{"id":965,"date":"2021-10-23T15:43:26","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T15:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/?p=965"},"modified":"2022-04-03T13:47:46","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T13:47:46","slug":"how-to-unclog-a-toilet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/how-to-unclog-a-toilet\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Unclog A Toilet Without And With A Plunger"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A clogged toilet is usually no cause for alarm. But, is there anything more maddening than an overflowing toilet bowl? Luckily, it\u2019s typically easy to unclog a toilet with and without a plunger. No matter how severe it seems, with a bit of elbow grease and DIY enthusiasm, you should be able to unclog it. Take a look at these steps to see which one is the best solution for how to unclog a toilet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Unclog Toilet Without Plunger super fast\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ytEBMLk0sX4?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>How Toilets Get Clogged<\/h2>\n<p>Every toiled comes with a built-in trap configuration, though it doesn\u2019t seem like there\u2019s much more to the plain porcelain figure. The toilet trap holds the standing water in order to stop nasty <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/sewer-odor-in-my-bathroom\/\">sewer gases from making their way into your bathroom<\/a>. It works like the P-trap you can see beneath a bathroom sink.<\/p>\n<p>The toilet trap obviously has its pitfalls\u2013sometimes it may trap flushed objects\u2013even normal toilet waste. Other times, people <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/can-you-flush-cat-litter-down-the-toilet\/\">flush cat litter down the toilet<\/a> or they <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/can-you-flush-dental-floss-in-the-toilet\/\">flush dental floss<\/a> and other stuff they really shouldn&#8217;t be. The only thing you should be flushing is\u00a0 human waste (and no, that doesn&#8217;t include <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/can-you-flush-hair-down-the-toilet\/\">hair<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>When the toilet&#8217;s clogged, a plunger will solve the problem most of the time. But, it doesn\u2019t always work. The most extreme solution would be removing the whole toilet.<\/p>\n<p>But, before we start, you&#8217;d want to make sure you know what kind of toilet you are dealing with. Check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/elongated-vs-round-toilets\/\">Round vs Elongated Toilets<\/a> comparison.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Unclog a Toilet With a Plunger<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/person-holds-a-plunger.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4417\" src=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/person-holds-a-plunger.jpg\" alt=\"Person holds a plunger\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/person-holds-a-plunger.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/person-holds-a-plunger-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/person-holds-a-plunger-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Plungers aren\u2019t that straightforward as they seem. You need the right kind and you need to use it properly. Household plungers usually come in two forms\u2013cup plungers and toilet plungers.<\/p>\n<p>If your household plunger has a rubber cup with a flat rim, it\u2019s not the one you need. A proper toilet plunger has a narrow bottom and a larger cup. It\u2019s designed to fit into the hole in the toilet bowl. Due to its unique shape, it\u2019s hard to mistake it for another type of plunger.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Before you start plunging, the toilet bowl must be half full. Add water if needed. There must be some water in there so that the plunger can seal around the opening.<\/li>\n<li>Extend the narrow portion at the bottom of the plunger cup\u2013also known as the flange. When it\u2019s extended, you can use it to plunge clogged tubs and sinks. Place the plunger into the toilet at an angle.<\/li>\n<li>As you lower it, the cup should fill with water. It makes the job easier. Place the cup over the opening so that it seals around the outside of the opening and the flange stays inside the hole. Thrust the plunger down a couple of times swiftly and strongly. You need to use enough pressure so you would break up the obstruction.<\/li>\n<li>While you\u2019re plunging, make sure to maintain a good seal. To help loosen the clog, the plunger will create a suction effect when it comes up. Six thrusts or so should do it.<\/li>\n<li>When you\u2019re done thrusting, pull the plunger out to check if the water has cleared. The job is probably done if most of the water is gone.<\/li>\n<li>Take the lid off the toilet tank. To see if you\u2019ve unclogged the toilet bowl, flush the water. Be careful\u2013make sure you\u2019re ready. If it seems like the toilet is about to start overflowing, push down the rubber flap. It is used to cover the hole in the tank. If you haven\u2019t gotten the toilet unclogged, doing this quickly will prevent an overflow.<\/li>\n<li>You may need to plunge and flush a few more times until you\u2019ve fully unclogged the bowl.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Unclogging a Toilet With an Auger<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/man-uses-hand-auger.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4418\" src=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/man-uses-hand-auger.jpg\" alt=\"Man uses a hand auger\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/man-uses-hand-auger.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/man-uses-hand-auger-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/man-uses-hand-auger-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Again, you need the right type of tool for the job, so make sure your auger is designed for this purpose. A toilet auger is basically a long hollow guide tube. There\u2019s a cable that runs through it and a sweep elbow at the bottom.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It should also have a rubber sleeve that prevents it from scratching the porcelain. Your toilet auger must have a rubber sleeve as a plain metal auger can badly damage a toilet bowl.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure the tip of the cable is at the bottom of the tube by retracting the auger.<\/li>\n<li>Place the auger into the toilet bowl. The cable should reach into the opening and the sweep elbow should rest at the bottom of the toilet bowl.<\/li>\n<li>Crank the guide tube clockwise. As you\u2019re cranking it, push the cable slowly into the trap. Stop it when you feel it can\u2019t go further. To make sure the cable doesn\u2019t double-back on itself and kink, crank it slowly again. You may need to coax the cable through the bends. In that case, reverse the cranking direction.<\/li>\n<li>Retract the cable out of the bowls. Even with the rubber sleeve, you may scratch the surface if you\u2019re not careful enough, so be gentle.<\/li>\n<li>Check whether the clog has cleared by flushing the toilet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Use a DIY Toilet Snake<\/h3>\n<p>A plumbing snake is somewhat similar to toilet augers. But, a drain snake is more likely to scratch the porcelain. Because of that, it shouldn\u2019t be your first option. However, if you don\u2019t have the right tools and are in a hurry to unclog the toilet, you can make your own drain snake out of a wire coat hanger.