Home » Misc » Unclogging a toilet with plunger

Unclogging a toilet with plunger


How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger

By

Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron's articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 06/11/22

Reviewed by

Richard Epstein

Reviewed by Richard Epstein

Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York's largest union plumbing construction companies.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

The Spruce / Ellen Lindner

Project Overview

A clogged toilet is a very common yet often alarming plumbing problem that most people have to deal with at one time or another. If this is your first time unclogging a toilet, just follow some basic steps to clear the way to a full flush. All you need is a toilet plunger, the right technique, and a few minutes.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have the right plunger for the job before you begin. Believe it or not, there are different types of plungers for different types of plumbing fixtures. The most basic type is a cup plunger, also called a sink plunger. It has a dome-shaped rubber cup with a flat bottom. This type is best for sinks and tubs because the flat bottom creates a seal around the relatively flat sink or tub basin.

The proper tool for plunging a toilet is a toilet plunger, also called a flange plunger. This has a cup that's taller than the cup on a sink plunger, and it has a sleeve-like extension, the flange, on the bottom of the cup. The flange fits into the hole in your toilet bowl for a good seal. The flange can also fold up into the cup so the plunger can be used on sinks and tubs. A cup plunger is much less effective for clearing toilet clogs, so, for this task, you'll want a flange plunger.

Watch Now: How to Unclog a Toilet

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  1. Fill the Toilet Bowl (as Needed)

    Make sure there is standing water in the toilet bowl. Submerging the head of the plunger is ideal, but you need at least enough water to cover the rim of the plunger cup (not just the flange). If there's anything floating in the toilet bowl, don't sweat it (that's why plumbers can charge so much!). Add water to the bowl if necessary.

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  2. Position the Plunger

    Put on rubber gloves if you wish. Make sure the flange of the toilet plunger is completely pulled out from the cup. Lower the plunger into the bowl at an angle so the cup fills with as much water as possible. If you go straight down, the cup traps a lot of air, which will compress more than water and reduce the plunging force. Fit the cup over the toilet's drain hole so the flange is inside the hole and the cup forms a complete seal around the outside of the hole. 

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

  3. Work the Plunger

    Grip the plunger handle in both hands, and push down on the cup forcefully, then pull back up without breaking the cup's seal around the hole. Repeat the push-pull motion five or six times, then pull the cup off of the hole after the last thrust.

    The goal is to create rapidly alternating forces of compression and suction in the toilet drain to loosen the clog. If your pushing seems to be blowing out the side of the cup rather than down into the hole, you don't have a proper seal. Reposition the cup, and try again. 

    Repeat the series of plunging motions as needed until the bowl empties by itself. Set the plunger aside. 

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

    Tip

    Maintain some downward pressure on the plunger at all times while plunging, even when letting up a bit on the upstroke. If you let up on the pressure completely, you'll break the seal around the cup.

  4. Flush the Toilet

    Remove the tank lid from the toilet, and locate the round rubber trap door (called the flapper) at the center of the tank bottom; this is your emergency water shutoff if the toilet is still clogged.

    Flush the toilet. If it flushes normally, you're all done, and you can set the lid back on the tank. If you're not so lucky and the toilet is still clogged and threatens to overflow, reach into the tank and push the flapper down over the hole to stop the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. When the tank stops refilling, plunge the toilet again.

    Nelly Cuanalo / The Spruce

If Plunging Doesn't Work

If you can't clear the clog after several rounds of plunging, you can try clearing it with a toilet auger before finding a plumber. A toilet auger, or closet auger, is a specialty version of a drain snake designed specifically for toilets. It has a telescoping metal tube with a crank handle on one end and a cable running inside. Insert the cable end (which has a corkscrew tip) into the toilet, and then turn the handle while pushing the cable down through the toilet trap to clear the clog.

In addition to driving through and breaking up a tough clog, the corkscrew tip of the cable can grab onto obstructions in the toilet trap so you can pull them out. This is often required if a sponge or other inappropriate item gets flushed down the toilet and becomes stuck.

4 Ways to Unclog a Toilet That Won't Drain

There’s never an appropriate time for your toilet to clog. Whether you’re at a holiday dinner or a neighborhood Bunco night, a clogged toilet can create an embarrassing mess. Clearing a clogged toilet can be tricky, and it’s even trickier when you don’t have a plunger. Don’t sweat it—we’ll talk you through clearing your clog, step by step.

