning the toilet, you must follow the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on the package. Most often, information is given on the maximum processing time, temperature conditions and other conditions. See also: "The toilet is clogged - what to do, how to clean it if it is clogged, options for eliminating blockages."


At home, in the absence of special chemical compositions, you can use a fairly effective technique. You can clean the toilet from blockage yourself as follows:

Professional clogged toilet

Professional plumbers use a plumbing cable to clear blockages in the toilet. One end of this tool has a handle, and a special nozzle is attached to the other end for hooking or pushing the blockage.



A clogged toilet should not be a cause for concern, since in most cases a simple home master can solve the problem, provided that you choose the right way to clean the toilet. You can eliminate the blockage in the toilet with the help of improvised materials, special chemical compositions, the choice of which depends on the type and complexity of the blockage.

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