<\/p>\n<p>To start, unravel it until it is straight. Place one end into the bowl and prod the waste. If it\u2019s working, the toiled should start to unclog and the debris should flow down the waste.<\/p>\n<h3>Use Dish Soap to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger<\/h3>\n<p>If you don\u2019t have the right tools for the job, there are plenty of other, simple solutions. As soon as the toilet bowl clogs, grab some dish soap from the kitchen and pour half a cup into the bowl.<\/p>\n<p>The slipperiness of the dish soap should lubricate the toilet drain just enough to unclog it. It\u2019s should help the debris slide down more easily. As an alternative, you can break up a bar of soap. To make things easier, you can place it in your microwave for a minute and a half and then chop it up in a blender.<\/p>\n<h3>Use Hot Water<\/h3>\n<p>If dish soap alone doesn\u2019t do the job, add water to make things run smoother. But, avoid using boiling water as it could crack the bowl. Fill one bucket with hot water from a tap. Pour it into the bowl from waist level. The heat of the water paired with the force of pouring may be enough to unclog your toilet.<\/p>\n<h3>Use a Squirt Gun Toilet Drainer<\/h3>\n<p>Some methods can\u2019t work if there\u2019s water in the toilet bowl when you\u2019re trying to repair it. This is a solid trick for plunger alternatives as it enables you to remove the water without much hassle. Don\u2019t just flush and shut off the water supply because it won\u2019t always be enough. Simply use a squirt gun to remove the water.<\/p>\n<h2>Use a Plastic Bottle<\/h2>\n<p>Be extra careful with this one as it could get pretty messy. Use a small container or a squirt gun to remove as much water from the bowl as you can. Grab a big plastic bottle and fill it with warm water. You\u2019d want to put on a pair of rubber gloves before you continue.<\/p>\n<p>Use your thumb to prevent the warm water from leaking too early. put the top of the bottle into the opening of the drain inside the bowl. Then, squeeze the bottle. The force of the water may be enough to dislodge the debris.<\/p>\n<h3>Use Vinegar and Baking Soda<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/baking-soda-and-vinegar.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4419\" src=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/baking-soda-and-vinegar.jpg\" alt=\"Baking soda and vinegar\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/baking-soda-and-vinegar.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/baking-soda-and-vinegar-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/baking-soda-and-vinegar-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This step is pretty straightforward as it just requires a cup of baking soda and two cups of vinegar. White or apple cider vinegar will do. The bowl needs to be halfway full for this to work.<\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s not enough water, pour a bit of hot water into the bowl so that the level will be high enough. Don\u2019t overdo it as it may lead to spillage. Once you\u2019ve adjusted the water level, pour the baking soda into the toilet.<\/p>\n<p>Then pour the vinegar into the clogged toilet, but make sure to do it slowly. Even though it\u2019s simple household chemistry, the reaction could be quite messy if you pour too quickly. If it seems like too much fizz is about to happen, don\u2019t pour the whole cup. Wait for half an hour.<\/p>\n<p>The water should go down if the toilet clog breaks up. Take the lid off the toilet tank and be ready to use to cover for the tank hole to shut off the water. If you see bubbles, you may flush the toilet. If it <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/toilet-wont-flush-properly\/\">doesn\u2019t flush properly<\/a>, shut the water. You may need to repeat the process a few times.<\/p>\n<p>This mixture is also great for <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/how-to-get-rid-of-toilet-ring\/\">getting rid of toilet rings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Use Chemicals<\/h3>\n<p>If mechanics and household chemistry don\u2019t do the trick, you can always use chemicals. It\u2019s best to use a non-corrosive product like Wild Tornado as such a cleaner won\u2019t damage your toilet drain. Still, you should wear a face mask and rubber gloves. You\u2019ll also need to remove the water from the toilet for this to work. Simply follow the instructions on your cleaner.<\/p>\n<p>You might want to check out my guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/toilet-keeps-clogging\/\">how to fix a toilet that keeps clogging up<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n<h3>Preventing Toilet Clogs<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t flush products that are not intended for toilet use down the bowl.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t use too much toilet paper. To prevent a toilet clog, you can always flush in increments.<\/li>\n<li>If you have children, make sure to explain to them that they can only flush toilet paper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When To Call a Plumber<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/plumber-at-work.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4420\" src=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/plumber-at-work.jpg\" alt=\"Plumber at work\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/plumber-at-work.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/plumber-at-work-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/plumber-at-work-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If an auger and plunger don\u2019t do the job, chances are the other DIY steps won\u2019t help either. They are simply an alternative. Your next best bet is a professional plumber. A clogged toilet that\u2019s difficult to fix could be a sign of a much bigger problem.<\/p>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re facing a clogged toilet, there\u2019s no need to panic. Chances are, some of these steps can help you solve the problem quickly and easily. Pick one that\u2019s most convenient for you. If you\u2019re having a hard time unclogging your toilet without and with a plunger, drop the tools and chemicals and call a plumber. Unless there\u2019s a bigger problem under the surface, they should be able to fix it in a jiffy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you have a plunger or not, one of the 9 methods in this easy-to-follow-guide is sure to help you unclog your toilet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":975,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":null,"ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":null,"header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":null,"astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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you have a plunger or not, one of the 9 methods in this easy-to-follow-guide is sure to help you unclog your toilet.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/965"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=965"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4493,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/965\/revisions\/4493"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottsbathrooms.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}