Wield the Plunger

How to Unclog Your Toilet with a Plunger

Get your clogged toilet back up and running again the good old-fashioned way—with a plunger and some serious elbow grease. Here’s how to restore your toilet to working order in just six easy steps:

  1. If the toilet bowl is already filled to the brim, manually remove enough water to use the plunger without splashing or overflowing in the plunging process. We recommend using a small bowl or bucket to gently scoop out excess water to give your plunging process some space.
  2. Gently place the plunger in the toilet bowl, lowering it gradually and letting air from inside the plunger bubble out.
  3. Form a snug seal around the opening at the bottom of the toilet bowl. You’re now in position to push the clog out of the pipe.
  4. Begin to plunge firmly into the toilet with a straight, up-and-down motion. The plunger should force the existing water into the trapway of the toilet and into the pipes and push the blockage out. If the toilet is successfully plunged, you should see the water level in the toilet bowl diminish.
  5. Fill a large container with a gallon of water, and carefully pour it into the toilet bowl. The water level of the toilet bowl should go down, indicating that the blockage has been removed.
  6. If the water level does not drop, continue plunging and pouring water until the clog is dislodged.

How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

Today just isn’t your lucky day. Your toilet’s clogged, and you don’t have a plunger? Hang in there. There are still a few ways to work through this. If your toilet isn’t draining, you may not need a plunger to fix it. Here are three unconventional ways to remove a blockage from your toilet pipes.

Smooth the Road to Success

How to Unclog Your Toilet with Soap and Hot Water

  1. Manually remove some water, ensuring that there is space for adding a gallon of liquid. Remove the water with a small container—like a cup from the bathroom sink. Just make sure you don't put it back on the counter when you're done!
  2. Lubricate the toilet bowl by adding some dish soap, shampoo, or a few slivers of bar soap.
  3. Heat a gallon of water to very hot but not boiling. A drinkable tea temperature is just right. If the water is too hot, it could crack your toilet bowl. Pour the water into the bowl, and let it sit for 20 minutes.
  4. Try flushing the toilet. If it flushes, you’re all set! If instead it starts to overflow, turn the water valve off behind the toilet—then start again at step 1 or try another method.

Science Fair Drain Care

How to Unclog Your Toilet with Baking Soda and Vinegar

If the toilet remains clogged after a few attempts at resolving the problem, remove at least half of the water from the bowl. Then try pouring 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar into the toilet. The mixture will bubble excessively, which is why it’s important to first remove the excess water. Let the bubbles sit for at least 20 minutes before you try to flush.

Makeshift Drain Snake

How to Unclog Your Toilet with Coat Hanger

Still clogged? Here’s one last-ditch effort: Unravel a wire coat hanger, and put on a pair of disposable gloves.

Wrap one end of the straightened hanger with a cloth, and duct tape it firmly in place so it doesn’t scratch your toilet. Use the hanger to gently push debris down the pipe until you can flush. Twist and push the wire in a circular motion. If you can’t feel the wire hitting the obstruction, this task may be out of your reach.

Call for Backup—The Plumber You Deserve®

If, after several attempts at plunging your toilet, it remains backed up, it’s time to call for backup. Get help from the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We make your plumbing emergency our top priority and will schedule service with you as quickly as possible to resolve your problem. 

Need appliance repair? Contact Mr. Appliance, a Neighbourly company, today. 

Categories:

To request a service call, please fill out the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible
to confirm an appointment time. You will receive an email confirming your service request.

Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

Time limit for claims applies. Full details here.

How to clean a toilet without a plunger: 6 different ways

How to clean a toilet without a plunger: we break through the blockage ourselves.

Everyone has clogged toilets. There is nothing to worry about, especially when you consider that the average male produces almost 25,000 kilograms of poop in his entire life.

Lots of shit now!

But what if you go to flush and find that your toilet is clogged and the plunger can't see? Well, first of all, stay calm! If you don't have a plunger handy, here are seven ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger. nine0005

1. Better not flush

If you need to unclog the toilet but there is no plunger nearby, first try leaving the toilet alone for a while. The last thing you want to do is keep flushing the toilet and end up with dirty toilet water all over your bathroom floor.

Leaving a clogged toilet alone gives time for the clog to dissolve into the toilet water. So if you have fairly large poop or excess toilet paper, it can fall apart. Either wait a few hours or leave it on overnight then try rinsing it off again and see if that solves the problem. nine0005

Obviously this method is only practical if you have another working toilet in your house. If you can't let a clogged toilet sit for a few hours, try one of the following.

2. Mix soap and hot water.

The soap and hot water method is a popular way to unclog a toilet without a plunger. We only recommend this method if you have enough space in the toilet as you will be adding a large amount of liquid. nine0005

First, pour a large amount of shampoo or dish soap into the clogged toilet. If you don't have a lot of soap, mix the soap together or cut the bar of soap into small pieces.

