How to Unclog a Toilet - 3 Ways to Try Without a Plunger

So you are at your friends house for a party, and "nature" calls and next thing you know the water is rising in the toilet.

WHAT DO YOU DO??

Step 1 - STOP the water from rising first, by taking the back lid off the toilet and closing the flapper in the bottom.  Don't worry the water in here is clean even if the tank may look rusty, it is clean, so roll up your sleeve and stop the water from rising.

Once you have accomplished this, then try these 3 methods before pushing the PANIC button.

Operation Unclog Toilet

Number 1 - Hot Water - If there is no bucket in this bathroom, then empty the waste basket or find a cup if you can.  Run the tap water until super hot.  Fill the bucket, can or cup with hot water and dump in the toilet.  Do this a few times.

The hot water will quite often get a clogged toilet moving again as it helps to break up.. ehmm you know? business.

If this doesn't work...

Number 2 - Baking Soda and Vinegar - At this point, you may have to alert your friend of the situation if the hot water didn't work, and in which case, offer to clear the clog and ask for a:

Cup of baking soda
Cup of white vinegar

Hopefully your friend has this on hand, or hopefully you do if this is in your house.  It is always a good idea to keep both baking soda and vinegar on hand for many cleaning issues.  You may have one in your fridge for odors if you just can't place your hands on some.

Add the cup of baking soda to the toilet and then slowly add the vinegar.  It will fizz and create quite the creepy science project, but if the clog is "natural" it should start the breaking up process and once the fizzing stops at about the 20 minute mark.  ...  Try and flush.

Number 3 - Dish Washing Soap - IF you don't have baking soda or vinegar, then try this...  Pour about 1/2 a cup of your dish washing soap into the toilet.  Since it is heavier than water, it will sink to the bottom.

Leave it there for 20-30 minutes

Fill a bucket with super hot tap water and pour into the toilet.  The water level should drop.  If it does, then fill the bucket a second time with super hot tap water and pour into the toilet, and then flush.

The soap will lubricate the pipes and area around the "clog" and move it along as it creates a slippery surface.

Get out the Big Guns

If none of the above natural ways worked on this clog, then it may be time to get out the big guns with some chemical warfare!!  It doesn't hurt to keep a bottle of emergency toilet or sink unclogger.

Plumber Time - If none of the ideas above work, you can try a plunger, or the chemical.  Usually if the clog is "organic" it will disintegrate with the above methods, but if it is a toy or some other hard materials that were flushed by accident, then a plumber may be needed.

But try the above steps first, especially if you know what clogged it!




No comments:

Post a Comment

How to Clean Yellowed Pillows

 When changing my bedding, I started to notice the "yellowing" on my pillows when I took off the pillow cases. It turns out it is ...