There aren’t many things that are more revolting than a toilet that won’t flush. It’s not a fun problem to have, but it needs to be addressed. Since it can be expensive to call a plumber for minor issues, many prefer to handle the situation on their own.
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DIY Toilet Rescue: Unclog a Stubborn Toilet
However, if you haven’t had to deal with household plumbing issues before, it’s understandable to feel wary. Find a pair of rubber gloves and keep reading: after learning a few tricks, you’ll know everything there is about how to unclog a toilet.
Let’s push through the gunk and grime and figure this out.
1. Wait for a Minute or Two and Then Try Flushing
Even gravity can play a role in resolving plumbing issues. When the toilet bowl becomes filled with water, it is pushing the clog down with the pressure from the water. If left for a few minutes, the clog will sometimes become loose on its own.
After a brief waiting period, attempt to flush once more. This technique can be a big help in improving a typical clog that has occurred due to excessive paper in the toilet.
Note that if you attempt to flush once you’ve waited a few minutes, be prepared to turn off the water flow going into the bowl if this trick did not help the clog come loose (see more on this in the next tip).
2. Use the Flapper and Don’t Allow the Toilet Bowl to Overfill
If the water is rising and looks like it might overflow from the toilet bowl, it is a good idea to be ready to remove the lid from the tank and shut the toilet flapper. The flapper is the part of a toilet at the bottom of the tank allowing water to flow to the bowl from the tank or sealing off the water’s access to the toilet bowl. Use one hand to flush the toilet, and the other to seal the flapper when the water begins to rise.
3. Try Giving It a Tap
This trick is perfect for when you’re first beginning to notice that the toilet is clogged. Be gentle but forceful and give the bowl a tap with your foot. You might be shocked, but a majority of the time this method can fix minor clogs.
4. Add Some Cool Water
Adding water to the bowl is a classic trick that can work, but it’s important not to use hot or boiling water like many articles state. “I’ve seen lots of toilets break over the years because the colder porcelain can easily crack when it comes into contact with scorching hot water,” explained Steve Lewis, plumbing expert.
Try it with colder water, but be patient as the results may not be as instantaneous as they are with hot or warm water. (Remember though, hot water might clear things up fast, but the risk of your toilet cracking is not worth it.) Pour a bucket of cool water down the toilet steadily and as quickly as you can without getting it on the floor or yourself. If this technique doesn’t seem to help, it might be time to get soapy.
5. Consider Trying Dish Detergent or Bar Soap
Avoid using warm water, but it’s okay to use a little lukewarm water to mix 1/4 cup of dish detergent so that it bubbles. Pour the mixture into the toilet bowl and let it rest for a few minutes before flushing again.
The soap will help loosen any solid particulate matter, and hopefully, it all goes down on its own so that you can stop stressing. Even bar soap can work if you cut it into little pieces and place them in the toilet bowl until they dissolve.
6. Try Vinegar and Baking Soda
Adding vinegar and baking soda to a clogged sink works because of the chemical reaction, and it is helpful for toilets as well. You’ll need one cup of each to loosen things up. It won’t work if there is a lot of water in the sink already though because the mixture will end up being too diluted to work. It’s necessary to have a good amount of fizz to break up the clog. You can remove some of the backed-up liquid if you have no other options.
7. Purchase a Manual Toilet Snake
This option is excellent for those who don’t want to use a lot of chemicals. These are less than $30 at a hardware store, and once you buy one, you have it for countless uses. A snake is pushed down into the toilet and then coils until the clog is pushed through.
While it isn’t as hands-off as pouring chemicals into the bowl, it’s often faster and is much safer since it allows you to avoid the toxins. Toilet snakes are useful if there is a deep clog that is beyond the toilet bowl. “It’s not a good idea to use a clothes hanger, because it can seriously scrape the toilet’s porcelain surface,” remarked Bill Parkey, plumbing expert.
8. Make a Set of Homemade Clog Bombs
Draino is expensive and filled with harsh chemicals. Instead of making a trip to the store, make homemade de-clogger at home with dish detergent (8-10 tbs. added one at a time), Epsom salt (1/4 cup), and baking soda (2 cups).
Put each ingredient into a muffin tin space to make individual toilet bombs. Let them sit overnight, and they should be ready the next day. Put one into the toilet along with some water (3-4 cups). Allow the mixture to sit for several hours for the best results.
9. Grab the Rubber Gloves
As awful as it sounds, using extra-long rubber gloves is an option to get your toilet unclogged. You might want to layer several pairs on top of one another to be sure nothing seeps through the gloves. “Sometimes, plumbers have no other option but to reach in and have found things like underwear, toys, and even cell phones, so it’s not that unlikely that a foreign object might be lodged inside,” explained Dan Green, HVAC and plumbing technician.
10. Build a Makeshift Plunger with a Water Bottle
If you don’t have a plunger but need to create water pressure, you can try to use a disposable water bottle. First, you’ll need to put on rubber gloves. Then, scoop out some of the water in the toilet. You can use any small container for this.
Afterward, put warm water in a big plastic water bottle. Cover the opening with your thumb. Turn the top of the water bottle downward into the toilet bottom and move your thumb out of the way. Push the bottle tight into the opening and squeeze it so that the water forcefully shoots into the drain. This pressure can help to remove the obstacle.
11. Consider Using a Wet Vac
Wet vacs can be an easy solution. However, some people are hesitant to rely on wet vacuums to do the job and few laypeople own them. You can rent wet vacs from some hardware stores. Never use a regular vacuum cleaner for wet jobs.
You’ll need to find an old towel that you can wrap tightly around the hose to make a seal. Then, put the hose into the toilet and easily remove the clog and water together. The block will be gone when the water starts to drain or once you feel an object move into the hose. It might not work right away, so persistence will be key here.