Then turn on the hot water in the sink. You want the water to be as hot as possible, but not boiling. Add a gallon of hot water to the toilet where you put the soap.

Then wait a few seconds. a mixture of hot water and soap should quickly dissolve the cause of the clogged toilet. nine0005

3. Mix baking soda and vinegar.

Another remedy to try for a clogged toilet is baking soda and vinegar.

Mix two cups of vinegar and one cup of baking soda in a toilet bowl. This should cause a hiss. Let this sit and stand for about half an hour.

After enough time, try flushing the toilet again. A mixture similar to dishwashing detergent and hot water should dissolve the blockage. If the mixture doesn't work on its own, you can also add some hot water if there's enough room left in the bowl. nine0005

4. Pressurize the water

This method is a bit more complicated and a bit confusing than the previous recommendations. But with enough water pressure, you can move the blockage.

Start by removing as much water from the toilet as possible. Since this is not the most hygienic solution, wear rubber gloves.

Then fill a plastic bottle with boiling water. Place your thumb on the opening of the water bottle. Then carefully align the opening of the water bottle with the opening on the bottom of the toilet. nine0005

Remove your thumb from the water bottle and squeeze the bottle. This releases a large amount of pressurized water into your toilet. You can try this a few times to see if it works.

5. Try a wet vacuum cleaner

Another way to get rid of blockages is to use a wet vacuum cleaner.

Start by removing as much water as possible from the toilet again. Then place the wet vacuum hose into the toilet hole. For extra suction power, place a towel or washcloth around the vacuum hose and opening. nine0005

Then turn on the vacuum and hope for the best. If it works, the vacuum cleaner will suck the clog out of the toilet bowl and into the wet vacuum cleaner. Simply empty and thoroughly clean your vacuum cleaner when you're done!

6. Call a professional

If you find yourself constantly needing to clean your toilet, it could be a sign of a much more serious problem. At this point, it is better to move away from the toilet and call a professional for help.

There comes a time when a house needs sewer or sewer cleaning. Your home may suffer from clogged pipes or clogged drains. In these cases, you will need the assistance of experienced waterjet professionals. nine0005

By hiring a professional, you will solve the main problem of frequently clogged toilets. This helps keep your bathroom efficient, which ultimately results in lower costs. Your family and your home will benefit from improved health and sanitation by addressing the root of the problem.

And you clean your toilet with one phone call! No need to try any of the above tips over and over again. If you need fast results, consider professionals.

In addition to how to clean the toilet without a plunger

That's it - how to unclog a toilet without a plunger.

on your own and at home

Situations with a blockage always arise unexpectedly, but calling a plumber quickly does not work right away. In addition, plumbers will require payment for their services. Let's figure out how to clean the toilet yourself with the help of special and improvised means. We will also consider the range of chemical compositions, methods and effectiveness of application.

Contents

Designs of toilet sinks and waste systems

Absolutely all models of devices are connected to the central sewer riser. A special section of the pipeline forms a hydraulic seal that allows wastewater to pass through, but prevents effluent from flowing back. The shape of the shutter is complex, which causes inconvenience when moving solid and large objects. nine0005

The safest version of the toilet bowl is the floor model. Here it is much easier to provide high-quality drain than in horizontal outlets. The latter must be connected so that the distance to the vertical section is minimal, and the necessary slope is provided for drains to drain.

The slightest mistake when connecting will result in a quick blockage of the drain and the need for cleaning. Contaminants are different, the most difficult to remove are deposits of salts of hard water. It is impossible to remove them with mechanical devices; aggressive chemicals harm the constituent elements. Only prevention will help. nine0005

The official application from the bookmaker 1xBet, absolutely free and you can download 1xBet by clicking on the link and betting on sports.

Another problem is a violation of the rules of operation. Systematic discharges into the toilet of large objects, rags, and other foreign elements can tightly clog the exit from the pipe. In this case, cleaning will not help, you will have to demolish the plumbing.

Blockage prevention consists in following simple rules:

Do not flush foreign objects down the toilet and periodically clean drains with chemicals. nine0005

Ways to clean the toilet

If the drains do not go away, immediate action is needed. Consider how to clear a blockage in the toilet using a plunger, a cable, drugs and improvised means. The main thing that you do not need to do is to drain all the water from the tank. Some models are equipped with tanks for 3 or more liters of water, the descent of such a volume of liquid will cause all impurities to splash onto the floor.

