9 Simple Ways to Unclog a Toilet

A clogged toilet is the last thing you would want to experience in your home. From the bad smell to possible toilet overflows, it is a problem that requires immediate attention. Fortunately, you don’t always need to call your local plumber to fix the blockage, since it’s a often a problem that you can solve by yourself. All you need to clear a minor blockage in your toilet is some guidance. No special skills are required. Most toilet clogs result from a blockage of the drain by foreign objects such as clumps of toilet paper, tampons, long hair, or other debris that should not have been flushed. To fix this, you can either push the objects down or use suction to dislodge them and then flush them out.

Here are Some Easy Ways to Unclog your Toilet:

1.   Take a Plunge

If you don’t have a toilet plunger at home, you’re sitting on a time bomb. Whenever a toilet clogs, this is the first tool that you should go for. A plunger is simply a circular rubber cup attached to a handle. All you need to do is to align the rubber cup of the plunger over the centre of the bowl and apply downward pressure. Start pressing slowly and increase the intensity gradually to dislodge the obstruction. When you feel that the pressing force has reduced, the clog has likely been removed.

2.   The Model Volcano Method

This is simply a mix of baking soda and vinegar. It’s a homemade drain cleaner that works extremely well in unclogging toilets. You only need to make a mix of 1/3rd of a cup of baking soda and 1/3rd cup of vinegar. This is a quick and easy solution.

When the mixture starts fizzing, pour it into the clogged drain. It’s this fizzing that helps in removing the grime, hair and gunk build-up in the pipes/drain. This is what will unclog your toilet. Note that the mix must be given some time to work – maybe an hour, or even overnight.

3.   Boiling Water

There is no other easy way to unclog a toilet than boiled water. Since most of the clogging particles are organic in nature, it is very easy to have them broken down by hot water. All you need is to heat water to the highest temperatures possible (until it boils) and then pour it immediately into the bowl. To get the best out of it, pour it slowly in two or three stages. This allows the water to work on the obstruction between each pour. It the easiest and the quickest way to have your toilet unclogged, especially if it’s an organic cloth.

4.   Get Slippery

Getting the bowl and the drain slippery is an easy way to unclog a toilet. All you need is to boil some water and mix with liquid dish soap. As you wait for the water to warm, squirt a good amount of liquid soap and give it some time to settle. After ten minutes or so, pour the hot water into the toilet from at least a foot above the bowl. The force created by the water might unclog the toilet by pushing the obstruction away. The soap will make it possible for the clog to slide down more easily.

5.   The Bent Wire Hanger

This method is surprisingly effective and very easy to execute. If you don’t have any other unclogging tools, a wire hanger can be the perfect tool. Straighten the wire out and bend one end to create a small hook for fishing purposes. Push the wire past the drain cover and start fishing or moving it in circular rotations. If the obstructions an organic object, it will be broken into small pieces by the circular motions. If clogs are pieces of cloth or hair, they will be fished out by the hook.

6.   Use Wet/Dry Vacuum

This is another super effective way to unclog a toilet. With this vacuum, it will take you less than a minute to have the toilet unclogged. But you have to be extra careful while using this tool. First, you must set it to vacuum liquids.  Second, you must also have the vent covered from the possible mess. With this taken care of, you can now get down to work. Clear all the water and debris off the bowl. With the bowl cleared, place the hose into the drain and create the tightest seal you can with a towel or old rags. Turn on the vacuum, and it will suck the clog up the hose into the vacuum bag. Note that it must be a wet and dry vacuum.

7.   The Drain Snake

Although it is a low-tech tool, it works wonders for unclogging toilets. This piece of equipment is simply a long flexible metal rope with a spiral end. Its working mechanism is straightforward since all you need is to push it down the drain. It can more easily maneuver through the corners of the drain than most other plumbing tools. If you push it and you feel some resistance, twist it in circular motions to break up the clog into smaller pieces. Keep doing this until the toilet starts draining normally. If you don’t have one of these on hand, rather than calling a plumber out you may be able to hire one from, or use the services of a local handyman or maintenance repairman who owns one of these to take care of the issue.

8.   Caustic Soda

Caustic soda is a nasty chemical that can burn, but it’s very effective for unclogging toilets. To use this chemical, you need to get some rubber gloves and eye protection. You can pick up the chemical from the local hardware or grocery stores. Pour a ¾ gallon of cold water into a bucket, and add 3 cups of caustic soda. Stir the solution well with a wooden spoon or stick until it begins to fizz and heat up. Then pour it into the blocked drain and leave the solution for 20-30 minutes, then flush with boiling water. Repeat if it’s still clogged after the first attempt.

9.   Rubber Gloves

Though it may appear weird, you can use your hands to unclog the toilet. But you need rubber gloves for this. With rubber gloves, you can easily remove the clog.  Put on the gloves and reach for the clog in the drain. If you can feel it, crush or fish it out. Then flush the toilet to see if the obstruction has disappeared.

These are many simple ways to unblock your toilet. You often don’t need any special training or sophisticated tools. These are do-it-yourself toilet unclogging methods but should any or all of these methods fail, you should call a plumbing and drainage company in your area for professional help.