When to Contact a Plumber
Sometimes, DIY methods aren’t as effective as professional help. When should you draw the line between under control and under construction? The first sign is if you notice that dirty water is backing up in the bathtub, shower, or sink when you flush.
When water collects in abnormal places after flushing, a mainline might be plugged. Neither a snake nor a plunger will do any good. Another good reason to give a plumber a call is if you are dealing with continuous clogs.
Go Easy on the Toilet Paper
Unnecessary toilet paper is a common reason for toilet clogs. While toilet paper is the only product approved for flushing, even it doesn’t dissolve right away. If there is too much toilet paper, it can cause a clog in the floor drain or plumbing trap. Older toilets or those that have less water pressure might not be able to handle a lot of toilet paper in the first place. So as not to overload older toilets, don’t hesitate to flush the toilet once and then put in the rest of the toilet paper. Flushing twice is better than causing a clog.
Never Put Scraps into the Toilet
While many people think that it’s okay to put tiny pieces of food down the toilet, it will eventually get clogged and catch up with them. Grease should never go into a toilet, either. It will become solid in the cold water right away and will only get stuck in the pipes. Only put food and grease into a trash bag inside the trash can.
Try Not to Flush Foreign Items
Toilets are only designed for toilet paper and human waste. They should never be considered trash cans, even though your kids have trouble understanding that. Well, it’s time to firm up, unless you’re ready to pay up to have these objects fished out of your windy toilet drains.
Never put any of these objects in the toilet because they can cause a clog:
- Cotton balls
- Q-tips (cotton swabs)
- Tampons (or applicators)
- Crayons and toys
- Cigarettes
- Kitty litter
- Sticks
- Dental floss
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Baby wipes (sometimes flushable wipes can clog toilets)
- Hair
- Gum
- Any other items that can’t dissolve
Each of these items should go into a trash can instead.
Don’t keep the lid open when not in use. Frequently, plumbers have to come out because small objects (like toys) are clogging the pipes. Remembering to close the lid can save you a lot of trouble if something accidentally falls inside.
Keep Your Toilet Clean
Even though your toilet is one of the water appliances in your home that you depend on the most, you don’t have to use a harsh cleaner for this; in fact, a mild one can still keep everything hygienic. If you use baking soda, vinegar, or a mild cleaning agent, you’ll have a beautiful bathroom that smells great too.
Don’t forget the edges under the toilet bowl where the jets spray out. Clogged jets prevent the toilet from flushing at full capacity, which can cause clogs. Clean the toilet once per week to limit buildup.
Skip the Chemical Toilet Drain Cleaners
Plumbers tend to disagree on whether or not these cleaners are safe, which raises concern. Chemical products can be dangerous to your skin and health if inhaled or consumed, and they can even eat away at older pipes and fixtures. They can also kill away the beneficial bacteria for houses with septic systems, so they’re often more trouble than they’re worth since there are safer alternatives.
Regularly Inspect the Toilets in Your Home
You’ll need to give them a good once-over every few months. There are a lot of parts that need to remain in working order. Remove the lid, flush the unit, and watch the water go down. Ensure that the flapper seals and the fill valve stops filling when it should.
Make Sure to Teach Kids How to Handle and Take Care of a Toilet the Right Way
Even young kids can learn what can and cannot go inside a toilet when they are potty training. Older kids learn what can be flushed, how to avoid using too much toilet paper, and how to scrub a toilet. These are things they’ll need to know how to do.
Don’t Overlook a Leaking Toilet
“Act fast if you’re lucky enough to notice the leak. Toilet leaks aren’t things that people tend to notice right away because they can happen fairly quietly,” remarked Jake Lewis, plumbing expert.
The water normally leaks from the tank into the toilet bowl and can be overlooked for weeks. You can typically hear when it’s using more water than it should, especially if it hasn’t been used for a while. If the water does pool onto the floor, it could be a toilet installation issue, and the entire toilet might need to be tightened down. You can also try replacing the flange or resetting the toilet.
Saving Water with a Brick Might Not Be Worth It
Toilets that were built after the mid-1990’s use just 1.6 gallons of water for each flush (and often even less), but older toilets are huge water wasters. Some eco-conscious people place a brick inside the toilet tank to partially displace some of the water in an effort to cut down on water usage. While current manufacturers have cut down on the amount of water used per flush, many sewage systems rely on that water to appropriately move the waste from the toilet to the sewers.
“If you do have an older toilet that can lighten up on the pressure, it’s still not a great idea to use bricks because they tend to break down over time. These pieces then can clog pipes,” informed Jerry Olsen, plumbing and heating technician. He mentioned that you could put an empty water bottle inside with small stones to help curb water use if you want to limit it, though.
Think About Using a Lighter Brand of Toilet Paper
Different types of toilets are harder on a septic or sewage system than others. Septics already have to work hard to break down regular toilet paper. If the sewage pipes in your house are older, get clogged, and your neighbors are connected to your home via the municipal line, their homes could get flooded with dirty waste or at least their plumbing lines could get clogged.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a flange plunger for future clog problems. Also, get familiar with the right way to use it. It’s never fun to have to learn while the toilet is filling.
In short, it’s essential to maintain your toilet so that it lasts for many years. Try to keep it clean. Once you get into a cleaning routine, upkeep will be simple and will help to keep everything running smoothly so that fewer unnecessary clogs occur. Plus, learning how to remove blockages on your own (with or without a plunger) can help improve your sanity and that of your family. Toilet troubles happen from time to time, but don’t forget your neighborhood plumber is just a quick call away.