Tip! To check the operation of the system, it is enough to drain 1-1.5 liters of water. And to determine whether only the toilet is clogged or the entire system will help drain the water from the sink (in the kitchen). It does not merge, there is a blockage in a common pipe, only specialists will solve the problem. nine0005

Cleaning the toilet with a plunger

A good plunger is a tool that is used for clogging of any appliances. It is better to choose a model with the desired diameter of the flexible part - about 1-2 cm larger than the size of the drain hole.

No factory model plunger, 1-2 liter plastic bottle will do. Cut off the bottom, screw on the lid and insert the bottom into the drain hole. A few sharp movements in and out will help to quickly clean minor dirt. Masters often use plastic bottles in their work, since the container creates more hydraulic pressure. nine0005

Rope cleaning toilet

Cable - a flexible long cord suitable for work if the plunger does not help. The algorithm of work is simple: the cable is screwed inside the drain hole. The desired effect is achieved by significant immersion and the ability to break through even dense blockages. Buying a cable is a must if the pipe clogs often enough or if there are children in the house throwing various objects down the drain.

The variety of ropes is great: cord length up to 50 m, thickness 0.05-1.5 cm. You can buy a mechanical or automatic cable. The latter is a device that dives by pressing a button. nine0005

Tip! The cables can push the blockage deep, tamping the plug, so you need to work with the device very carefully.

Cleaning with special chemicals

So, the toilet is clogged how to clean it yourself, if there is no plunger or cable at hand. The offered product line includes powder, gels and liquids. Powder formulations are considered more active, and gels cause less harm to the system. The main component is caustic soda. It is a strong agent that dissolves organic compounds and soap scum. nine0005

Important! Against rags, plaster, household items, plastic chemicals are useless.

Apply aggressive substances carefully so as not to damage the polymer, metal elements of the system. Read the instructions carefully, it says for which pipes this or that tool is suitable.

What to pour and put into the toilet to clean:

  1. Clean gutters (Chitron). Emergency powder that reacts with water. Relatively safe product with a pungent odor that quickly disappears. Action time 15 minutes. The package is designed for one application: fall asleep, wait, rinse. nine0086
  2. Deboucher. Gel for removing strong and medium blockages, which contains potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, caustic chlorine and additives. If the toilet bowl is very clogged, how to clean it at home with a gel: pour liquid for 60 minutes (at least) with interruptions of 10-15 minutes. In case of serious blockage, the entire volume of the vial is consumed; in simple cases, cleaning takes up to 30 minutes. Then pour 1 liter of water into the hole - the liquid passes, which means clean.
  3. Bagi Pothan. As part of caustic soda, surfactant, you need to add hot water, but you can get by with just falling asleep in the drain. The tool is very strong, gives an instant reaction, so you need to handle it carefully: fall asleep and move to a safe distance. It takes 3-5 minutes to remove the blockage. It is recommended to use only in emergency cases and infrequently. nine0086
  4. Net stock (Sanoks). Liquid for mild blockages and prevention. It will not cope with serious problems, but it does not spoil the pipes, it works for 30 minutes. Usually a bottle is enough for 2 applications.
  5. Mole. Regardless of the manufacturer, the powder contains sodium hydroxide, potassium and acetic acid with a surfactant. The powder works well with regular maintenance of gutters, but it will not give an instant result - it takes up to 1. 5 hours for organic matter to dissolve. Doesn't work well with major blockages. nine0086
  6. Selena Antizasor. White powder, which is poured into the drain and must be filled with a glass of water. The composition is not particularly caustic in smell, but effective in action. Cleaning time up to 15-20 minutes, then you can drain the water. The product is approved for use in the toilet bowl, 1 sachet is enough for one application.

Knowing how to clean the toilet without a plunger and a cable, you can use improvised means. For example, baking soda and vinegar. Useful 300 gr. soda and 300 ml of table vinegar. First, soda is poured into the drain, pushed deeper with gloves or a brush, and then vinegar is poured (not higher than 9% concentration). An alkaline reaction immediately sets in, decomposing fats, calcium deposits. The total procedure time is up to 25 minutes. Then you can drain boiling water (hot water) in the amount of 2-3 liters to clean the pipes.

Tip! PVC pipelines withstand +40. .+60 C, no more. This must be taken into account so as not to cause deformation of the pipeline and connecting elements during cleaning and spilling with boiling water.

Other cleaning methods

The easiest way is if the foreign object is close to the surface - you can get it with gloves or by wrapping your hands with plastic garbage bags (they are quite long). nine0005

And here are a couple more ways to clean the toilet: